Cold Weather

[DSmith1]

We just had our first below freezing night! This morning around 11:30 temperature up to around 39 I fired up the beast. I let it warm up about 5 minutes, drove through town 35mph for 5 minutes, 55 mph for 10 minutes, and 65 mph for the remaining 10 minute drive. Here is my question, my fuel pressure started at 2lbs less and finished at 1lb less than normal. My egt was about 125 higher than normal at start and finished 75 higher. Is this normal? It seems cold weather would help egts but the truck seemed to be working harder than normal for the same speeds. Gas mileage on this tank seems to be down too. Do we have winter blend diesel in North Carolina or is it just the cold? I appreciate any comments about the affects of cold weather on the diesel engine.



Thanks in advance,

Dean

 

[Lsfarm]

Everything is cold!

When your truck is cold, the differential lube is very thick, and if you have a 4x4 you have two differentials, the transmission oil is thick, and the engine oil is also thick.



It takes a lot of horsepower to move all these thick fluids around, and you will see it in reduced fuel milage.



Changing differential fluids to synthetic lubes helps, as well as the trans and the engine oil.



But that is about all you can do except move further south.



I like to plug my truck in anytime the temp is to drop below 40 degrees overnight, this also helps.



Best of luck, Greg L

 

[EricBu12]

D Smith,

I sell the Winter guards for our trucks I don't know if you have seen the ad for them here on the product forum.

Also there is an ad for them. I assume you have a non-sport so here is the link to the ad for it

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...xact_match=on&photo_size=full&query=retrieval

E-mail me if you want a set. it does help the engine warm up. Here in Sal tLake City, we have overnight temps of 8 yes --8-- Deg. !! So I really need it.

Eric

 

[Texas Diesel]

I have heard that we should not block off the radiator openings because the intercooler needs air to cool the charge air and the condenser needs air because the A/C compressor runs in the defrost mode. Any thoughts on this before I buy the guards?

(yes it can get cold in Texas on occasion, seen it down to 15F before_

 

[Idaho Native]

Cold WX Front

My cold weather front consists of a piece of cardboard cut to the same dimensions as the radiator. Per the Cummins ISB service manual, I cut a circle in the center of the piece that is about 60 sq inches to allow for airflow around the fan clutch. I slip the piece between the intercooler and radiator and simply forget about it. Allows air to flow freely over the condenser and intercooler. This is my 3rd winter with it... absolutely no problems and it does help it warm up quicker on the way to work.



Loren

 

[Ray Torresdal]

Blocking radiator

If you just cover the holes in the grill, there is still plenty of air-flow. There are holes in the bumper, etc. I haven't had any problems using covers on the grill.



I have also noticed slightly lower fuel pressures, and the higher EGT is normal for a cold engine. Ray

 

[RJOL]

Have seen many post about fuel pressure being lower due to outside temps dropping in winter. Mine has done the same. Was reading 13-14psi in summer, now reads 11-12 at idle.

 

[DSmith1]

Thanks guys! Once again I was worried about nothing. Today was much warmer and everything was back to normal. I still can't believe the difference it makes! I guess the clutch slipping can't be blamed on the cold weather. It must be the dd2's and power puck.



Thanks again,

Dean