Coldest Start

[DMyran]

I would like to here the coldest unplugged start in a

3rd gen cummins Dodge



I can hear all the grumbling about starting this cold unplugged but i would like to find out. Let me repeat again, yes i know this is bad for your rig



Yesterday morning in Belgrade we reached the temperature of

-35 below zero, i hadnt driven my truck in a whole day,

it started with one heat cycle, straight #2 fuel, no additives, and not plugged in. it only cranked for about 5-7 seconds before it fired and came to life, thougt it might be luck so i tried it again this morning when we were right around-29 to -31 somewhere in there, started the same way.



Conclusion--there aint nothin better than what we got!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :

 

[jelag]

04, 3500 4X4 Dually



Several times after sitting all day at -15 - -20 mine has started with one heat cycle... .



I just got off the phone with our fuel supplier... CFN because of a problem with a F550 I also own... ...



And this is a very interesting story.....



Fuel is blended to zero in the pipeline... . its up to the local guy to take fuel lower than zero and that costs them money (his words)



He said they usually don't blend down... . but as the news predicted the cold weather they started to blend down what was in the tanker trucks..... what that means that they don't touch whats in the tanks in the ground... so the blended fuel is added to the unblended fuel... . sort of an average.....



If I get fuel in Seattle, since they never see cold weather that fuel will never get blended down unless the local weather demands it... so taking that fuel from a area that doesn't blend might get me into trouble as was the case with the F550.....



But fuel today in Spokane is protected to -30... . thats nice to know... he than added that fuel additives sometimes work like antifreeze... more of it doesn't mean more protection... you should only blend additives in at the rate on the label...



He also mentioned that he'd like us to use #1 Diesel instead of the stuff in a bottle... . some of the stuff in the bottle doesn't always do whats the label say's it will do... ...



Last was the comment to make sure we drain the water from the fuel seperator.....



All this might be old hat for some of you but it made me think some. .



Jim / Spokane WA

 

[Dean Upson]

If you do a search, you will find a long post a while back on this subject .



Dean

 

[JBeasant]

It was -44 Celsius on Monday night. My 3 gen was not plug in it took about 10 seconds for the wait to start light to go off and it started no problem. There was no fuel additives, all I use is amsoil and you never have to plug in.











2003 4x4 Quad Cab, afe filter, 6 speed short shift, 315 bfgs, no ring, amsoil throughout,

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

They had several school buses conk out yesterday in the Tri Cities due to gelled fuel. It was -19F that night and -15 in the morning so I guess I don't quite understand how straight #2 can be OK at -35F.



My truck started fine, took 3 tries before it caught and took off.



Vaughn

 

[ttreibel]

Thanks for all the info Jelag I am glad that I can rest easy when my truck sits all day on the ski hill My 1990 Ford never liked the cold for starting seemed like it needed new glow plugs every season.

 

[DMyran]

i am not sure exactly how i havent had any problems with the fuel i have but it is for sure #2. I have driven a semi for many years, and been around diesel quipment all my life and i have never had anything gel up on me, one thing i always do is keep at least 1/4 tank of fuel in the vehicle???????

It may be just asking for a problem running this way, but i have never had a problem, the only reason i didnt run any #1 this tank was because i wanted to test out the capabilities of the truck.

Perhaps my fuel distributor had a blend in the #2 fuel tank underground????

Anyhow it has been really cold here, -14 or colder yesterday

but today it got up to around 0 i think, will know tomorrow



See you all

 

[DMyran]

one more quick thing,

all buses here havent ran for two days also,

partial problem is they are antiques usually older diesel rigs

 

[mbaston]

-33F but it didn't like it. Groaned and moaned but I had nothing to plug into.



In the winter here it is hard to get anything but #1 fuel. I don't like it as I loose considerable power and economy but I guess that is better then gelling up which has happened to me in a big rig. Additives help raise the cetane and increase power and economy. At times I can find blended fuel.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

DMyran in Montana this time of year no matter how mild the winter I don't know where you could even find straight #2 but I'm sure there's places you can buy it. Certainly any typical Flying J or other station would mostly be #1 or a strong blend of it.



They start cutting #1 into the diesel around here starting November and our winters (typically) are nowhere near as cold as Montana.



Vaughn

 

[Gypsyman]

Coming thru the Yukon on my way back to America from Alaska, one try start at -37* on one heat cycle. Went to fuel up and the pump hose was so cold that when I removed the handle from the pump the hose just stood there like a cobra looking at me! Tried to get a picture of this but the cold had killed my camera battery.

 

[johncameron]

I know I'm not a 3rd gen but my 2nd gen started many times at -40 last year not plugged in. I run 0w-40 full synthetic rotella T and one cycle is all she needs. She usually cranks for less than 3 secs at those temps. Gotta love a cummins eh!!!!!

 

[HDerrick]

I started mine in -20 one time with just one heat cycle. Only took a second or two longer for the engine to catch on. That was when I was on a trip out west. Otherwise, I have mine inside the shop or garage most of the time.

 

[mbaston]

Gypsyman, arent' we (Alaska) part of America?

 

[LightmanE300]

I must say that when you guys are using fuel blended with #1 or winterized, using an additive for increased lubricity is very important. #1/Kero has much less lubricity for the fuel injection system compared to #2. Most of the winter additives that depress pour points also add lubricity, but if you dont believe in their cold weather abilities, you could just get a lubricity additve like Stanadyne Lubriticy Formula... . or throw a few gallons of biodiesel in , even better

 

[Gypsyman]

mbaston,



I always thought you were but I have been told repeatedly by Alaskans that there is Alaska and then there is the lower 48!!!

 

[mbaston]

Well, that is true; however, although we are the superior part of America, we still "include" the lower 49 as part of the country.

 

[Gypsyman]

Touche'

 

[radar doctor]

COLD

Hey MBaston, Don't let him get the best of you. Hang in there . I'll bet he doesn't have a nice Library like you do. Radar Doctor , Just sent you a EM.

 

[johncameron]

-42 this mornin. no block heater available, one pre cucle and she started. ran rough for 15 secs then smoothed out.