Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Cold weather high altitude starting

[RyanStewart]

I know its probably a little early for this type of question, but I just found out I'll be living in the ski country in Colorado this winter and I've been thinking about how my truck is going to run up there. How hard is a 12 valve going to be to start at 10000 ft in the middle of winter? What can I do to help it out? I'm planning on advancing the timing, running synthetic oil in the engine and a winter front before I go.



I might not be able to plug in the block heater (not sure I'll be parked close enough to an outlet) so I'm thinking about an Esbar of Webasto heater, but they're awfully expensive. If it gets down below zero will I still be able to start the truck without preheating the engine, or will a heater of some kind be an absolute necessity?

 

[BarryG]

Obviously being able to plug in will help. So will the syn oil. In the winter I run amsoil 5/30 and I notice a definite difference in starting. I doubt you will have any problem. I dont know much about 12 valves but too much fuel will not help the starting and make sure your grid heaters work. I have found my 24 valve hard to start at elevation without grid heaters below about 15degrees and have had it not start without grid heaters at around 5 degrees(I fixed the grids shortly thereafter and no more problem down to as cold as it gets up there). Also make sure your batteries are in good shape. Sometimes I run the grids twice if it is really cold out but generally never a problem.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Don't advance the timing too much, that makes 'em harder to start (stay around 15. 5 degrees timing). 12 valves seem to start pretty good in the cold. I started my '96 on a single battery at 0F last winter without being plugged in. Had dino oil too. Since I was afraid the grid heater would run it down too much I only gave it 3 seconds to heat before I started cranking. I pushed the accelerator down half way and it did start, although it sputtered and blew lots of white smoke for about 5 seconds. I think you'll be fine with 2 batteries even if you can't plug in, as long as it doesn't get too far below 0.

Vaughn

 

[Coalsmoke]

How cold are we talking here? I'm a canuckian, so when people say cold, they mean -30 to -40 and I'm not particularly familiar with Colorado's weather. 0*F is nothing to worry about, just cycle the grid heaters twice, but start getting around -20F and you'll want two good quality batteries and your fuel and grid heaters properly working. An espar is something neat to have, but not necessary. I get to cheat a little, I have a welder on my truck so I can plug my block heater into that if need be, but as a back up, I have an inverter in my truck, and if it gets below -30F, then I can run the block heater off the inverter for a half hour first, if I can't plug it into anything else. This is where the healthy-sized batteries come into play. I think between them I have 2200CCA (that's rated@0*F) and 420 minutes (7 hours) of reserve capacity at 25A before the battery voltage drops below 10. 5V. The most important thing IMHO is to let the truck properly warm up when tis that cold. I turn the exhaust brake go on and don't move it until it gets to 300*F in the exhaust manifold.

 

[BFaoro]

Coalsmoke is right on, I have lived all my life in CO. and have never had any problems starting . I don't even plug her in. Just cycle the grid heaters and it starts right up !! I would try it for a while and see how the truck works, if it doesn't start you can always add the items on !

 

[RTillery]

I've started at -17 up hunting with no plug in. Ran through -35 with no trouble in my CR. I was in Craig and the locals heard it was -62 in Maybell. Unusual but we have our moments here in Colorado.



Having really good quality batteries is mandatory. Treat your fuel. Keep an extra fuel filter in the truck and maybe some 911 handy. Park on a hill if you can. I have tried letting my truck roll, even backwards, and started by letting out the clutch. She fires right up. Keep an extention cord in the truck and try to have access to a lil Honda generator if you can. You'll be fine. Where are you going to be working?

 

[arthr31]

all great advice here. one thing i would stress about cold starting, depress the go pedal a bit before cranking over, you'll save on the starter. I find, in New England, I cycle the grids 2x when it's below 10F. Always starts. Smokes a lot, but is running. Good luck.

 

[RyanStewart]

Thanks everyone. I'm more concerned about the cold AND the high altitude than just the cold by its self. I've experienced both with a diesel before, although it was my old 6. 2 Chevy Blazer. I tried to start it at 8000 feet once and it stalled twice before it would idle, and this was in the middle of summer. I spent a couple days with a friend of mine in Breckenridge (where I'll be) in May and was surprised when the Dodge started with just a bump of the starter, although it did smoke quite a bit more for the first few minutes.



Vaughn, I thought advancing the timing helps with starting. My Blazer has a cold advance function on the injector pump that advances the timing when the engine is cold to help it keep running, so I thought a little advance on the Dodge would help, since as far as I know theres nothing to alter the timing dynamically on the P7100. Or is it just past about 15. 5 degrees that advancing the timing hurts starting ability?

 

[MMcCallie]

Some of the nights i've camped with my truck up at elevation this summer have dipped into the 40s. Altitude will likely result in changes like higher EGTs and hazing from what i've experienced. As far as starting, i haven't noticed any negative affectations linked strictly to altitude.

For the cold, you might adjust your idle set screw to make it easier to start and stay running. I have my idle very low and regardless of elevation, it won't always idle right off until warm. Timing is 18 degrees, haven't tried it in the winter yet.

There are starting fluids that claim to be usable on diesels. I keep a can in my truck just in case. As long as your fuel doesn't gel, the heat developed from the compression of just trying to start should warm the engine enough after a few cranks. Then again, i have not yet tried starting my Cummins at 14,000' in -30 F weather yet. I'm sure i'll have the chance next winter.

 

[Coalsmoke]

Keep in mind that starting fluid and grid heaters might make for an exlosive combination.

 

[EKlem]

As long as the truck is running well, it should not be a problem. I have only ever plugged my truck in once and have started it at around -30 a bunch of times and it still only takes about 2 seconds of cranking. If the engine is turning over quickly(good batteries, clean electrical connections and synthetic oil), and there is fuel(make sure that you don't gel), it will start. I have never had problems with starting at altitude but I don't have a ton of experience with it.



As far as the timing goes, vaughn is right, you don't want to advance it too much. Advancing it some will help keep the blue smoke down but if you advance it a lot, it will be hard to start.