Cold Starts Hard Again.

[Jeff H]

Last winter New relays were installed and new excide 830 cca batteries were installed. Man did it start up great in 0 degrees.
Now this winter it seams to be hard to start again. Heaters are working. Engine turnover does seam a little slower though.
I think I'll try cleaning battery posts & cables. Cables to the intake heaters.
Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Jeff H.

 

[illflem]

Jeff,clean and tighten the connections at both ends of all the battery cables. Plug it in if you can,Cummins says the block heater is required at 0°and below,even though they will start,it just makes it harder on your starting system and engine.
Hey, did the wastegate help ya?

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 12-14-2000). ]

 

[danandamy]

Get the batteries checked out. Even though they are only a year old, extreme conditions can really shorten the life. If just one of them is week it'll draw the other down. A nearby NAPA should have a neat tester they can check them out with. They just punch in the CCA and it'll tell them how many CCA's the battery actually has. Of course, you have to disconnect the batteries from each other (though not completly from the truck) to check them out.

[This message has been edited by danandme (edited 12-14-2000). ]

 

[Jeff H]

Still starts hard after cleaning posts and cable ends. Gonna have to check batteries a starter. They talking 20 below actual temp next week.

 

[JJW_ND]

Jeff:

Can't remember if you said you are still running straight 15w40 oil or not. That will make a huge difference in cranking speed. I run 5w30 synthetic. With the kinda temps we are having now, straight 15w40 is to thick unless your truck is always in a garage.

jjw
ND

 

[Cooker]

I disagree on the assumption that with conventional 15w40 the engine will turn over slower. I'm running Delvac 1300 15w40 and I think the engine turns over the same as say 50 degree weather. Last night -1 air temp, truck unfortunately unplugged, sat for 7 hours and fired right up, without a slow cranking speed. The truck did stumble for a split second after it fired but then idled just fine.

 

[illflem]

I'm with you Cooker,I buy my Delo 15-40 in 55ga drums so I like to keep using it year round,been doing it for 25+ years,all my trucks and tractors crank the same speed year round. Now if I put that 15-40 in 4 cyl Jap car, who's starter motor is the size of a Rams windshield wiper motor,and it's zero I guarantee it will crank slower. Cummins doesn't recommend 10-30 for use in temps above 10°F,hope to see that for a day or two every couple weeks in the winter,some winters here in Eastern WA never go below 10°,but not this one.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[JJW_ND]

I was referring to temps below -10 which I know MN gets. We have had many days not get above -5 over the last few weeks. Then add 30 - 40 MPH winds for several days. Wake in the morning at -18 to - 25. It is getting old real fast. Even Premium Blue 2000 gets very thick below -15 in my experience. This applies to startin in these temps with no oil pan heaters ect. Just 12V power and -15 oil.

If you are in a garage every night that is a different story.

Keep in mind, you MIGHT get it started but your going to hate how long it takes to get Oil presure.

Lots of things freezing and breaking this winter that have not for several. Really got spoiled the last few open winters.

jjw
ND

 

[Jeff H]

I here ya JJW-ND.
I think ol-man winter is finally here. But with a vengace. Making up for the past couple of wimpy winters.
I switched to 10-30 Rotella late fall. Evevry year I run 10-30 from late fall to early spring.

 

[Sled Puller]

Jeff H,
You were on another thread saying noone will change your mind about oil, yet here you are saying you are having starting problems!


You may change your own mind before this winter is over!
You asked for suggestions, so don't flame me!
Switch to Synthetics, the time is now.
Every little bit helps those batterys last longer.
Gene



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1997 Cummins Dodge 4x4 Bombed & Amsoiled. Amsoil Premiere Direct Jobber, Member of: NRA Business Alliance, GLTDR, WANTED: Wrecked Dodges.
www.awdist.com

 

[illflem]

I'm sure it takes a few seconds for the oil pressure to build,but not as long as the gauge shows. You can tell,even in warm weather, by the change in engine noise when the oil hits. I've noticed the 24 valves are much nosier until the pressure comes up,maybe they have a weak oil pump along with their weak lift pump.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

[dieselshadow]

e-mail me if you want some oil pan heaters or battery heaters. Everybody uses them here, we have to. Napa sells them here for around $20 a piece. I use Rottela T 15w40 year-round with no problem. I just replaced both batteries this summer with Champion 1000cca from Sam's club for $45 each. My engine cranks as fast now at -30 as it does in the summer. (yes it does get warm up here)

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J Case
'95 2500 4x4 Auto Reg Cab
BD tc, vb, Pressure lock, #5 fuel plate, 4" exhaust, and K&N RE-0880.


BOHICA!!!!

'99 KTM 300 EXC

 

[Cooker]

Question on the wait for oil pressure issue. I was at my Cummins Michigan service shop and their in-house Dodge Cummins guru and I were having a discussion about this same topic. He said not to worry about the oil pressure gauge because it is inaccurate at startup. The truck has oil pressure from the second it fires and not when the delayed gauge says so.

Any thoughts? I'm sure many of you disagee with this.

 

[BadAndy]

I agree that synthetic helps over standard oil for cold weather starting. After 80K of standard 15/40 i now run synthetic 15/40 and definately notice a difference during cold startups. Engine smooths out faster after start in cold weather.

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96 2500 extended cab full bed with a cap. 100% Amsoil with bypass oil filter. Everything else stock except bypassing the RWAL (rear wheel antiloc) operation so the truck will now stop when i hit the breaks without turning my hair white.

 

[Jeff H]

MGM. Show me the thread I flamed you on.
Sounds like you were talking to another Jeff.
Oil is not the problem here. Trust me.

 

[Sled Puller]

No, I meant I didn't want flamed for mentioning oil! Too late. #ad

Gene

 

[engcsm]

Although mine starts immediately upon engaging the starter in warm weather, I have found that, if it is below 30 degrees, it helps to give it just a little throttle. Seems to take a load off the starting system. After having to replace the starter and the batteries, I want it to fire as quick as it will.

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David Harris