Cold starting tips

[ELK311]

NEW CTD owner. Want to know if there are any tips for cold weather starting when a/c power is not available. Going hunting in the mountains and will not have power available for block heater for 10 days. I'll most likely have climatized diesel, but that's it. Also 15-40 Delo 400. Temps should range from 35-teens. Will there even be any problems?

 

[JasonCzerak]

NEW CTD owner. Want to know if there are any tips for cold weather starting when a/c power is not available. Going hunting in the mountains and will not have power available for block heater for 10 days. I'll most likely have climatized diesel, but that's it. Also 15-40 Delo 400. Temps should range from 35-teens. Will there even be any problems?

Depending on how windy things + if the temps are <10*. I like to cycle the grid heater once. wait 30 seconds, cycle again and then turn the key. She'll jump to 1000rpm instantly and seem like she's on 3 cylinders for a bit and rattle your teeth out. But in 30 seconds all 6 will fire.



Atleast idle for 20 minutes before moving if this is the case. Crank the A/C on so the motor has some resistance to work helps.

 

[JLEONARD]

With temps in the teens, my old beast fires right up even if I don't let the grids cycle... and that's with only one battery. I rarely let it idle before I drive... I just take it easy for a few miles. . keep the boost under 10 till the temp gets up a bit.

These engines start very easily compared to other diesels..... especially when you let the grids go thru a cycle.

Go hunting and enjoy yourself and don't worry about the truck. It will start. Worry about aiming straight!!!

Jay

 

[AlK]

My 92 started at -29° Fahrenheit after sitting in the bush for a week. If the truck has a good battery she should fire right up.

 

[fkovalski]

Also- try and park the front of the truck towards the predominant sun angle direction if possible.



I have some pretty raw temperature in my neck of the woods and cannot plug in at work. I park facing west and the radient temps on a sunny day do make the cycling easier.



Keep us posted on your success!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Above zero I wouldn't worry about a thing, my truck started at -25f without being plugged in, it didn't sound pretty but it started. When I went ice fishing with some friends in the northern Maine area, quite a ways from electric power where temps are known to dip to the -50 range I brought my handy dandy little generator with me, figuring if I needed to I could bring it in the trailer to warm it up to start it and then plug the truck in. It was about -10 after the truck had sat for 3 days and she fired right up, that was the old 93 I had.

 

[rbattelle]

Atleast idle for 20 minutes before moving if this is the case. Crank the A/C on so the motor has some resistance to work helps.

I very respectfully disagree with this advice. In my opinion, the danger of washing fuel into your oil due to incomplete combustion outweighs any perceived benefit of idling a cold engine. Couple that with the (apparent) tendency for carbon buildup on the common rail injectors. In my opinion, it's far better to drive the vehicle as soon as the grid heaters stop cycling (evidenced by the voltmeter moving to the normal position... takes 2 minutes).



If you're really paranoid, you might consider blocking the radiator.



-Ryan

 

[OWeigel]

Here´s some tips on cold weatherstarting!

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/FAQ/cold_wx.htm



However cover the radiator whenever the temp goes under 0*C or earlier will help getting temp earlier. (OMG these farenheit deg confuses me, can anyone help?)

I have started mine in -30*C without heater after sitting about 10-15 hours. No problem! But it RATTLES! :{ :-laf

Have to get the Catcher so I can have the high idle option. (No DC dealer who deals with Dodge in Sweden )



I´ve read somewhere NOT to idle the 24V for more than 15 min in cold weather cause the head runs too cold, building carbon on valves, causing them to get stuck and then bending the valves. :{