Starting When Cold (Unplugged)

[nwjetboat]

I post this as a reply on the other fourm but thought I would post here as a topic.

I just got back from a three-day hunt in the Mtns of Idaho. Temperatures were -4 to 15 during this period (the beer froze in the cooler). I used the 4-wheeler exclusively, and never started the truck so it sat. When I got ready to leave, I did three key on/off heat cycles,(read that somewhere, TDR I think) the truck tried to start, kind of a two or three cylinder run for one second then died. I did another three key on/off cycles again, it did the same thing. I got out the owners manual to see if it would help. Did another three cycles and it fired up. (sigh of relief)

I knew the temperatures were going to be around zero, so I added Power Service conditioner before I left.

I am new to diesels, and did not get a "warm fuzzy" from this experience. We have had mid teens in the valley and the truck has started first try after work, so this surprised me. Then again, the temps are 20 degrees for only a couple of hours.

Did I do the start sequence correctly??

Are the grid heaters on only when the wait to start light is illuminated?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

NWjet, was it windy? How high of elevation? After sitting that long I think your rig was "chilled to the bone" making it more difficult to start. Although I have heard of trucks sitting for a couple days unplugged at colder temps and start after a couple of attempts.



I don't think doing more than 2 grid cycles is necessary because at some point you gotta start cranking to pull that warmed air through. If it doesn't fire off and keep going, just do 1 cycle each time after that because once you've started the process you're going to lose ground if you wait too long between cranking attempts (not to mention the added battery strain).



The grid heaters continue to cyle alternately (there are 2 coils) for 2-3 minutes once the engine is running (or until you start driving and surpass 15mph). When it's really cold and your engine just started the concentrated mass of warm air you made waiting for the grid light to go out got pulled through the engine and the grids cannot warm the rapidly flowing air to the same temperature (that's why it starts and then can't keep going on the first couple of tries).



Vaughn

 

[ScottBrown]

Well put Vaughn

 

[y-knot]

I would agree with Vaughn, I live in a cold climate area and I see no bennifet to cycleing the grid heaters more then once. They are not going to get any hotter, and you are doing nothing to get the heat into the engine. What you are doing is using your batteries, and discharging them more then nessisarry. Which in a very cold climate, could bite you. My truck has never failed to start, anytime, never once. I do plug it in at home, and I would suggest that if given the chance, most should if temperatures drop below freezing. I have no dought my truck would start pluged in or not, but by plugging it in I feel it saves a certain amount of wear on the engine, gets me heat much faster, and reduces the drain on the batteries.

 

[Boonieman]

Don't our trucks have heaters on the oil filter housing? If so, what activates the heater? Just curious because that would be an area particularly susceptible to water freezing. Both CTD's I've had were exceptional starters, plugged in or not. I will say that I bought a new tractor a couple years ago. The durn thing was the hardest starting piece of machinery I ever owned in cold weather. I mentioned it to the dealer one time and they told me "no way, something's wrong". It also has a similar system to grid heaters. I took it in and they found that the electrical plug was not on, and apparently came from the factory that way. It now starts *almost* as good as my CTD.

 

[DocDetonancour]

DC quit putting the engine heaters on??

Whats with the advertised -20 starting? Doesn't sound like the post had near that kind of cold? What are some of you guys seeing now that it has cooled off in the mountains? I started my 96 in W. Yellowstone at -28 w/o plugging in.

 

[nwjetboat]

Thanks for the info everybody. The was no wind, and altitude was 6900ft. I had the truck up there the week before, temps in the 20's and it started no problem. I think the big issue was the fact that it was "cold soaked", oil was thick and battery power hindered by temps.

I did give some thought to sticking my small propane BBQ under the pan for an hour or so!

I don't think I would have bought a diesel with out the TDR for a resource.

 

[drrhoades]

At what temp do you guys start putting anti-gelling stuff in the fuel? Also what kind do you use?



Thanks,

Doug

 

[nwjetboat]

I used Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement. (White Bottle). I added it because I expected cold temps, and knew the truck was going to sit.

As stated before, I'm new to diesels, but figured a little insurance wouldn't hurt. I know the gas stations switch over to a winter blend here but not sure when.

For everyday driving, I don't think I will use it unless we are expecting temps below 10 or so.