2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Cold weather starting

[BigMike]

I am working this winter at Mt. Bachelor ski resort here in Central Oregon. I'll be parking my truck for several hours at a time in extremely cold weather(single digit temps). No place to plug it in What is the best procedure to use when I start it? Should I cycle through the "wait to start" cycle more than once? How long should I let the truck idle before driving? At what RPM? Should I turn my exhaust brake on before I start my truck or after? Will that warm it up quicker? Any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[DCaswell]

As long as your batteries are in good shape you will not have any problem. Unless you are -0 you should not have to cycle your grid heaters. Single digit temps are not cold for your Cummins. I run 0-40 fully syn oil & that really helps as you have flow through the pump alot sooner. Some people think that o-40 syn is not good but I tow alot & this is the second CTD I have used it in with no problems & it is very common in this part of the world. I use it year round.

 

[DCaswell]

As long as your batteries are in good shape you will not have any problem. Unless you are -0 you should not have to cycle your grid heaters. Single digit temps are not cold for your Cummins. I run 0-40 fully syn oil & that really helps as you have flow through the pump alot sooner. Some people think that o-40 syn is not good but I tow alot & this is the second CTD I have used it in with no problems & it is very common in this part of the world. I use it year round. I use my ex brake soon as I fire up, heats much faster.

 

[DCaswell]

Ooooops :--)

 

[JJW_ND]

Run a 5W oil!

IMHO... the change that provides the most improvement in cold weather starting (temps below zero) is thinner oil. You can get by with 15W40 but it really taxes the batteries and requires everything be working at 100%. It becomes a problem much below -15.



There are now lots of good 5W oils. Both full synthetic and psudo synthetic. I believe the 5W is the magic as I did not notice a measurable improvement with 15W40 full synthetic over dino.



I like to run some fuel additive (primarily becuase I do not use #1 fuel or blend) which helps with starting also. I use both Stanadyne and Amalagated.



In my truck I need grid heaters to start when below zero. Down to zero, they are not required... . they help but but not required.



jjw

ND

 

[BDMiller]

In my experience you only need to cycle the grid heaters once. I did at test at 30 below zero. I cycled them once & it started right up as it always did. It was very noisy & it smoked a bit but it drove fine. It is best to kick the rpm's up to about 1400 for a little while. I use a fast idle solenoid. Now if you are only letting it set for a few hours in the cold at work, it should still be pretty warm. After 8 hours in the cold I rarely need to use the grid heaters again. If you can plug it in at home that would be best, these engines need two or three hours to to warm up from the block heater. Thwn drive it to work, park it & don't worry about the trip home.

 

[BigMike]

Brian, I park it in my garage at home. Temp probably never drops below 50. I don't plug it in when it's in my garage. Are you saying I should?

 

[Cummins Pilot]

I'll be parking my truck for several hours at a time in extremely cold weather(single digit temps).

Sorry but extremely cold don't start until about -30f.



For serveral hours the core of your engine will still have plenty of warmth. Even a full 8 hour shift mine still retains some warmth at 0f.



When mine is cold I'll let it slow idle for about a min or 2. Then I slowly kick it up. I kick it up until my egt pre turbo says 300. I'll let it run at that for about 5 mins. Then I drive off easy until I get indication on the temp gauge.

 

[BDMiller]

Brian, I park it in my garage at home. Temp probably never drops below 50. I don't plug it in when it's in my garage. Are you saying I should?

No.

It sounds lik you don't need to do anything. The drive into work should heat it up enough to start up again fine for the drive back home. On really cold days maybe cycle the grid heaters once. But for the most part I bet you can start it right up with minimal smoke.

 

[TMWeber]

Sorry but extremely cold don't start until about -30f.



For serveral hours the core of your engine will still have plenty of warmth. Even a full 8 hour shift mine still retains some warmth at 0f.



When mine is cold I'll let it slow idle for about a min or 2. Then I slowly kick it up. I kick it up until my egt pre turbo says 300. I'll let it run at that for about 5 mins. Then I drive off easy until I get indication on the temp gauge.

What he said. You can get away with alot, but it doesn't hurt to be patient with it and bring up the operating temps slow.

 

[JFitzgerald]

Should I turn my exhaust brake on before I start my truck or after? Will that warm it up quicker?

I haven't had my new truck in very cold weather yet, but did try turning the exhaust brake on while warming up once. It did seem to speed up the warm up. I'd turn it on after the engine is running, but don't really know if it makes a difference.