Need help from the COLD weather gurus !!!! When to plug her in??

[gsbrockman]

Just make sure it's not plugged in when you start it..or run it...I've learned the hard way!

Please share your experiences...

 

[TFucili]

I live just south of Buffalo NY, and spend a couple weeks each year on snowmobile trips way up in Quebec. This is my 3rd Cummins / Ram (2004, 2008, now 2011), and I've never plugged any of them in. Heck, I don't think any of them have had a block heater. Remote start is a great thing.

The coldest I've ever started one was after it sat for 4 days in Saint Michel des Saints, Quebec while the wife & I were on a snowmobile trip. Got to -34F a couple of the nights, & the morning we left it had warmed up to -21F.

A block heater would have been a moot point, because the parking lot was a long way from the nearest electric outlet, & a cord would have gone across a snowmobile trail.

Scott

Reminds me of a snowmobile trip to St Zenon, Quebec when I had a Ferd with a 6.9. It was 45 below the morning we were leaving. There were no plugs in the lot, but I had broght a 2500 watt generator. We had to ask the guy who ran the groomer if we could thaw the generator out in the shop/warehouse. We got it going and I ran the block warmer for 2-3 hours, and the 6.9 lit off like a coffee can full of marbles. When I stepped on the hydraulic clutch to start it, the pedal stayed on the floor. Man, that kind of cold is damn hard on equipment.

 

[NWatchel]

Please share your experiences...

I too would like to hear these.

 

[NWatchel]

Please share your experiences...

I too would like to hear these.

 

[BigPapa]

I plug mine in if it's going to be below 20* just for ease of starting and quicker warm up. I haven't done the timer yet but would like to.

Just make sure it's not plugged in when you start it..or run it...I've learned the hard way!

I'm in. What's this about? I always unplug mine after start-up and have been known to leave it plugged up for 4-5 minutes of idling with no problems.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I plug mine in if it's going to be below 20* just for ease of starting and quicker warm up. I haven't done the timer yet but would like to.




I'm in. What's this about? I always unplug mine after start-up and have been known to leave it plugged up for 4-5 minutes of idling with no problems.

It is probably due to the fact that if leave it plugged in and get in the truck, start it and let it warm up a bit.........you increase exponentially the chances of forgetting to unplug it before you drive off.......and the long orange snake chases your truck down the street...........been there, done that

Sam

 

[Too Tall]

Even with mult-viscosity oils, most of the engine wear happens at start up. The colder the engine, the more wear. The longer the warm up, the more fuel dilution of oil etc. etc. ectc... If you can plug in, your engine will silently thank you.

Assuming you've got the right oil and fuel in it and the batteries are good, it's going to start either way. I'd plug in just to reduce wear and warm up time. Personal opinion. See this video below. Kinda funny but put cold starting in perspective.

http://youtu.be/FzbbMlWp5Xg

 

[Stab]

I've burned up two heaters while leaving them plugged in while the truck is running!
The first was when I didn know not to do it.
The second was when I just plain forgot!
It used to say in the owners manual years ago but, I don't have one in front of me now.
Something about air cavatation when it heats.....

 

[Ozymandias]

Where did you find the -10C for the winter front? I can't seem to find that documented anywhere. I'm also curious what max temp is considered safe to run the winter front. My truck seems to take 15 mins to actually warm up even after idling it for 10-15 mins to give me much heat when it is anywhere below 40F. I'm under the impression the winter front grill covers will improve the warm up rate but I don't want to risk overheating.

Take a Winter front, it will help your engine to become warm and stay warm. There is simple no risk for overheating bcause you'll hear the fan cycle long before it will overheat.

 

[mwilson]

I've burned up two heaters while leaving them plugged in while the truck is running!
The first was when I didn know not to do it.
The second was when I just plain forgot!
It used to say in the owners manual years ago but, I don't have one in front of me now.
Something about air cavatation when it heats.....

Yes, that is completely true. It will happen if you run the truck while plugged in at some point.

I have told people that before on here, don't do it. But always many that say they have never had trouble.

My feeling is that they simply have been lucky.......

Philips / Temro warms not to do it right in the catalog.

I win anyways because I sell a lot of block heaters, most quit because of cavitation and the resulting hot spot. Blows a hole in the element.

You are one of the few that have admitted it.

 

[Newsa]

Even with mult-viscosity oils, most of the engine wear happens at start up. The colder the engine, the more wear. The longer the warm up, the more fuel dilution of oil etc. etc. ectc... If you can plug in, your engine will silently thank you.


