Wait to start (Grid Heater)

[Stomp]

I know if it is cold I usually wait for the light to go off, but some days it does not seem that cold so even if the grid heater comes on I don't wait is that bad. At the ranch we have 4CTD's 2 first gens and 2 2nd gens, no one ever waits for the light no matter what the temp is outside. They all seem to start right up.



Usually if I hear the gird heater click on I wait for the light. Sometimes I wonder why it clicks on because it isn't that cold.



When the pickup is worm then I never wait for the light, so if someone can enlighten me on the subject it will be much appreciated.



Stomp

 

[LV-CTD]

Always wait for at least the water light to go out. You definitely want to know if you need to open the filter drain before you actually start. I usually wait for both lights to go out unless I have to start it up again right after shutting it down. The owners manual says to hold the accelerator down when starting below 60°F and to cycle the grid heater twice when starting below 40°F. I also wait until the oil pressure is in the middle range before driving off and take it easy for a couple of minutes especially when it's cold.



Tom

 

[CGauthier]

Originally posted by LV-CTD

Always wait for at least the water light to go out. You definitely want to know if you need to open the filter drain before you actually start. I usually wait for both lights to go out unless I have to start it up again right after shutting it down. The owners manual says to hold the accelerator down when starting below 60°F and to cycle the grid heater twice when starting below 40°F. I also wait until the oil pressure is in the middle range before driving off and take it easy for a couple of minutes especially when it's cold.



Tom

It doesnt get cold in LV

 

[dpuckett]

My WTS light doesnt work, but the heaters come on if it is cold enough. Sometimes, I'm barefoot in the 20deg cold, and dont really feel like waiting on the heaters. Doesnt seem to hurt anything; starts w/in 5 revs, no heater. They heaters will cycle after it starts, anyway. I wait till the oil pressure is up, and it's idling smooth(er), then take it easy on the 3mi of gravel. By the time I get to blacktop, it's warm enough to get into it.



The heater system has a temp sensor in the intake. If it got cold the night before, but is 60* at 9a. m. , it may still not be 60 in the intake, so they will come on the shortest time- varies by year and which book you read- about 5sec. They dont recommend starting it w/o letting the heaters cycle, but then, they also tell you to put the pedal halfway to the floor. I never touch the pedal; the VE flows enough fuel at cranking speed to start a freight train.



Daniel

 

[Stomp]

Unfortunately the water if fuel sensor the wires broke off. I should get that fixed I try to remember to drain it every once in awhile. Like I said I usually try to wait for the light to go off, but sometimes I get in a hurry, I never touch the throttle when starting. Thank you for the replies.



Stomp

 

[sparks57]

I ALWAYS wait for ALL of my lights to go off. Who is in such a hurry on a regular basis that they can't wait 5 second for the lights to shut off???

 

[tugboatphil]

Daniel,



Put some shoes on!! You'll catch a cold.

 

[LV-CTD]

Originally posted by CGauthier

It doesnt get cold in LV

Well, check my pic's on my readers rig page! It may not get cold here, but it gets pretty cold in some of the places I sometimes go.

 

[CGauthier]

Originally posted by LV-CTD

Well, check my pic's on my readers rig page! It may not get cold here, but it gets pretty cold in some of the places I sometimes go.

Lol just havin a bit o fun... that Elk trip looks cold, but i doubt it could ever get as cold in CO as it does here, man we got a few weeks str8 of pretty much -30F, and im not bragging, im complaining If yer gonna make a trip out here make sure its the summer hehe

 

[AlK]

The only problem in the summer, you have those B52 mosquitoes that are probably worse than the -30F. When we lived in Alberta, I remember walking to school at -29F.

 

[mazdarotary]

Hey CGauthier I hear you guys only have 2 seasons up there in Winterpeg...



Winter and July



HEHEHEHEHEH



just playing with ya.



Chris

 

[JDMills]

How often do you find water in the fuel filter? My truck has been changed away from the stock filter set up, and no longer has a drain in the fuel filter. Used to wounder why some one would bother to change it out, and then heard that the heater elememt some times comes off with the fuel filter. so the previous owner must have been lazy.

 

[Stomp]

I have noticed that sometimes there is water in the filter. I live in Eureka CA and it rains allot. When I go to the ranch and fill out of the tanks when they are low I sometimes end up with a little water. Also will some times notice that the inside of my fuel filter will start to rust a little.



Stomp

 

[EZGZ]

Most of the time on the first start of the day I wait on the WTS light. But if the engine has been run I never wait. Never touch the throttle ether.

 

[1stgen4evr]

wait to start

With the first gen Cummins, wait to start is mostly for the benefit of the environment but will probably contribute to some increased engine life as the fuel will be burned clean from the very first. The engines on power units don't typically have wait to start and they start up just fine.



The older the engine gets, the more visibly benefit you will get from waiting for the full count. At 400k, my 93 likes to have a bit of heat on really cold mornings. Still, it has never failed to start up if I rush it. I think it is a good habit to get into doing the full count down on wait to start.



And I really dislike the smell of the first few seconds of poorly burned, smokey white exhaust. I think that the intake heater is the reason that the 93 is cranking with the original starter.



1stgen4evr

James