Prep trk for cold

[BIGNASTY]

What products do you use for living in the cold on your trucks. Winter fronts/engine heaters/ fuel heaters. Im relocating to MT sooner than I had anticipated and need to prep truck for winter living. Thanks for any help BIGNASTY

 

[MChrist]

I have the Mopar winter front, which makes a big difference. I also use 5W-40 synthetic oil, and installed a convenient adapter for the block heater plug-in that I got from Geno's. I also had a remote start installed. I live near Chicago, so it gets pretty cold, and my truck has to sit outside. :{

 

[AWeiman]

i have a winterfront on my 01 because i dont drive terrriblly long distances and like a little heat in the morning. it sits out but never gets plugged in. the 06 has remote start and gets plugged in. the 06 is driven about 80 miles highway daily and the wife never complains about the truck not putting out constant heat so i never got a winterfront on it. however never really tracked it on the 01 or know if the winterfront helps mpg's by keeping the motor a little warmer. we also treat our fuel with stanadyne anti-gel.

 

[Shadrach]

A Mopar winter front, 5w40 syn oil, an Espar diesel fired engine heater and heated seats. A remote start still starts a cold engine. It rarely gets colder than -40 here ( that's the same on both scales ) Shadrach

 

[Jim W]

I live in Northern IL also and the only items that I have added are: the Mopar winter front and the electric cord for the block heater. My truck is garage kept but it will sit out all day. The only time I plug the truck in is when the ambient temp drops below -25F, otherwise it is not plugged in. I also run Mobil Devaco oil 15W-40 no change from the summer months.

Jim

 

[BIGNASTY]

Shadrach I looked at that unit looks interesting but looking at my truck where in the world would I mount the thing. there has to be some kind of heat or exhaust in the combustion of the diesel and with all the plastic and electrical wiring well im sure you know where this is going. I like the truck without the burnt look :-laf. I know that it gets really cold MT and Alberta's not all that far away please refrain form the comments about -40. until I get the long johns on and spend some time in the freezer trying to get adjusted to the cold. Any other winter wonder land tips? On a side note I looked at your truck equip. and you also have an Air dog mine seem's to set out in the open under the drive side inside frame rail. Do you use any kind of fuel heater or just move it to a more protected spot and use anti gel for sure?

 

[JCyrbok]

Having lived in Michigan my enitre live I have seen some cold weather. All I do with my truck is put on winter fronts and use a fuel additive (I use Stanadyne performance year round).



I have only plugged my truck in once and that was to make sure that the block heater actually worked.



I have a FASS system and I bypassed and removed the stock fuel filter and heater. I have no fuel heater at all. Only thing I do is switch to a 10micron filter in the winter instead of the 3micron one I run in the summer.



Having said all of this, my truck has sat for 2 days in -22deg (actual air temp, not windchill) and after the two days I jumped in, cycled the grid heaters twice and she fired up. Ran rough for a minute and then was fine.



J-

 

[thomasrmmr]

hi again , y dont you use your block heater ? put a hd , timer on the plug so you have it go on 2 hours before you start for work ? worked for me when i went skiing up north w/ my 98 !! tom

 

[Shadrach]

The Espar mounts on the inside of the left frame rail. My truck is a 4X4 long box so it is just behind the transfer case. The AirDog is just behind that. There are 2 tabs sticking out of the frame and 2 threaded bolt holes just below that. Their bracket is designed to mount to these. You run the fuel line to a nipple on the tank sending unit and 2 heater hoses up to the engine compartment and tie in the the cooling system. Run the wires up and hook them up, program the timer and away you go. I just got it working this weekend and the Airdog isn't finished being hooked up yet, but I don't anticipate any problems, as I am not the first guy who has done this.



Sorry about the -40 crack. It's a dry cold so unless there is a wind it's not bad. While our trucks will start in below freezing weather without any external aids, it is better for the engine if it has some kind of help. Besides it will warm up the cab quicker. That and heated seats helps. Shadrach



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[mrtrombley]

I've been in plenty of cold weather, have spent winters in VT, northern IL, KS and CO. The truck has always been outside. The only thing I do is plug it in overnight when it gets down to about 15 or 10 degrees F. Never have had any problems, plugging it in seems to really help the batteries. Even sitting out all day a work, not plugged in, it still starts up fine.

