Cold Weather Start and Fuel

[ECard]

I have a 2003 Dodge Truck with Cummins engine. About a week ago the temp was about -2 F. When I went to start the vehicle it started OK but would stall if I tried to move it. I let it warm up about 20 minutes and it was fine.

I picked up some antigel additive and added it to the fuel. It seems that with the additive in the fuel the engine warmer light goes off much quicker than without it. (light indicating engine is warm enough to start) I later found my house GFI outlet breaker was out so my engine heater was off all night.



Question: What fuel antigel additive is the best for my engine? Is there an additive that should be added year round for engine maintenance?



By adding antigel additive is it requiring less warm-up time during the prestart of my vehicle? How does the engine pre-warm actually work? (What does it do)

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hi ECard, welcome to TDR!



As far as fuel additive, yes at those temps I think it would be a good idea. If you have a Wal-Mart in your area they should carry Power Service diesel additive. This will help keep it from gelling. Normally diesel fuel is winterized already but if the weather suddenly turns colder, the pre-winterized stuff may not cut it.



You are right, additive with lubricity additive is a good idea year round 'cause it helps with injection pump lubrication. I run it all the time. There is Stanadyne, Power Service, Howes, Amsoil, Lubrication Engineers and Amalgamated (some are available locally, others you'll have to order).



Check out the "First Time Cummins Owner" forum for help with questions new owners often have.



Once again welcome.



Vaughn



PS: You might want to delete the "G" at the end of Cummins in your post, sometimes people get flamed for spelling it "Cummings"

 

[illflem]

My feeling is that all the additives are about the same, use what is easy for you to acquire, that usually means Power Service or Howe's. Make sure to use an additive designed for diesel, gasoline additives won't provide anti-gel and in fact may damage your injection pump.

 

[FFutch]

I use Power-Service in my CTD and all of the power co. trucks(Cat 3116,3126,and PSD's). I've never had a gelling problem at temps well below 0 degrees. When I find something that works I stick with it(I'm hard-headed that way),thats why I'm still driving a DODGE pick-up. I've had several and they all get the job done exceptionally well. As far as warm up time,I love my Pac-brake for this. I start her up,flip on the Pac,go in the house for 10 minutes and shes at operating temp. It also works good slowing me down on a hill ... Doug

 

[Alan Reagan]

I use Stanadyne Performance. There is a very good article in the Cummins Roadmaster paper I got in today's mail about cold weather operation. They recommend additives for winter operation but would not specify a particular brand. The local Bosch shop is the one that recommended Stanadyne and that's why I use it.



The Cummins article discusses the fact that diesel fuel attracts water. The Bosch shop indicated the same thing and said that Stanadyne offers superior protection for the pump in case water makes it to the pump for some reason. They said water is sure death for a VP44 but that. I imagine Lucas, Howell and others probably offer the same protection and this shop sells them also.



The question of how does the pre warm work... ... If you are talking about wait to start, it is the grid heaters just prior to the intake. They heat the intake air to assist the engine in obtaining combustion on cold mornings. Since it is a combustible fuel based engine, a lot of efficiency is lost in the cold. In extreme cold, it's hard for the engine to generate the heat necessary to ignite the fuel. The grid heaters provide the additional heat to assist the combustion process until the engine can handle it on it's own. Until a good operating temp is reached, the combustion process inefficiency causes incomplete fuel burn resulting in smoke and internal engine deposits.



If you are talking about your block heater, it warms the water in the block. That is the best deal in the winter... . plug it in and have a fairly warm truck when you crank it up.

 

[R.E. Miller]

The fuel additive will have no effect on how long your grid heaters run. It may help in starting, especially if it increases the cetane rating of your fuel. Chances are though, that the fuel that goes into your truck in "winter" fuel, and already has some additives in it to assist cold weather operation. With the compression of your new engine, intelligence of the new ecm and fuel system, you should have little to no trouble starting in cold weather. Stalling after starting when it is as cold as you stated is kind of par for the course, even more so if you are running the oil that is designed for above that temp. It is often overlooked, but oil viscocity has a hugh effect on cold weather operation. The problem where I live, and this year is: record low temps, no know duration of how long they will last, and even at that, the next viscosity of oil to switch to puts you in a whole new temp window for operation; a temp range that is normally not around for too long. I would let your engine warm-up, but do not idle it for too long, that is about the worst thing you can do, I would seriously consider investing in a fast idle box or something of the sort, that way, you can fire it up, and you can warm it up at an rpm that is condusive to warming up rather then washing down.

Hope this helps,

Russell

 

[ECard]

I would like to thank you all for your replies.

You have cetainly answered my question and then some.

Over the past several days, still with record cold my truck has started and performed great



One last question.

I have been told not to idle the engine "too long" by several people. What is considered too long, 30 minutes - 3 hours ?



Thanks again everyone.

 

[Amianthus]

Longer than ~5-10 minutes. It's not as severe a problem in the summer as it is in the winter. But prolonged idling isn't a great idea.

 

[swampfox]

Minus 15 below now

Right now its 15 degrees below zero outside. I'm not planning to go anywhere right away but if I did I'm confident that my 2001. 5 would start right up even without the block heater assist. For Winter use I put in Synthetic oil (Rotella). I use 7 oz. of Power Service every other tanKfull in the Summer and every Tankfull in the Winter. When the temps are expected to get below zero I fill up with (Approx. ) 2/3 tank of 80% No. 2, 20% No. 1 and 1/3 tankful of 80% No. 1/20% No. 2.

I understand the 2003's have improved cold starting due to the new injection system... . starting down to -40F. The new 2003's may also have the high idle feature... which allows extended idling in cold weather... . check with your dealer.

IMO synthetic oil, proper fuel additives and good batteries are the secret to trouble-free starting in cold weather.