Quick question about Grid Heater starts in cold weather.

[AH64ID]

Interesting. About the 15w-40 in Canada winters. I decided to go with a mix of 15w-40 &5w-40. And I won't be getting anywhere near Canada. I guess I thought the 5w-40 would help protect during cold starts where engine wear occurs the fastest. And the 15w-40 would be best (protect the best) for the long driving days while engine is hot

Pick an oil and run with it.

From a weight specification standpoint a 5w-40 and a 15w-40 have the same hot temperature properties... the difference in hot properties would be then the difference in synthetic vs dino.

Don't mix oils, you will get a halfassed mixture that doesn't do what you are wanting it to.

5w-40 synthetic is the standard cold weather oil, but 15w-40 synthetic is also a great cold weather oil. Valvoline premium blue extreme has a pour point of -38°F and is a 5w-40 synthetic. There are synthetic 15w-40 oils with pour point of -36°F or colder. Valvoline Preimum Blue (dino) 15w-40's pour point is -22°, so it will work for most but it gets pretty darn sluggish around 0°F which is why it's not recommended below 0°F.

Long story short... if think you'll be starting a cold soaked motor below 0°F then do an oil change to a synthetic oil (5w-40 is the most common, but 15w-40 can be found). If you don't think you'll be starting a cold soaked motor below 0°F then run the oil you've got in the truck.

Don't overthink it. If your oil is correct, and your batteries are good then just start the truck like you're supposed to. Cold weather isn't that big of a deal in these trucks. Far more of these trucks deal with extreme cold than they do with extreme heat.

Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen you mention what is likely to be your biggest issue... fuel! If you fill up in Florida or S. Georgia and don't winterize your fuel you could run into issues as the temperature drops. Personally I'd dose your fuel for the tank before you leave thru refueling in Illinois. The fuel at the pump in Illinois should be good for local weather, but the fuel in Florida won't be good for Illinois weather.

 

[gsbrockman]

Interesting. About the 15w-40 in Canada winters. I decided to go with a mix of 15w-40 &5w-40. And I won't be getting anywhere near Canada. I guess I thought the 5w-40 would help protect during cold starts where engine wear occurs the fastest. And the 15w-40 would be best (protect the best) for the long driving days while engine is hot

Are you serious?
5W40 protects the same at operating temperature as 15W40......

5W40 flows best cold and is required below 0*F......

 

[Newsa]

If you fill up in Florida or S. Georgia and don't winterize your fuel you could run into issues as the temperature drops. Personally I'd dose your fuel for the tank before you leave thru refueling in Illinois. The fuel at the pump in Illinois should be good for local weather, but the fuel in Florida won't be good for Illinois weather.

Yeah, I had thought through the fuel winterization (difference between Florida/Georgia & Illinois when I thought I was going to make this trip last year.

I will be driving long days so my only issue will be morning start ups. The warm fuel return to the tank should keep the tank thawed and I had the rear fuel filter heater activated (added to the BCM) after reading the threads on TDR a few years ago. I tested the current at the fuel filter and it is getting juice. I'll keep this in mind and fill the tank at the end of the day. And carry some antigel with me.

 

[AH64ID]

I will be driving long days so my only issue will be morning start ups. The warm fuel return to the tank should keep the tank thawed and I had the rear fuel filter heater activated (added to the BCM) after reading the threads on TDR a few years ago. I tested the current at the fuel filter and it is getting juice. I'll keep this in mind and fill the tank at the end of the day. And carry some antigel with me.

That's not a bet I'd be willing to take with Florida fuel. In theory you're correct, but it doesn't always work like we think it should. Winterizing additive is cheap, dose your fuel in Florida.

If the fuel gels anti-gel won't do any good as it's a preventive additive and not a reactive additive. There are anti-gel additives that work after the fact too, and I carry one bottle year round and 2 bottles in the winter.

 

[Newsa]

That's not a bet I'd be willing to take with Florida fuel. In theory you're correct, but it doesn't always work like we think it should. Winterizing additive is cheap, dose your fuel in Florida.

If the fuel gels anti-gel won't do any good as it's a preventive additive and not a reactive additive. There are anti-gel additives that work after the fact too, and I carry one bottle year round and 2 bottles in the winter.

I see your point. Don't want to have a problem. Which product would work best? I don't know if I will be encountering Petri diesel or bio diesel. I heard Tennessee has alot of bio

 

[jhenderson]

I won a 100 bucks from a logger betting on that once. The skidder had the 6BT, it was 10 degs and he said it won't start without heating it with a propane heater for an hour. I bet him it would, climb into the seat and within 30 seconds it was running. Boy he was mad for all of the time that he had wasted.

This statement is suspect. 10 F and a Cummins won't start? That's fuel, compression or cranking speed. Nothing a grid heater would make any better. Never heard of a situation where the grid heaters would make a difference at 10F. Or -10F for that matter. As I said, and will stand by, I've never seen a grid heater on a 4 or 6 BT in any logging, chipping, or construction equipment. But then again I've only been at for about 35 years.

 

[Newsa]

My understanding is there were less than 10 water pump failures.

Is this true? Only 10 (or fewer) water pump failures?

 

[Whitewolf]

I read that in an article. I'll try to find it.

 

[Whitewolf]

Under the 'Install and Tech Information' tab. First paragraph below the picture.
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/ram-cummins-water-pump-5473057/new-products

And an article on the differences between their water pumps.
http://blog.genosgarage.com/wordpress1/2016/07/gates-vs-cummins-water-pump-comparison/