Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What's the coldest your truck will crank w/o being plugged in??

[Neal Cassady]

-8 degrees F. Truck sat for around 16 hours at that temp. Fired right up after one cycle of the grid heaters with foot lightly on the pedal. Cummins Premium Blue 2000. Power steering pump sounded like it was going to grenade, engine was a little loud, but not too bad.

Dave D

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2001. 5 QC LB 4x4 Auto 3. 54 Everything but Leather Bright Silver Metalic ARE K Series Diprocal EGT, Boost and transmission Temp in an Autometer Dash Pod

 

[Sean Flanagan]

-18F at 11000ft elevation. And that's with 15W40! Cycled heaters twice and it started but ran on two or three cylinders for a while. Stinks real bad. I've only used the block heater once just to see what it did. Sure makes it start easier but It hasn't failed to start yet (knock on wood).

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98. 5 2500 QC LB 4x4 5spd, white. BFG 285x75x16
Cummins 24v w/ TST PowerMAX w/EGT and Boost gauges on A-Pillar. VanAaken CPC. K&N In the factory air box. Stock Injectors, Stock Exhaust (Geno's Muffler Eliminator). Re-routed breather stink tube, 2WD-low kit, SnugTop, JJ Stainless Running boards, Tow Hooks, Bushwacker Street Flares, and a Cup Smoothie.
78,000 miles (11/17/00)

 

[CumminsAholic]

A few weeks ago it was really cold here. My truck was unplugged and hadn't been running for 3 days. -25 outside, -40 something with windchill. Cycled the grid heater twice and it started. But I had to get different batteries. My factories were not too good at that temp, and I want to make sure it'll start if I can't plug it in. Now I have 1800 CCA and 2000 CA... . Bombed batteries, just like the rest of the truck. #ad
Wish our diesel blazer had a grid heater instead of glow plugs... . that thing has to be plugged it an anything under 20 degrees.

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1998. 5 2500, 4x4, SB, Red Sport, Agate Interior, Quad Cab, O. H. Console, Auto, 4. 10 LSD, Trailer Tow and Camper Special Packages, Mopar Aluminum Nerf Bars, Spray In Bedliner, Pioneer/Jensen System, 255/85's, Bd Adjustable Preformance Box w/boost module, Boost Elbow, 4" Exhaust Split Into Two 3" w/5" cans, K+N Scotty Style, Exhaust Blanket, Bill K's Valve Body, Etc, Etc... .

 

[GSchlegel]

A few years ago I stayed overnight in Broken Bow, NE. I always carry an extension cord so I can plug in at the motels. I plan on putting a lot of miles on my truck and using the block heater is cheap insurance. Well, I got up the next morning to 18 below temps. and a viscous Nebraska wind. I went to start the truck and found out the outlet I plugged into was DEAD! I cycled the heaters couple/three times and she started. She wasn't happy, ..... but she started and after a few minutes, she ran like normal.

P. S. I now carry a test light in my glove box and test every outlet I plug into. Lesson learned.

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'96' 3500, 5-speed, 3. 54 LSD, Ext. Cab, 180,000 plus miles, relay controlled back-up alarm and rear facing fog lights, K&N air filter, TST #11 plate . 010" forward of stock, AFC spring kit, SPA digital EGT and boost gauge,20 yr. old marine air horns, bed liner, 5" monster exhaust tip.

 

[madams]

Definately not a cold winter pro down here in New Orleans. This is my first winter with the Cummins and for us its been our coldest in 10 years.

Down to 19-22 for 3 nights straight . . not plugged in . . cycled the toasters once and it fired right up. No funny sounds or excessive smoke to mention either.

I gather from all the posts that 10 or above isn't a big problem with or without the block heater. But extended time below those numbers then you have fuel gel problem to deal with.

Although the block heater is probobly not needed with our southern temps . . its sure nice to have heat blowing within the first 2 miles or so.

My buddy with a Y2k souperdooty already changed out 2 glow plugs and some controler thingie. And dreads the cold weather wondering whether the PSD will lite off. He keeps it plugged in when it dips below 40 just to be sure.

My . 02 cents . . Good luck to all you folks used to the Artic stuff!

Michael

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00 Driftwood 2500 ST QC ISB LB 5spd 3:54 LSD Tow & Camper Groups

my photos

[This message has been edited by madams (edited 01-08-2001). ]

 

[Craig S]

One of my brothers has a '93 (one battery), lived in South Dakota and Minnesota for several years. Never plugged it in, never a problem starting. I agree with another brother, however. He has the 4 cyl. version Cummins in a loader and the B5. 9 in a Case IH tractor. Starting an engine cold is HARD on it, regardless of make. I always plug mine in (except when I forget... #ad
) as I look forward to rolling the odometer over in this truck.

 

[quadzilla]

I haven't really had any problems starting mine without the heater. I have yet to plug it in. It may not even work for all I know. Anyway, here in NW Ohio and in Northern Illinois for the Holidays, some nights it was down to -45°F to -50°F with the windchill. I say this as my truck sat out in the open with no wind break. I have a remote starter on mine. It is programmed to not crank longer than 0. 8 seconds. It also has a program to start and run for a couple of minutes every three hours. One night I forgot to set that feature. The next morning I pushed the start button and waited, and waited and waited. (It won't crank 'til the "wait" light goes off) Then finally with a grunt, rumble and a lot of protesting smoke, she came roughly to life. I let it run for a few minutes as I put on some warmer clothes, boots and a jacket. Went out, put the high-idle-ruler on the go pedal and let her idle at 1100 rpms for awhile and it was fine. Didn't need throttle to hold an idle when running rough, or to cylcle the grid more than the one time it waited for. We are finally above the freezing mark for the first time in about a month and a half. Nights have been in the single digits with highs during the day in the teens or twenty's since early December, and no problems. I am running the 15w40 oil that Dodge put in during the last oil change, and the oil has about 4,000 miles on it.

