Brrrrrrr

[WDaniels]

Here is a couple pictures you might like. A little background. Came to work this morning and it was -38 below. After the sun came up the temp dropped down to -48. At these temps most work is suspended unless its higher headquarters rated.

WD

P. S. After 6 years I finally figured on how to upload pictures. Quick ain't I?

 

[MickeyMiller]

In those temps, EVERYTHING takes a little longer... ...

 

[MMeier]

Warren, keep that nasty cold up there by you... gonna be 80* here next week!!! :-laf

 

[WDaniels]

Mark, I always knew you were a wuss. :-laf Trucks been sitting for over a week and when I next drive it the tires will be flat on the bottom and will not round out for about a half mile. Rough ride those TOYO load range "E's" can give. All part of living at close to the end of the world.

WD

 

[fest3er]

Mark, I always knew you were a wuss. :-laf Trucks been sitting for over a week and when I next drive it the tires will be flat on the bottom and will not round out for about a half mile. Rough ride those TOYO load range "E's" can give. All part of living at close to the end of the world.

WD

Warren,



-40 or so might just seem a little chilly to me, even thought I've become a 'southern boy' in the few years I've lived here in VA. My hair and beard have been growing since mid-October (3" and counting), so my head is well insulated. A couple hours outside at -10 in MI trying to get my gelled fuel to flow wasn't so bad. At -40, though, I might need to ditch my sandals and wear a proper pair of Sorrels over my wool socks.



Neal

 

[HOBrian]

How the heck does the temp go from -38* with no sun to -48* with sun:--)

 

[TPCDrafting]

WD, is that a polar bear right there by that snow bank?

 

[Jim Fulmer]

W Daniels are you guys getting the planes ready or de-icing? At those temps ice shouldn't form to well on the wings. I'd bet when you show up you have to first put the battery's back in the plane the start the warm up process... ... long and painful.



Heck it was -10 chill factor in Omaha NE. and I was even complaining a little as I didn't have a ski mask.



Jim

 

[nickleinonen]

How the heck does the temp go from -38* with no sun to -48* with sun

sun burned the cloud cover away maybe?

dang, way too cold for me

 

[klenger]

We're having a cold spell too. It was only 55 here today. I can't wait for summer.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think I'll stay down here in the "South" where it's "warm"

 

[WDaniels]

Ok, lets answer these in an orderly fashion.

First of all, good to hear from you Neal, its been a long time.

1. HObrian- Always when the sun first peeks over the horizon the temps up here drop. Something to do with the atmosphere. Today it was -39 when I came to work and when the sun first came up it dropped to -57 on the flightline. That early in the morn the sun does nothing but light up stuff. No heat. Then around 2 pm it had warmed up to about -15. Right now its about -20 in town.

TPCD, if your looking at the first picture, thats a neglected pick-a-nick table. The only action it sees in the winter is the smokers standing by it to smoke. Yes... even at 50 below they have to go outside.

Jim,

Normally at these temps we don't fly. If its warm inside we will do maintenance in them. At these temps the night shift will put a heater in the nose for some avionics, a heater on each wheel well to keep the hydraulics warm, a heater in the back hatch to help keep the inside warm and a heater in the front access to keep the cockpit windows warm so they don't break.

As far as the batteries, the airplanes use two Ultima red tops. After seeing how they work in the airplanes, I wouldn't have them.

Klenger,

FIFTY FIVE! Thats Alaskan swimsuit weather. Heck, after 2 weeks of this cold, at zero, people will be walking around in only shortsleeve shirts, shorts and flip flops. No kidding. (No said that they were smart tho. )

Vaughn,

We are neighbors, only 4 days of hard driving seperates us. Come on up.



Only 22 months more of this crap and I'm outta here!

WD

 

[HEMI®Dart]

WDaniels,



Do the planes run differently when it's that cold? In other words, do the hydraulic systems still work OK?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

How the heck does the temp go from -38* with no sun to -48* with sun:--)

Here is the Degree symbol if you want to use it = °

 

[WDaniels]

Bill,

The 135 uses MIL-H-87257 (I think)which is fire resistant. At those temps the fluid gets so thick that when if you turn on the Auxillary hyd pumps(aux pumps) they will most likely cavitate. Sometimes if its not to cold, zero and above, they will turn on the pumps but leave the pressure switch off so the fluid will recurculate(sp) Once the engines are running and the engine mounted hyd pumps are turning, the pumps will keep the fluid hot. But in the beginning, its best to warm the pumps and surrounding fluid with the heaters. When its that cold, everything runs differently. I go through shocks on my truck every 2 years because they get so cold at -50 that when you hit bumps in the road,(and EVERY road has bumps and cracks) it will normally blow them out and in the spring they are toast.

WD

 

[JCasper]

How well does your truck start in those temps? How do you keep the fuel from gelling? Is the truck always plugged in?

 

[WDaniels]

Once it hits about 15 degrees I start plugging it in. I also have a Wabesto heater in it. I love that thing, the truck is warm on the inside plus helping to warm the engine in conjunction with the block heater. Come about the end of September the gas stations start putting #1 diesel in their tanks. Only one station sold #2 this winter but it was to far to go to bother with it. I use either Diesel Power Service in the white bottle, a third of a bottle per tank or up to half a bottle per tank and or Howes for lubrication and moisture. #1 doesn't gell until about -85 or so, and it doesn't get that cold here. During this cold snap the last 10 days my wifes been in the lower 48 and I'm driving her car, but I keep the truck plugged in 24/7 just incase I need to use it. Like I said in my second post, the tires get square and is a rough ride for a little while and a weather front is a must on the Cummins too.

WD