How come 03 starts better than 05

[J.Davy]

I have seen a couple of guys mention that their 03 started real well in the cold. Mine was the same way,my new 05 won't barley start in -20C. What is the difference between them?Is it because of the injectors?I live in a cold climate and always plug my truck in if it is going to be -15C or colder but once in a while it sneaks up on you.

 

[WMonroe]

Have you actually seen anyone elses truck start in weather that cold? -20C is really cold. Dodge says it will start without being plugged in down to -20F. Thats a pretty big difference. USUALLY what people say and what really happens are two different things. What is -20C converted to F? about -40F?

Will

 

[TSpecht]

-20C = -4F. My truck starts just fine unplugged at that temperature. It runs a little rough for the first 30 seconds or so, immediately idles itself up to 1000 RPM's, but starts just fine. -40c = -40f just for the record.



When you say barely start do you mean it doesn't run smoothly, or it doesn't turn over very quickly or what sort of symptoms are you experiencing?

 

[BHolm]

Actually -20C isn't as cold as -20F. Remember that 0C is 32F. I think that -20C is about +6F.

 

[WMonroe]

Yeah, I should have thought that through a little more. That what I get for typing before coffee.

Will

 

[bmoeller]

-20C = -4F.

Correct.



http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

 

[BHolm]

Alright, so I missed by a little..... I was closer than Will though

 

[J.Davy]

About 2 weeks ago it was -40C or -40F I plugged my truck in at 6 am then tried to start it at 1pm, it turned over fine but would not start. It took 3 more hours before it fired . I know the same thing with my 03 and it would have started after 4or 5 hrs no problem,but it had a oil pan heater as well,maybe thats the difference. However my 03 was always quicker and smoother in a cold startup if it was not plugged in. Just my observations.

 

[nickleinonen]

we had a cold snap a week or two ago, and it got down to like ± -15°f and my truck started up alright... no temp gauge movement on those few days during my morning drive home from work [truck was plugged in at home before going to work, but no outlet to plug into at work]

 

[RKerner]

started at -22F this morning w/no assist

About 2 weeks ago it was -40C or -40F I plugged my truck in at 6 am then tried to start it at 1pm, it turned over fine but would not start. It took 3 more hours before it fired . I know the same thing with my 03 and it would have started after 4or 5 hrs no problem,but it had a oil pan heater as well,maybe thats the difference. However my 03 was always quicker and smoother in a cold startup if it was not plugged in. Just my observations.

My son was working in the garage this weekend and tripped the GFI without my knowing (the GFI controls the outside outlet I plug the truck into). 22 below this morning and I knew right away that something wasn't right. After five attempts at starting, the engine finally caught and ran fine without any roughness. So, one thing in DC advertising was right, the 600 will start once unassisted at 20 below. Yippee. Oo.



I have found that the engine needs more than 2 hours with the block heater to spin reasonably fast when it is below zero out.

 

[Kirwin]

Winter starts

Keep in mind that untreated diesel fuel gels somewhere around 0 F. I don't care how long you plug it in it won't start if the fuel in the tank is Jello! Just ask me how I know Ken Irwin

 

[TurboArctic]

First items I always put on as soon as I get a new vehicle are the battery blankets and a 250 watt Wolverine Oil Pan heater(the glue-on type), ... ..... if that oil isn't warm the engine isn't going to turn over fast and you'll have no oil pressure at startup! We've been having the same -30 and -40 for the past month, and I'm still impressed with my 2003, ... ... better than my gas jobs at cold starting. ~Barry~