Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) It cranked right over and fired...

[HoleshotHolset]

My truck has been sitting in my old backyard in North-Central Massachusetts for over a month. We've had some subzero (without the windchill. . ) weather in this time period... and the truck has sat completely dormant.



Dad decided he'd go out and see if the old beast would fire off the other day...



He cycled the grid heater once... held his foot on the throttle a little bit... . cranked the key... and it fired off just like it always does. He let it run for an hour... drove it around the block and back... and parked it.



I have some fairly new Wally World batteries in it... and a healthy dose of Power Service in the tank.



Simply amazing. That truck has always started nicely... . and this is yet another time it has amazed Dad and I.



Matt

 

[fkovalski]

Great news to hear!

Was it in the sub zero temps that your dad started it in? I regularly hit those temps here and must always plug in to assure a start. I have also noticed (and this might be the same in your case) that if I park the truck facing the west setting sun that the evening starts are a lot easier. 'Specially since I can't plug in at work.

 

[Dick R]

Got an inlaw employed near madison , the company he works for had a number of cummins & he claims if they turn over good the cummins will most always starts , mine did great in northern Wisc last weekend and it was 11 or more below zero , smoked a bit until it warmed up , love that Cummins.

 

[Woodenhead]

I've had mine parked at outside at work in -25F from 6:00A:M till 8:00P:M (not plugged in) and never had a problem getting it going at night. When it's that cold I cycle the heater twice and give a little throttle. Between the cold and the 370's it runs real rough for a few seconds and smokes plenty. Probably not good for it but once in a while won't kill it.



Like ya said, if it'll crank, it'll start



Mike

 

[HoleshotHolset]

It was probably 15°F or so when Dad started it.



He wanted to plug it in... but I clipped off the block heater cord while I was trying to install my 'Hilljack' twin-turbo setup. :-laf



He has been plugging in his truck and letting it run all night... . he loves the difference in how much easier it cranks over... . and without any of the rough running, etc.



The truck was probably parked with the radiator facing north-east... and had been parked in that spot without running for 6 weeks or so.



He said it started up as if it was 50°F out... . since I have played with the DV's and have 370's, it lopes at idle when you first crank it even in the summer time.



"Love that Cummins. " - your darn right... I love my Cummins!



Matt

 

[bmoeller]

Good batteries help too. I forgot to plug my truck in last night. Batteries didn't have the guts to spin fast enough. Was 0* when I tried it. If they had, I'm pretty sure it would've lit.

 

[rnolen]

I have never been in a situation were my cummins did not start, but I live in an area where sub-zero temperatures are almost every morning. I am extremly fortunate that I have a heated garage that my truck sits in, but it has started in as low as 10 degrees or so. It was not real happy and loped for a little bit but it leveled out and warmed. I was wondering if anybody else's timing being advanced has effected the way there truck starts? The guy that did mine was telling me that in colder weather the truck with the timing advanced will start a little harder. I couldn't really tell a hugh difference, but my cummins has never started great. I think it is the fuel lines that have never let it start real great. Trying to find the time to fix those. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Russ

 

[HoleshotHolset]

FWIW: My timing is @ 16. 5°... and Dad's is @ 15. 5° and we've never had any problems.



I think if you were to go past 20° or so... . then you'd start having cold-start (and sometimes hot start... ) issues. The issue being that it'll crank over kinda hard and may run like poo for a little bit... . but it'll fire off and run...



Matt

 

[esommer2500]

Well my truck sat out last night in -4 and I went out to start it in ~5* this morning, unplugged. This was the closest my truck has ever come to not starting. Cycled grid heaters twice, cranked... no go first go round. Second crank... she lit, but not very happy. Maybe hittin on two or three cylinders the first 30 seconds or so. By the first minute she was runnin even with a little throttle at about 1000 rpms. I'm kickin the wifes cheby out of the garage tonight.



Eric