Cold weather starting

[JCasper]

I am heading over to central oregon this weekend and next. I will probably be able to plug my truck in some of the time but not for sure. The temperatures at night are going to be around 5 or 10 degrees. Is there generally a problem starting them in these temperatures. The motor just has Delo 400 15w-40 in it and I do use Stanadyne Performance formula in my fuel. I have some Stanadyne cold weather stuff should I put that in my fuel. Thanks in advance.



Joe

 

[Pawpaw]

Add the anti-gel and the truck will start just fine. If it's not plugged in, it will run rough for the first few miles, but it won't hurt anything. Using the block heater will help that.



Bob

 

[kschaap]

Hey, 5ºF is nothing to worry about. It gets far colder than that here in Minnesota. If there is one thing I should say, it's that I'm both surprised and impressed with how well these trucks start when it's cold out. Pay attention to the manual though. If temps get below 0ºF, you should use synthetic oil EXCLUSIVELY.



I had the dealer do an oil change for me in October, and the Turkeys used standard 10W-30. By November the temps hit -20ºF and my engine barely turned over even though I had it plugged in at night. It knocked so bad once it started that I quickly shut it off again. With the synthetic oil, I don't even need to use my plug-in till it get's really cold (less than -10ºF or so) and the engine never knocks.



Have fun in Oregon!

 

[oilrunner]

You guys don't have a clue about cold weather.

First let me start by saying I live in North Pole, ALaska.

Yeah, there really is a real North Pole. Anyway, as usual I plug my rig in when it's below 0 outside. I have an auto start installed and a few weeks ago when the temps were down to -30 I started my rig just before jumping into the shower, the only thing is that I forgot to plug my rig in.



Yeah, the wife said my truck sounded terrible. But, she started and warmed up just fine. So, no worries, I just try to be a little more careful. . plugging in at night.



:-laf



ike on

 

[kschaap]

Cold weather

Hey TMan... we've go polar bears too I hope you know.

 

[JCasper]

Do any of you know if I can mix my Stanadyne Performance formula with the Cold weather stuff too. Probably won't hurt, but I won't do it unless someone else thinks it is o. k.



At what temperature does diesel start to gel up?



Thanks, Joe

 

[Pawpaw]

You guys don't have a clue about cold weather.

First let me start by saying I live in North Pole, ALaska.

Do I detect a little one-upsmanship? Well then, does the year I spent at Cape Liz count?



For those that don't know, that's at the very northwestern corner of AK, about 150 miles above the Arctic Circle.



Bob

 

[JasonCzerak]

I am heading over to central oregon this weekend and next. I will probably be able to plug my truck in some of the time but not for sure. The temperatures at night are going to be around 5 or 10 degrees. Is there generally a problem starting them in these temperatures. The motor just has Delo 400 15w-40 in it and I do use Stanadyne Performance formula in my fuel. I have some Stanadyne cold weather stuff should I put that in my fuel. Thanks in advance.



Joe

Yeah, you should be fine. . Might wanna cycle the heater twice without a block heater as it nears 0. I run with my block heater under 30 at home, and at work it's plugged in. I don't think my heater grid needed to cycle (for more then 3 seconds) more then 3 or 4 times this entire winter and that's to -10-ish.



As for the manual transmission. If you have stock 90weight oil in there. shifting is going to be stiff for 20 minutes of highway driving! If your running the synthetic 5w-30, you are good till about 5 - 10 degrees before things get stiff... remember to double clutch the first few rows though the gears, 2nd and 3rd gear shifts you should tap the throttle after the first clutching to get things spinning prior to enguaging the next gear and go slow.



Once things warm up, revert back to beating hte crap outa your cummins and trannys

 

[JCasper]

Yeah, you should be fine. . Might wanna cycle the heater twice without a block heater as it nears 0. I run with my block heater under 30 at home, and at work it's plugged in. I don't think my heater grid needed to cycle (for more then 3 seconds) more then 3 or 4 times this entire winter and that's to -10-ish.



As for the manual transmission. If you have stock 90weight oil in there. shifting is going to be stiff for 20 minutes of highway driving! If your running the synthetic 5w-30, you are good till about 5 - 10 degrees before things get stiff... remember to double clutch the first few rows though the gears, 2nd and 3rd gear shifts you should tap the throttle after the first clutching to get things spinning prior to enguaging the next gear and go slow.



Once things warm up, revert back to beating hte crap outa your cummins and trannys

Yeah I just changed the transmission fluid to the Amsoil 5w-30 this last weekend. What a huge difference that made.



Thanks,



Joe

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Pay attention to the manual though. If temps get below 0ºF, you should use synthetic oil EXCLUSIVELY.

I disagree. My manual says 10-w30 with block heater is also acceptable.



Harder to find the rotella 10-30, but I did find it locally.

And for the record, my dealer puts in 15-w40 year round. You would think these people would read the manual. . man.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Jump in this morning, press in the clutch. Yep, thick fluid! turn the key, -6. grid heater makes me wait 30 seconds to start. about 17-24mph-gusts winds blowing from the side.



block heater all night. 15w-40 amsoil.