Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Coldest Start - Not Plugged In?

[stg2500]

What is the coldest that these trcks will start when not plugged in? I am currently working away from home and staying in a hotel where there is no apparent place to plug in. It is supposed to get to 0 or 5 below tonight. Will I have a problem in the morning?



This morning it was around 10 and it started OK. I did get a lot of whining from I think the power steering pump whenever I made a turn. Is this common?



Thanks for the help.

 

[Mactruck]

Last year I spent the night at Killington VT. to go skiing. When I woke up it was 12 below zero. Truck started right up. It wasn't HAPPY but it started fine. First minute or two sounded like someone was taking a sledgehammer to the side of the block.



Lets also say I didn't go skiing that day. (BRRRRR..... )



Only thing I did different was cycle the heater grid twice. I then idled it at around 1200-1400 rpm. (Manually )



You should be fine. JMHO.

 

[tleclair]

Mine started at about 20 below. Just cycle the heater twice and it should start. It is about 0 in the mornings here and mine makes the same noise that your talking about. Pretty sure that it's the power steering pump.

 

[daveshoe]

Ever notice how long your Ammeter shows 8 amps-- even after startup. No wonder these thiings eat batteries

 

[KD7GYJ]

Took truck in because of the problem with the alternator. Wouldn't come up to 14 V for quite a while. Dealer say's that's normal, the alternator is providing current and voltage to the fuel tank heater. After the Fuel is heated, the drain on the alternator quits.



I've started mine at -11 degrees in Idaho one winter. Even the snowman had a coat on and mittens.



Blair

 

[stg2500]

thanks for the replies. They are making me feel a little better.

 

[JWhitcomb]

5 above, four days in a row, no problem.



daveshoe... I think you ment to say 8 volts, not amps.

 

[m715]

At 0 one cycle of the grid heater and it starts now problem, bit noisy but no problem starting

Also started in once at -10 cycled the grid heater twice and it started with a bit of complaing...

 

[Loren]

Blair,



The only way that fuel in the tank is heated is from the return fuel from the injection pump. There is no heater in the tank.



There is a fuel heater. It's located at or near the fuel filter, depending on the year of your truck. It is to prevent solids (ice, wax, gel, etc. ) from clogging the fuel filter.



The large drain on the batteries after a cold weather start is the current to the intake air grid heaters. They cycle on and off for a while, depending on temperature, to prevent smoke from a cold engine.



I notice that my 2000 year truck will cycle the grid heaters after start if the intake air is cold, even if the engine was hot and just shut down seconds before. I don't think my 1995 truck does that.



Loren

 

[Idaho Native]

Truck was 4 months old... grid heaters not hooked up at factory... 7 below zero. not plugged in for 7 days... started Not pretty at all... I knew diesels were noisy, but this was too much I'm sure it took a couple of lives off of the mighty Cummins

 

[Speedo]

Cold starts

I've started mine at -34 F after sitting a couple of days. Synthetic

oil and good batteries.



Gus

 

[JR2]

Way to go Gus, I knew one of the Alaskan guys would come through with the coldest start... .



Once at work I started my Ford diesel, that had run out of fuel, with WD-40 at -35 F. If you think the dodge makes a sick sound you did not hear my Ford.....

 

[Speedo]

Cold starts

That wasn't this winter though.



Gus

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Yeah no kiddin gus. I just put away my hawaiian shirts and shorts about a week ago. Thought I was living in the tropics or somin.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

-22 the other day. Just had the three cylinder idle thing done too. Took forever to get oil pressure with regular 15w40. It was making an nasty racket then it idled up to 1200 rpm and shut off 3 cylinders, I had to go inside I couldn't stand to hear it sound so sick, but that's pretty normal, my brothers big truck does the same thing on 3 cylinders. on the other hand it was up to 160 degrees in about 10 minutes, it doesn't warm up that fast driving it.

 

[Oil Burner]

Coldest start ever this weekend. -14 F in Potter County PA. cycled the grid heater twice and It wasn't plugged in. PS pump was real pi**ed off for the first 30 seconds, but quieted down after that.

-Jason

 

[TowPro]

You should hear it when the 3 cyl idle kicks in, Now I know why Dodge decided to leave that feature turned off by default!

Originally posted by Mactruck

Last year I spent the night at Killington VT. to go skiing. When I woke up it was 12 below zero. Truck started right up. It wasn't HAPPY but it started fine. First minute or two sounded like someone was taking a sledgehammer to the side of the block.

 

[TowPro]

Jason, suck that stock fluid out of the pump and replace it with Vavoleen Synetic, you will be able to hear and feel the difference.

Originally posted by JStull

Coldest start ever this weekend. -14 F in Potter County PA. cycled the grid heater twice and It wasn't plugged in. PS pump was real pi**ed off for the first 30 seconds, but quieted down after that.

-Jason

 

[Oil Burner]

Thanks TowPro. I have noticed that pump acting up with the weather being at or below 5 F here in Pittsburgh right now. I will change to Valvoleen as soon as it gets above freezing! That will feel like t-shirt weather! I changed the t-stat last night (leaking) and couldn't feel anything from the elbows down (no garage to work in).

-Jason

 

[HC]

What weight, Gus?

Gus,

You said -34 with syn oil - what brand and weight?

I've switched to A 15W-40, but often wondered how low I could go without switching to Delvac 1 5W-40 or A 5W-30. I know the pour points, but figure that is only a reference point, not the total story.