 

[BIGNASTY]

cold

I have been to the place in Montana that im going to live many times in the winter. Mostly going hunting and visiting my wife's family. But going there to visit and living is two different things. As far as putting anything on a timer that would be hard to figure My work commute will be from the bed to the kitchen for coffee then out to the front porch at least for a while. I just the other day found out that my 04. 5 did come from the factory with the heater installed so I guess that would work. But as Shadrach said I think it would be nice to have heat in the cab and help take less time to heat the motor. I have been to the UP Michigan and I know it gets REALLY cold there I went to White Cloud Michigan one time for a load I never did think I was going to thaw. If you have no problems with your truck and you use just the factory heater and anti gel then Im sure that would work in MT. I just like to tinker with my Dodge. Thank for the info BIGNASTY

 

[Crazy Horse]

BIGNASTY, the Espar is really nice, and is the best thing you can add do for your Cummins I had one in my 02 when we lived in Anchorage. It is really nice to program it to come on approx 1 hour before you get out of work. At -30 it will melt ice and snow off the hood, roof, and windshield before you get in it. I had a controller that you could program to blow warm air through the defroster. This was set on low speed as to not draw too many watts. You could program, if I'm not mistaken, for 2-3 events per day, and up to one or two weeks out in advance. When I started the truck I had instant heat and the engine cranked and fired as though it was 60 degrees outside. Short tripping a diesel in cold weather is the single worst thing you can do to that engine. With the Espar it takes the worry out of your mind.

Good luck in Montana!!! Beautiful State in that NW.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Ive been talking with Shadrach about the Espar I think that is the way Im going. It would be really nice to jump into an warm truck Ive broken so many bones that 800 mg Motrin is a way of life im sure the cold will just aggravate the stiffness. At least that's the story im telling the wife. She tell's me that the cold wont bother her she grew up in MT but she was only 20 when she left Im sure that all 3 of us will like the heat Me / her /and the Dodge. Yes MT is beautiful its just a little sooner than we planed for, work called all the drivers in gave us 2 mo pay and said thank you. I could see it coming all the oil companines have gotten away from their truck fleets it's just as easy to give the problems to the carrier company and let them take the risk outside the gate.

 

[retirednak]

BIGNASTY, the Espar is really nice, and is the best thing you can add do for your Cummins I had one in my 02 when we lived in Anchorage. It is really nice to program it to come on approx 1 hour before you get out of work. At -30 it will melt ice and snow off the hood, roof, and windshield before you get in it. I had a controller that you could program to blow warm air through the defroster. This was set on low speed as to not draw too many watts. You could program, if I'm not mistaken, for 2-3 events per day, and up to one or two weeks out in advance. When I started the truck I had instant heat and the engine cranked and fired as though it was 60 degrees outside. Short tripping a diesel in cold weather is the single worst thing you can do to that engine. With the Espar it takes the worry out of your mind.



Good luck in Montana!!! Beautiful State in that NW.

I don't mean to thread jump. Whom did you buy the heater from while you were in Anchorage? It would be nice to buy locally instead of getting raped on shipping. I'm out in the Knik area and I'm real tired of the plug in thing,which you can't do if your out snowmachining or ice fishing.

Thanks,

Casey

 

[hwebster]

Well in Saskatchewan I use 0-30 Rotella T, a winter Front, block heater and a remote starter to warm things up before heading out. I'd love an espar but can't quite justify the cost!

 

[BullyDogJason]

I hardly drive my truck

it sits in the garage most of the time. even then i leave it plugged in. but pretty much i just use the winter front.

 

[retirednak]

You might reconsider leaving your truck plugged for too long. I left mine plugged in for a straight week when I went on a mini vacation. The timer it was plugged in to went bad. My guess it was plugged in for the full week. It toasted the heater coil and I'm getting ready to replace it this week or next. In all my yrs here in AK,I've never had a block heater go bad,a tank heater or two perhaps.

 

[hwebster]

With the '93 I had to keep her plugged in all night with 5w-30. I went to Shell Rotella 0w-30 and she'd start without being plugged in... Oil pressure came right up. Given I've removed the DPF and Cat on my 08 I think I'll try running 0w-30 this winter... But hey no snow ... . Yet!!:-laf

 

[LandShark]

Synthetic engine and power steering oil make a big difference. Don't forget to keep some warm clothing and power bars in the truck... just in case. Keep the fuel level above 1/2 if you travel in remote areas; again... just in case. Carry a shovel, tire chains and tow strap with you.

 

[hwebster]

Living in Saskatchewan it gets FRIGGIN' cold... -40c or worse. I keep a blanket, flares, candles and some powerbars just in case. Living in the country I also keep a kitbag with 2 x clevis', a 30' tow strap, some axle straps, and 2 x 10' tow straps. I usually find 2 or 3 cars in the toolies every winter! Lots of 4x4's too!:-laf