Cold weather start

[dragan54]

Need some of your invaluable input. I am goping to have my truck parked in a parking lot for about 4 days and the temperature is supposed to get below 10 degrees for at least a couple of those nights.



Here is my question. Will the spray starter fluid help me get it started? Reason I asked is I just tried to start it today after sitting for a bout 5 days and temp dropped to 5 last night and it wouldn't start. Not even a pop before the battery gave up. I put the charger on it and plugged in the engine heater for about 2 hours and it started right up.



Any ideas or hints much appreciated



I also broke a 100K today



Thanks

 

[gjones813]

well, I let mine sit up in Buffalo NY last year for 10 days and it was cold, and I too was worried if would start, but it did... you need new batteries buy two not one.

 

[CBrabec]

If its gonna sit that long, yes replace your batteries if there bad and add a whole 32oz bottle of power service and you'll be fine. Mine just sat for 5 days unplugged at my in laws farm ( due to a transmission line leak ) and i went there today to fix the truck and it started right up with no issues. Take a bottle of 911 wth you just in case.

 

[rscurtis]

The spray fluid will help get you started alright. Your first stop will be the dealer for new intake plumbing, new air filter assembly, and maybe a new intercooler. Your truck should start effortlessly at 10 degrees.

 

[TCDiesel]

The spray fluid will help get you started alright. Your first stop will be the dealer for new intake plumbing, new air filter assembly, and maybe a new intercooler. Your truck should start effortlessly at 10 degrees.

X2 the starting fluid may ignite when the heat grids Reach max temp then BOOM. -10 with correct crankcase oil and good fuel no problem, In fact I have test My 03 to -42 cycled the key 3 time fired right up with a little smoke and took right off to 1k Rpms.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

TWest said "-42" ... . Pffffftttttt:-laf



That must have been on one of your snowmachine adventures to WY



The neighbors here in John Day think I'm off my nut because I still plug the truck or car in and cover the windshield with a sheet of plastic every night. Although, I don't actually fire up the frost plug heater until I get up in the AM.



10 degrees won't be a bit of a problem if you cycle the grid heaters a couple of times. However, I've found that it also depends somewhat on the truck, or more likely how well tuned up it is. My first 98 12v was phenomenal at easy starting in MT and WY winters. The rest have been okay, but not near as eager to start purring as that 98. The only time I've had one fail to start was due to the batteries no longer being able to hold a decent charge... . besides the dead fuel shutoff solenoid learning experience.

 

[TCDiesel]

Wow ,We are here in Dubois now, leaving tomorrow,O did you hear of the run in at had last Feb with one of F/S official... I hope this post finds you doing well? Yep it was in West Yellowstone about five Years ago when the Gray wolf did not match the Yellowstones rates (Gray wolf has underground Parking) That was the Gray wolf only time in 12 years they let our group accommodations go to someone else. the wife Tami says HI.

 

[CToney]

You can use starting fluid but you must first disconnect the grid heater. Good batteries, 0w40 oil, and away you go. My old '93 sat for a few day and it was -20C and cycle her twice and she fired right up. That was with one battery though.

 

[JamesStevens]

You can use starting fluid but you must first disconnect the grid heater. Good batteries, 0w40 oil, and away you go. My old '93 sat for a few day and it was -20C and cycle her twice and she fired right up. That was with one battery though.

No U don't have to disconnect the grid heater, just get in and start cranking her over, don't give em time to heat up. Have done that couple times in my old 03 couple times when the battery's were getting weak.

 

[CToney]

You are braver and must have better luck than me. If I tried that I'd probably blow my truck up. It only takes a second to pop off the trigger wires to the solenoids for the grids.

 

[rscurtis]

I think James Stevens should start buying lottery tickets.

 

[BIGNASTY]

there's an *** born every min.

I've always loosened the band clamp on the air horn and pulled the intercooler tube off. Then a whiff up the nose and she starts.



I've used a lot of ether to explode/seat tire beads on 37", 40" and 42" tires. Most of the time the ensuing explosion pops the 150# tire and steel rim off the ground a few inches. I figure if that happened in a closed intercooled system, the intercooler would probably be toast.



Here's a video of a guy using about 100x what you need to start the truck

(or seat the bead)



YouTube - ether tire mounting #1

what a dumb thing to do Ive seen some dumb *** things in my days of trucking but using ether has to rank very high as the most RED NECK way of seating a tire bead. Seen a old boy at a tire shop in Tacoma Wa. loose about 8 inches of scalp doing that very thing. Made my drive back to SO CAL allot better couldnt stop laughing for 1200 miles:-laf:-laf

 

[JamesStevens]

You are braver and must have better luck than me. If I tried that I'd probably blow my truck up. It only takes a second to pop off the trigger wires to the solenoids for the grids.

But if U don't let the grid heaters heat up, how is there going to be a Explosion? If U get in and turn the key all the way to crank nothing heats up. As far as I know the grids dont get any power while cranking? I don't recommend to anyone using Either on our trucks, using either method. Mine have always started good with good batteries. I did not know it was that easy to pop off the trigger wires, that is good info.

 

[TCDiesel]

You can dis-connect the power source at the Rider sider positive connection or just pull the relay trigger wires on the relays.

 

[rbattelle]

My 03 to -42 cycled the key 3 time fired right up with a little smoke and took right off to 1k Rpms.

Good batteries, 0w40 oil, and away you go. My old '93 sat for a few day and it was -20C and cycle her twice and she fired right up. That was with one battery though.

Are you both using 0W-40? That's only available as a synthetic, right?



Ryan

 

[TCDiesel]

5-30 S-3000 amsoil.

 

[nanook]

its negative 33 here today and had to fire my dodge up to move it to plow, no problem.....

 

[WyattEarp]

my '92 has set before over nite and its be anywhere from 5-20 below and not plugged in, i must warn u though she sounds like she is about to shake apart but even when i haven't plugged her in, cycle grids 3times and off she goes. I also have seen affects of either or starting fluid i don't trust the stuff one bit, might be ok in a gasser but not in a machine that will and has started when gas engines wouldn't even think about turning over in brutal cold weather but thats my own exp. To each his own and good luck and i also agree each truck is different its like they get acclimated to the weather.

 

[nanook]

Ether is really bad, never on my truck... .

 

[PWirth]

I agree, Ether can cause some big problems. My dad had an Isuzu Pup diesel when I was growing up and he had a cylinder scored and had to sleeve it because he used ether to get it started one cold winter day. It sounds like your batteries are going bad, 5 degrees will definitely show those kind of problems. It is also possible that you would just need to clean up the terminals, but I have rarely had that really fix the problem -- it just let me make it another month before replacing the battery. When I go out ice climbing I bring along a little generator just in case I would need to warm it up and charge the batteries. It is just a 1kW Coleman that I bought at a pawn shop for $250. I also use it with the RV.