cold starting issue

[mazdarotary]

Well as most of you know New england here has turned into a mini arctic over the past week with today being the coldest.



Well I just went out to head to a friends house to watch the Patriots game when. . The grid heaters cycled for a good amount of time so i shut the key off again and cycled them a few more time before starting it up. It cranked over slow,and didn't catch right away but did start.



The truck was making a nasty chug-chug noise that I have never really heard before even on cold days before,and blowing so nice clouds of smoke which i have seen before.



I got nervous about the chugging noise and shut her down because i was worried it was hurting the engine. Was I smart to do that?Should I have just let it go and warm up?



I called my friend and said I wasn't going over so that isn't a big deal,but come tommorow and monday I am sure i will need it. The truck has been plugged in all day and all of last night as well after I ran an errand. Do I have a bigger problem than maybe needing a new battery?



Chris

92 D250 CC

74 Mazda REPU

83 Mazda RX-7

00 Mazda Protege ES "hers"

 

[bgilbert]

Chris, I'd say that is just the nature of the beast. Your fuel might have been starting to gel, could have had moisture,water in the system that was trying to freeze. I've experienced this with the big diesels and after a few, the big chug chug stopped. I even had the bad experience of having my Peterbuilt with C-15 Cat gel on me, fired it up, chug chug, pedal to the floor, chugs get faster, smoke roaring out the stacks, just hoping to keep it running but nope, shutoff on me. So much for the company not paying for fuel additive, $300 tow bill to shop.



Ok sorry for that blah,,,. . Actually the other night in my 89 CTD, I filled it up, poured in the fuel additive, drove for about 10 miles stop and go traffic, figured it was mixed up throughout the system good enough. Ran good while bar hoping throughout the night, bout 2 am, temp was 5F, truck fired right up, idle for about a minute, then as i started down the road, it did the same as you, chug chug, for about a block or so. The next day, I added more additive and bought 3 red bottles of the water in system remover, -iso heet I think. Hasnt been as cold since, but no more chugs. Bill

 

[nascar mark]

Chug chug is normal for real cold weather. Just raise idle to 1500 rpm's when possible and hold til engine clears.

 

[Paychk]

Originally posted by bgilbert

I added more additive and bought 3 red bottles of the water in system remover, -iso heet I think.

You may want to check I'm not sure if IsoHeet is a product that is made for diesel. I believe it contains pure Isopropyl Alcohol and that will act as a fuel thinner and causes water to combine with gas. I'm not sure if it has the same effect on diesel, if it does and water goes into the injector pump, accelerated wear will occur. The water remover's for diesel prevent the water from freezing so the filter can remove it.

 

[mazdarotary]

Should be giving it some fuel when I start it?Should i give it a bit after it starts,and before the oil press gauge goes up?I usually just start it without the pedal at all. Am I doing this wrong?



I always run Power Service fuel additive in both tanks,and buy nothing but Premium Diesel at a local truck stop.



Chris

 

[bgilbert]

Chris, you are doing it correct, starting it without the throttle mashed. I would never give it throttle until oil pressure builds. I was in a company truck, where they dont get as much TLC as compared to one you own. Plus prior to starting I checked the tanks and could see the fuel starting to gel, this is why I was mashing the throttle. I wouldnt do this to my truck. The best thing for gelling or other cold weather problems would be taking preventative measures like you are already doing, buying fuel from a big truck stop and using the correct amount of fuel additive. You might try some of the iso heet in the red bottle, NOT the yellow bottle.

Alan, yes the red bottle of heet the premium type, is for both gas and diesel. On the yellow bottle 'Heet', it says NOT for diesels. Bill

 

[JLEONARD]

Mazdarotary,

I had to fire mine up yesterday am with a temp of about -2 and no heater plugged in.

Turned over v e r y s l o w l y and took a little cranking to start... ran like you described for a minute or so until it straightened out. Took about 15 sec to see oil p on the gage.

Sounded normal to me.