Assuming you've got the right oil and fuel in it and the batteries are good, it's going to start either way. I'd plug in just to reduce wear and warm up time. Personal opinion. See this video below. Kinda funny but put cold starting perspective.

http://youtu.be/FzbbMlWp5Xg

My thinking exactly... Unless you have no outlets to plug into. But I wouldn't do it daily.

Saw another thread saying don't use a Cummins Diesel for daily driver short trips. The 3 gallons of oil and many gallons of coolant take a 6-8 miles of driving to warm up when it's 70 degrees. I'm guessing a winter front helps, but still takes probably 20-25 miles to warm up. And if you're hearing clatter/chatter, it's because the tolerances are all screwed up at fast idle or whatever speed you're driving it at. People have cautioned running the engine too hard before warm up. Probably hard on it. Plug it in when you can below 30. Your engine will thank you.

 

[Too Tall]

Yes, that is completely true. It will happen if you run the truck while plugged in at some point.

I have told people that before on here, don't do it. But always many that say they have never had trouble.

My feeling is that they simply have been lucky.......

Philips / Temro warms not to do it right in the catalog.

I win anyways because I sell a lot of block heaters, most quit because of cavitation and the resulting hot spot. Blows a hole in the element.

You are one of the few that have admitted it.

Excellent info. When I saw the cavitation comment, I wondered how that could damage the heater element. If only I could remember all the things I learn on these forums. thanks.

 

[SSchang]

I drive 8.5 mile to work every morning. As long as it's above 20 degrees or so, the coolant temperature always reaches 206 degrees, and then the thermostat opens & it drops down to mid 190's. So 8.5 miles is far enough for a complete warmup. Below 20, I remote start & let it run for 10 minutes so my heated seat is warm on my tookus when I get in.

I agree that pre DEF trucks (my 2011) aren't designed for short trips like my 8.5 miles to and 2 miles home from work. It's different distances cause I always go to Starbucks in the morning. My truck is probably in regen mode most of the time.

Hopefully the 2015 I have on order will run cleaner than the 2011.

Scott

 

[AH64ID]

I drive 8.5 mile to work every morning. As long as it's above 20 degrees or so, the coolant temperature always reaches 206 degrees, and then the thermostat opens & it drops down to mid 190's. So 8.5 miles is far enough for a complete warmup. Below 20, I remote start & let it run for 10 minutes so my heated seat is warm on my tookus when I get in.

I agree that pre DEF trucks (my 2011) aren't designed for short trips like my 8.5 miles to and 2 miles home from work. It's different distances cause I always go to Starbucks in the morning. My truck is probably in regen mode most of the time.

Hopefully the 2015 I have on order will run cleaner than the 2011.

Scott

Your EGR helps the warmup process, but the motor is not compleatly warmed up the first time the thermostat opens. It's takes the oil quite a bit longer to heat up, and repeated trips where the oil doesn't hit 180-200° can cause moisture in the oil.

Anything over 10 minutes is considered excessive by Cummins, I would keep it to 3-5 minutes max like Cummins suggests... Even if you are trading it in.

DEF trucks still have an EGR and a DPF, so short trips are better but still less than ideal.

 

[Ozymandias]

I thought with high idle it is allowed to run it longer? I use that feature to charge my batteries after a long night with running Espar Heater.

 

[AH64ID]

I thought with high idle it is allowed to run it longer? I use that feature to charge my batteries after a long night with running Espar Heater.

Yes you can run it longer with fast idle engaged.

 

[mwilson]

From the Phillips / Temro (Zero Start Products) catalog......

 

[mwilson]

Complete 2014 Catalog if you would like to peruse it. Some neat information in there.

http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/use... Application Guide and Product Catalog(1).pdf

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes you can run it longer with fast idle engaged.

Thank you

 

[SSchang]

Your EGR helps the warmup process, but the motor is not compleatly warmed up the first time the thermostat opens. It's takes the oil quite a bit longer to heat up, and repeated trips where the oil doesn't hit 180-200° can cause moisture in the oil.

Anything over 10 minutes is considered excessive by Cummins, I would keep it to 3-5 minutes max like Cummins suggests... Even if you are trading it in.

DEF trucks still have an EGR and a DPF, so short trips are better but still less than ideal.

Checked this morning. 33 degrees outside, drove my usual 8.5 miles, thermostat opened, oil temp 164 degrees.

I guess it really doesn't matter, that's how far I drive every morning, then 2 miles home every night. If we didn't have the camper that we use 5-6 times a year, I could buy something more practical.