Boy does the PS pump whine in the morning when it gets below 10 or 15 degrees at night.

 

[sdalton]

Quadzilla, you win. Thats the coldest yet. You think any damage was done to your engine by starting it so cold, without being plugged in??

 

[quadzilla]

Don't think so, that was a couple of thousand miles ago, and haven't seen a bit of difference. No smoking, rough idling, or difference in fuel consumption. Keep in mind, those were wind chill numbers and not raw temperatures. I believe the temps were around -15°F. I am not sure what else to look for as far as damage. Fuel pump appears to be functioning as usual, computer hasn't returned a code since I bought the truck, and performance hasn't dropped off in the least.

 

[rhoads]

Give me a brake TX. just because you got rid of a Gov.
I have a 12 v and fired up - 20 deg East grand Forks ND. Setting un-pluged 12 hrs.

 

[Jeff H]

WHO CARES ABOUT WIND CHILL ?

 

[Switca]

-6, no plug, Rotella T.

The truck did not like the idea. The human was not to excited about the project, either.

 

[Partyat33]

Windchill is only valid or objects that create or have heat. Steel, oil, fluids by themselves do not fall into that category. However, if your block heater is plugged in, or the truck was warm and is cooling, then wind chill would provide an indication that the heat transfer would be faster.

Dennis

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2001. 5 3500 4X4 Quad Cab, ETH, Dark Garnet Red. Back Country SS Nerf Bars, Kanduco Grill Inserts (sweet tooth), SPA Boost and EGT Gauges, Step II injectors, Power Edge EZ, Custom graphics package, LineX bed liner.

 

[sdalton]

My mistake. I missed the part when he said with windchill. I agree, windchill has nothing to do with starting a cold engine. It only matters if your wizzing outside or streaking.

 

[quadzilla]

Jeff H,
What do you mean who cares about wind chill? You didn't explain. I know that living in MN your temps are probably as cold as anyone's here, and I am not trying to brag or contest that. I was merely stating a point. As the wind makes the actual temperature feel colder on your skin, it has a somewhat similar effect on fluids such as fuel and oil. I know it isn't supposed to affect items such as steel, but even the steel seems to get colder - which has nothing to do with starting, unless you are referring to the steel fuel lines, oil pan etc. My truck starts easier when it is 0°F with no wind, than it does when it is 15°F with a 30mph wind. Hope I wasn't insulting your sense of pride by stating something other than raw temperature numbers. I suppose the heat/humidity index doesn't affect the engine performance differently than just looking at the actual air temperature in the summer months either. Sorry for the somewhat cynical tone in my message, but I am merely responding to the flippant remark that was made, or at least inferred.

[This message has been edited by quadzilla (edited 01-12-2001). ]

 

[Jeff H]

The wind has never affected the way mine starts. Just temps do. I'm on the south east side of a farm field. That north wind gets up to 40 mph in a blizzard. Plus you add the drifts and snow imbedded in every nook and cranny. Too me its just plain cold. But I like and will put up with. Wind chill was created from those who wear t shirts and a wind breaker out in this stuff and whine that if feels like 0 when its 30 out side.

 

[Craig S]

I notice they never mention "wind chill" in the summer, and never talk about "heat index" in the winter. And, as my brother always likes to point out, "When it is 115F in the shade, I can't find shade to work in, I want to know the temperature in the sun! Wait, no I don't, it is just plain HOT. " I've started mine at a few degrees below zero, and always try to park so the wind won't blow through the engine compartment and cool the engine down completely before restarting if I can't plug it in.

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1999 Driftwood Regular Cab, 2WD, Auto.
1967 Barracuda

 

[TX DUCKHUNTER]

Started at -10 at 10,500 ft. in Colorado last winter after sitting all night in -20 degree weather. No plug, and she let me know it good when she caught on the 2nd cycle of the heater grid... ... but that's better than any Power-Joke that I've ever seen... . you might as well FORGET IT if it's below 20 degrees on them. The only reason I EVER plug mine in is so it's warmer when I get in..... don't have to wait as long for it to warm up down the road.

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'99 SLT REGULAR CAB, 5-SPD. , 3. 54 L/S, CARPET DELETE.

 

[quadzilla]

I stand humbly corrected on the windchill thing. I was just basing my theory on an example like if I wash my truck when it is just above the freezing mark, the water will sit in beads on the hood. When I take off down the highway, the wind over the hood will cause the water to freeze on the hood, even though the ambient temperature hasn't really changed. I could be wrong. My degree is in civil engineering and I never did like thermodynamics or fluid mechanics classes #ad


When is the first day of spring again? (That was my truck asking)

 

[Speedo]

Cold starts

The coldest I've started my '99 with a good cold

soak (at least 24 hours)was -34F but my '93 did

a little better than that at -40F both of those

were using synthetic oils. I use a plug in when I

can but there are places that just don't have

elect.