Jay

 

[steveinaz]

when i was in alaska i had a d-8 dozer chug for an hour and a half before it cleared up. it was so cold the propane pre-heater wouldn't start. dont worry about the chugging

 

[tugboatphil]

Chris,



I was working in Iowa back in 97 (sounds like something my Grandpa used to say) and at the time, knew nothing about the grid heaters. Mine didn't make much noise, on the 90, and I didn't have a working "Wait to Start" light. Also, I had always plugged in for the cold at home.



I tried starting one morning and I thought the battery would wear out before it turned over. Made the awfullest sounding chugging I'd ever heard. Let her idle for a couple and then drove around at idle speed for a couple more. All the time it felt like she was about to break apart from vibration. Several miles down the road there was nothing abnormal.



I mentioned this to a mechanic friend who then chastised me for being so ignorant of start up procedures. Never had a problem after that. I always run additive in the fall through spring religiously. I forget in the summer sometimes, but still run it for lubricity.



I have no favorite this year... how bout them Pats??

 

[RGT]

I would check to make sure your block heater is in fact woking, when plugged in for even 2 hours my grid heaters won't cycle and it fires real quick, where you said your's was plugged in all day... . if I listen close when I plug it in I can here a reassuring arc, so I know it's drawing current. after being plugged in for a while put your hand down on the block near it and it should feel warm.....

 

[Forrest Nearing]

there's probably something wrong w/ me, but I kinda like that chugging sound when it's cold... I don't let it sit there and chug away, I give it enough throttle to smooth it out and hold it there for a minute while I get settled in and buckled in and then start driving... granted, "cold" down here is only like 20* F



the first time I heard it chug I had just replaced a leaking delivery valve fitting and had just bled the injectors... I thought there was something wrong with it, but then it dawned on me that it was cold out and I hadn't plugged in...



Forrest

 

[mazdarotary]

I have no favorite this year... how bout them Pats??



How 'bout them Pats!!!!!!!!



I am thrilled. Looks to be a tough game again though with Indy in town.



Well back to my starting issue. I tried to start it this morning,and the battery turned it over a few times and then just quit. I had to go out and get a new battery. It isn't nearly as big as the one that was in it but has 950 CCA which isn't as much as I wanted,but on a sunday it was the best I could get.



On a related note i guess i forgot to unplug the truck in my haste to head off this morning after installing the new battery. Because after getting over my father in laws he went over to plug me in while we went out in his truck,and he got a pretty good burn from the cord of my BH that was a bit cracked near the plug end. I thought it to be no big deal until I got home tonight and realized my cord that is usually sitting on the ground next to the driveway wasn't there. I must have looked like a real $**thead dragging the cord for how ever long i did. I can't believe I did it,or that I am telling you guys I did it. I really loved that cord too it was one of the glowing cap cords that was a nice heavy 12 gauge. Well when i noticed that,and the arcing that it caused to my Father-in-law i decided to cut the cord on the BH and put a new cord cap on. I did this all in the cold dark yard. Man I hate it when I have a brain fart.

Maybe I should go look for my cord.



Take it easy on me guys when you make fun.



Chris

 

[Paychk]

Ya know, if you hunt that cord it the dark, I'll bet that little glow thing will be easy to spot.

 

[JLEONARD]

Ya know, if I saw you dragging the cord I would have laughed my butt off... :-laf :-laf

But only because I know it can happen and feel lucky that I haven't done it yet!!



Jay

 

[Greenleaf]

Hmmmmm



:-laf



BTW them glow plug-ends,,, they only serve to attract vandals here at the school. Drive past and see three glowing extension cord ends... ... kinda tempting to some.



Greenleaf

 

[bgilbert]

Chris, that is why most trucking companies wrapped the extension cord around the drivers grab handle or door, so they wont jump in and take off. Opps. Good thing I don't plug mine in, cause I'd probly do the same. Bill

 

[RGT]

when my wife was driving the 240D MB I used to route the extension cord over the windshield and around to the driver's door handle area.

 

[DieselBuzz]

Chris

I have to back away from my cord. So far it has unplugged its self if I forget.

Art