Quick question about Grid Heater starts in cold weather.

[Newsa]

Will be traveling to central Illinois in 3 weeks. Never traveled north of South Ga in the winter.

I want to cycle the grid heaters when starting in cold weather. I've heard you can key bypass the grid heaters and force a start before the grid heaters fully heat up and do their job.

I don't want to bypass the grid heaters.

Do I hold the key in the start position? Or bump the key to start and back off?

 

[DonFitzwater]

No need to cycle the grid heaters. All that does is draw excessive current from the batteries and increase the amount of run time you have to make before they charge back up. Turn key on, wait to start light will illuminate, start the engine when the wait to start light turns off.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Drop some anti-gel in the tank while your travelling...

 

[Newsa]

No need to cycle the grid heaters. All that does is draw excessive current from the batteries and increase the amount of run time you have to make before they charge back up. Turn key on, wait to start light will illuminate, start the engine when the wait to start light turns off.

Thanks for the response. By turn Key on. Do you mean hold it in the start position? Or Bump it to start and back to run and wait?

 

[Newsa]

No need to cycle the grid heaters. All that does is draw excessive current from the batteries and increase the amount of run time you have to make before they charge back up. Turn key on, wait to start light will illuminate, start the engine when the wait to start light turns off.

Thanks for the response. By turn Key on. Do you mean hold it in the start position? Or Bump it to start and back to run and wait?

 

[Newsa]

Drop some anti-gel in the tank while your travelling...

Yeah. Going to try some of this new Penray POW-R 365 additive. That will probably be enough. I have a block heater and plan to use it. I will be driving 5-6 hour days. So I will be probably charging the batteries a bit. I am also carrying a portable multi purpose battery pack as a back up.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Thanks for the response. By turn Key on. Do you mean hold it in the start position? Or Bump it to start and back to run and wait?

Just on until the Wait to Start light goes out.

Will you have the ability to plug in the block heater while you're there? That will help reduce the wait to start time.

 

[Newsa]

Just on until the Wait to Start light goes out.

Will you have the ability to plug in the block heater while you're there? That will help reduce the wait to start time.

Ok. That makes sense. Yes, I hope to be able to plug in just about everywhere.

 

[kthaxton]

Or use the remote start, if you have it.....it will wait for the grid heater to do its thing before starting.

Why do you feel you need a back up battery?

 

[TJJEEPER]

If it's cold enough the grid heater will cycle on and off a couple times. No worries, its just trying to keep the combustion going.

Ignition on, wait for the grid heater light to go out, start, let oil pressure build, drive.
Unless you're only driving a couple miles the batteries should charge back up. Mark was right about the block heater. Makes a big difference!

 

[AEdelheit]

Your overthinking this, I just started my truck thins morning at 15deg, was not plugged in just turned the key to the on position and once the grid heater symbol goes off turn the key to start, I have started my truck in -20 with no issues. In reality these trucks will start in 0 deg weather and no grid heater at all its just easier and smoother to let the grid heater do its job.

 

[Jim W]

I live in Northern IL and I have had no issues what so every in starting my truck or my wife's VW TDI in the winter months. When sitting outside we just turn the keys to the on position and wait for the resistor light (grid Heater) to go out and than proceed to start the vehicles. I do use Power Service anti-gel diesel treatment starting around Dec 1 pouring in the recommend amount at every fill-up. I know that the diesel fuel in the northern states already may have anti-gel in the fuel but it does not hurt to add a little more.

Do yourself a favor and add a winter front to your truck, also engage the exhaust brake after start up. This will insure that the engine coolant warms up faster and you will have a more comfortable ride in the cab when the coolant reaches operating temps. The only time I plug in my truck is when the truck is in my garage and this is on a 4 hour timer but the truck will sit outside during the daytime hours not plugged in or over night if we are not at home.

 

[Newsa]

Or use the remote start, if you have it.....it will wait for the grid heater to do its thing before starting.

Why do you feel you need a back up battery?

I actually have it to charge my phone and run small electronic devices in the event my power goes out at my house in the event of a hurricane or other occurrence

Also, I was told never to jump start another car with my truck because it could blow a module. So I carry it (fully charged) in case someone asks me for a jump start. Or in case one of my other vehicles needs a boost

 

[Hippy43]

Or use the remote start, if you have it.....it will wait for the grid heater to do its thing before starting.

Why do you feel you need a back up battery?

^^^ I use my remote start all the time and in the winter it will let the grid heater do it's thing before starting the truck when the temp is below 35 - 40*. My truck also idles itself up after about the first minute of warmup time.

 

[Newsa]

^^^ I use my remote start all the time and in the winter it will let the grid heater do it's thing before starting the truck when the temp is below 35 - 40*. My truck also idles itself up after about the first minute of warmup time.

No remote start on my Tradesman. I didn't really want that anyway.

 

[Newsa]

I live in Northern IL and I have had no issues what so every in starting my truck or my wife's VW TDI in the winter months. When sitting outside we just turn the keys to the on position and wait for the resistor light (grid Heater) to go out and than proceed to start the vehicles. I do use Power Service anti-gel diesel treatment starting around Dec 1 pouring in the recommend amount at every fill-up. I know that the diesel fuel in the northern states already may have anti-gel in the fuel but it does not hurt to add a little more.

Do yourself a favor and add a winter front to your truck, also engage the exhaust brake after start up. This will insure that the engine coolant warms up faster and you will have a more comfortable ride in the cab when the coolant reaches operating temps. The only time I plug in my truck is when the truck is in my garage and this is on a 4 hour timer but the truck will sit outside during the daytime hours not plugged in or over night if we are not at home.

Yeah, I was thinking of just strapping some cardboard on the front. But the wifey won't like that. I'm sure she'll refuse to get in unless I remove my gerryrigged winter front. Since my trip is only 2 weeks, I will go without the winter front.

 

[Hippy43]

No remote start on my Tradesman. I didn't really want that anyway.

Sorry, didn't notice it was a Tradesman. I love auto-start. Had it on the last four vehicles I've owned and wouldn't go without it now. Car get cool in the Okla heat or warm in what little winter we have before I get into it.. Auto-start is awesome.

 

[Newsa]

Sorry, didn't notice it was a Tradesman. I love auto-start. Had it on the last four vehicles I've owned and wouldn't go without it now. Car get cool in the Okla heat or warm in what little winter we have before I get into it.. Auto-start is awesome.

My wrist is auto-start

 

[kthaxton]

I didn't really want that anyway.

Cognitive dissonance. :-laf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fox_and_the_Grapes

 

[Hippy43]

My wrist is auto-start

ROFLOL! I feel your pain. I was there too for many years, then I found the button.