Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Possible cold weather advice

[XJSuperman]

We may be going to St Louis the week before Christmas and I am looking for some cold weather advice.



Based on the 10 day forcast it doesn't appear it will be below 35* right before we get there so chances are while we are there it won't either.



BUT I do remember the winters there can get a lot colder than that and obviously much colder than I've seen since I've lived in Florida.



At what temp do I need to worry about fuel gelling?



I run straight 30 weight (non detergent) oil through my fuel as extra lubrication but I don't know if that will have any anti-gelling effect should the temps get cold enough.

 

[HBarlow]

Power Service or other anti-gel below 15°.

 

[budnate]

Power Service or other anti-gel below 15°.

and take a 100' ft extension cord and plug Her in.

 

[mpaulson]

As you refuel on your way you will be filling up with better fuel for the area and season anyway. Just time it so that you are filling up most of the tank when you are just about at your destination and have emougth miles left to go to get the fresh fuel through the filters and pumps.
Does your truck have a block heater in it already? then just plug it in when you are there. Check you coolant strength as well just to be sure.
Otherwise don't worry about it, 35 degrees is nothing compared to what some of our trucks put up with and still run, like -40, -50 etc.

 

[GAmes]

I run straight 30 weight (non detergent) oil through my fuel as extra lubrication. ... .

That's funny. I'm going to do an engine swap because it's burning oil (about a qt every 400 to 500 miles) and you add it to the fuel. Something is out of whack here.

 

[Cosmo]

A question for you guys who use your block heaters... how warm is your coolant in the morning if you run it all night when it's ~35-40 degrees out?

When it gets below 40 I've been plugging my truck in and in the morning it still takes a while before the temp gauge moves at all.

 

[mpaulson]

A question for you guys who use your block heaters... how warm is your coolant in the morning if you run it all night when it's ~35-40 degrees out?

When it gets below 40 I've been plugging my truck in and in the morning it still takes a while before the temp gauge moves at all.

Not sure actually. I always keep it plugged in as I believe it is easier to keep it warm than to try and warm it up once it is froze. It starts and is a little stiff for a while when it is below -5 or so. I also have an oil pan heater that I use to keep the oil warm. It is just a magnetic one on the side of the pan with a bungy strap on it just to keep it tight to the pan and so that it doesn't rattle off. I have a epoxy pad type that I haven't gotten around to putting on yet and a small one to go on the transmission pan as well so that when it gets closer to 0-10 out I'll plug it in also. I also have a circlulating heater that goes in the heater hose that I plan on putting on for the -20 to -40 nights. The lights dim when I plug in.
I had a 92 Furd diesel once and I had a pan heater and a circulating heater on it with the block heater and when I turned the key to the on position in that truck at -40 the guage came up to the low end of the "normal" range. That was back when I wasn't paying the power bill and I had to be plugged into a 30 amp plug.

 

[Missouri Mule]

XJSuperman, your 30 wt oil in fuel mite cause it to gel quicker. As you go norh and fill up they will have cold weather diesel in the tanks.



If your getting at least 18-19 mpg fill up somewhere around Macon by-pass. You shoud be able to get to Clarksville TN (I belive exit 4 on I-24 aprox 40 miles after Nashville. Take left off exit ramp Shell station on righthand side on same street several motels. We usually stay at the Days Inn. If your not driving straight thru) . That will get you to St. Louis (I actually make it to Wright City MO. which is about 40 to 60 mile past St. Louis when I fill up in Clarksville).

 

[XJSuperman]

If we end up going I plan to leave with a full tank here... and that should easily put us north of Chattanooga. The truck gets 16 around town and I haven't had it on the hwy for more than 100 miles so this trip can tell me what my hwy mileage is. In town I've run close to 500 miles and used 30 gallons. I am also thinking about replacing the stock exhaust and if we go I may try hard to do so before we leave. Just to see how good it can get. I loved my '04 common rail... steady 18 city/22 hwy empty. I'd be happy to see 18-20 out of this on the hwy.

I am honestly thinking it will be fine. I will definitely watch the weather and see if it is forcasted to dip lower than 30. I will bring a couple bottles of power service with regardless.

I run the straight 30 weight oil in the fuel at the suggestion of an engine builder. A good freind of mine is an 18 wheeler owner/operator and also pulls diesel tractors. His engine builder (which I have seen first hand is terrific) suggested the use of that to lube the pump vs 2 cycle oil. Man ULSDF sucks!!

I am embarrassed but will admit I do not know if the truck has a block heater BUT I can say I think it does not. I've been all over the motor and haven't found the cord anywhere.

Thanks everyone! I am really hoping to go and I wish we were going to be there longer to maybe have a little meet and greet. I have another motive for wanting to go as we just bought a steel hardtop off of ebay for my wife's '74 scout... it's in Auburn, IL... so now we may be able to get it ourselves!

 

[JLEONARD]

I wouldn't worry about fuel gelling until it gets below about + 10 F

 

[MLee]

XJ;

Look just behind the oil filter under the Exhaust manifold for the block heater. Mine came with it. The cord was bundled in the body by the right side of the radiator and the right battery. One has to look pretty hard some times to find these things. Just go prepared and dump in some anti-gel maybe do the two cycle oil for now.

 

[budnate]

block heater is down behind the A/C comp, follow the wire out usually wadded up under the radiator

 

[XJSuperman]

I will check there guys. Thanks again for all the advice. I picked up a bunch of 4" exhaust pieces from a local shop today and will order a downpipe tomorrow to try and get my fuel eco a bit better.

Now let's hope the wife can get the time off so we can actually go!!

 

[GAmes]

I picked up a bunch of 4" exhaust pieces from a local shop today and will order a downpipe tomorrow to try and get my fuel eco a bit better.

The only reason I have a 4" exhaust is because the stock pipe rusted out and the MBRP is warrantied for life. True to what Joe Donnelly has posted several times, the stock exhaust provides plenty of air flow for engines under 400 HP. I saw no gain in mileage, EGTs or performance.

 

[XJSuperman]

I'd want to get rid of the cat/resonator (whichever it is) and stock muffler anyway... so I figured I may as well get it set up the way I want it. Or at least the way I think I want it. The engine's got to breath better and get at least a bit better economy by taking off the 283K mile cat and muffler.



Plus once I can afford to put injectors in it (in my other threads I was trying to figure out a slight lope to the idle) and maybe a fuel plate I will already have the exhaust that will easily handle it. I don't want a hot rod but if i have to replace injectors I may as well put a bit more GO into it since it costs the same. I did think about just adding to the stock 3" exhaust but then the "sound factor came into play... I'm old enough to not need 500 HP but young enough I still want it to sound nice!

 

[XJSuperman]

Made it to St Louis... then to Auburn, IL and back to St Louis and got home today. Averaged 20 MPG which I was happy with. The weather did not do what the earlier forcasts predicted. We had flurries Thursday with a low that night of 19* (not 35) and was extremely windy.

Truck handled it ok. It was a harder start Friday morning that usual but on the 4th try it began to run and smoothed out after about 15-20 seconds.

Of course I have a brand new headlight with a blown bulb, the DS front brake is screaming at me for some reason when driving... stops when pedal is applied, and it was one hell of a time to find out my heater core is probably clogged (or bad) and the blend door may not be as active as it should. Even with the radiator almost all the way blocked with cardboard she was still running cold... well... but cold.

All in all a good trip though even though I wanted to ship the kids somewhere else! LOL

Thanks again to all for the advice. I kept power service in it from the time we got north of Atlanta until I fueled up near Valdosta, GA today.