2018 on order, will be stored all winter in mn. Whats needed to maintain?

[dfindell]

My 2018 3500 Cummings, Aisin 4X2 Dually, is in production and expected mid-November. I will be storing it until March/April 2018. What maintenance is needed, will DEF be OK? Should it be started occasionally? My current '97 I just leave alone until spring and it always started without any problems. Any suggestion going to the 6.7 and 21 years updating from '97 would be appreciated.

 

[JR]

If you think your going to start it be sure to fill up with winterized fuel before you park it. I'm not sure when it takes effect but MN just increased their mandate to B20 April- Oct/Nov. Winterized fuel is B5.

 

[mwilson]

Heated storage??

 

[dfindell]

I have a cold storage pole barn for storage. Cement floor, 30X60, I always park on plywood pads to keep tires off the cement. Old car cover won't fit crew cab looking for replacement.

 

[Jared Herzog]

I would just start it up and high idle it once a week to keep fluids circulating until you can get it out of storage and run it. Have you considered a battery tender? These things go dead if they sit for more than a few weeks. This will prematurely ruin the batteries if they discharge to dead several times.
I will also say i live in Texas. Cold here is 68 degrees. 50 degrees and if i go to work i need hazard pay since who wants to work like that? So if you like you can leave it here for the winter and i will take real good care of it for you.??

 

[mwilson]

I cold store the '06 every winter. I fill it full of winter fuel (In case I need to revive it mid-winter for some reason) and pull the batteries.

That way a parasitic draw cannot drain the batteries and allow them to freeze (which they will do if dead)...and push the plates apart or break a cell connector.

 

[mwilson]

I would just start it up and high idle it once a week to keep fluids circulating until you can get it out of storage and run it. Have you considered a battery tender? These things go dead if they sit for more than a few weeks. This will prematurely ruin the batteries if they discharge to dead several times.
I will also say i live in Texas. Cold here is 68 degrees. 50 degrees and if i go to work i need hazard pay since who wants to work like that? So if you like you can leave it here for the winter and i will take real good care of it for you.??

That's a good offer..... I might even consider doing that myself come mid-February.....

 

[spoon059]

My first question would be why take delivery if you aren't gonna drive it for 5 months? You essentially lose 5 months of warranty...

Anyway, I would pull the batteries to keep them from freezing, make sure you add some cold weather anti-gel additive to the fuel and leave it alone. Starting it cold and running on high idle isn't good for anything. Cold starts are the worst for engines. Just let it be until spring if you have to take delivery and store it.

 

[Jared Herzog]

My dad stored his RV last winter. When we got it out this past spring rats, and squirrels had ruined the wiring and did thousands in damage. Might want to put some traps out and keep an eye on it for droppings.
I have never stored a vehicle. Personally i would not pull the batteries. I like to be able to start all my equipment and be able to move it fast if a fire developed in the structure or other emergency necessitated the need to use the vehicle without taking the time to reassemble things removed or unhooked.

 

[mwilson]

I forgot to mention the rodent prevention aspect of storage. We use dryer sheets placed in the cab and under the hood. Also the wife gets some mice prevention product that is in little bags, the name escapes me right now. Knock on wood since we started doing that we have had zero issues with squirrels or mice.

 

[JR]

Also the wife gets some mice prevention product

Golden malrin and coca cola works well....from what I've been told :-laf

 

[Jared Herzog]

How long can a motor safely sit without being started or pickled? I think the term is pickled?? On some motors when the ring sits against the same spot on a cylinder wall it will leave a sort of rust ring from condensation in the motor. The condensation comes from the warm and cold cycling of the metal parts and then having humidity form condensation once the air hits the cold metal parts. Once the truck gets run this spot will always allow oil around the piston and the motor will always burn oil. This could happen on every cylinder. Running the motor will place the piston rings in contact with a different part of the cylinder bore and help coat each cylinder with a new layer of oil residue from the oil pan and a bit of diesel fuel from the injectors.
I stand behind my comment to run it once a week. If it is parked for six months and started once a week how many cold starts is that? 24?30? That is nothing in the scheme of things. I probably have that many cold starts each week and my truck is still running and in like new condition. That is why i would run it once a week and allow the motor to burn out any condensation and circulate the fluids. I would high idle it after several minutes of normal idle. YMMV.

 

[Newsa]

Put a plow blade on it and make some money

 

[CRodi]

I forgot to mention the rodent prevention aspect of storage. We use dryer sheets placed in the cab and under the hood. Also the wife gets some mice prevention product that is in little bags, the name escapes me right now. Knock on wood since we started doing that we have had zero issues with squirrels or mice.

Mike:

Is this it?

https://www.earthkind.com/fresh-cab/

 

[JR]

Put a plow blade on it and make some money

Ignoring the fact that he's got a 2 wheel drive dually, it's dang hard making money like that. It's one thing if you already have a plow or need one for your property but to go spend $3-5k on a plow to do a few driveways with a $60k truck isn't a wise investment. Especially when you consider for 5 grand you can find a beater 4x4 with a plow on it if your patient and save your truck the abuse and the Carnage from the elements.

 

[CEppinger]

I would park it and leave it with a battery tender, with no starts until spring. Leave the block heater unplugged, rodents really like a nice warm engine to make a nest cozy. Just remember to plug it in a day or 2 before you plan to start it next year.

 

[LandShark]

I would park it and leave it with a battery tender, with no starts until spring. Leave the block heater unplugged, rodents really like a nice warm engine to make a nest cozy. Just remember to plug it in a day or 2 before you plan to start it next year.

Totally agree. Do what you can to keep critters out: I use a combination of traps, bait and electronic repellents. These trucks often sit on dealer lots for the whole winter with no prep. Starting every week kinda defeats the whole point of storing and in my opinion is very bad for the truck.