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

[Mundgyver]

To. John McIntyre, The numbers are correct. Not something I would want to do every day. The truck started right up and it took it a minute or two before it settled down and idled on all 6 cylinder.

 

[MMotschman]

was up in crested butte a few weekends ago and it was -24 when we got up I went out let the heaters wram and "burt" started right up no problems. a bit of white smoke but he ran with no issues. the smoke went away in a few minutes once the truck warmed up. saw a ford owner the night before go out and try to start his truck gave up and went back inside.

 

[911RAM]

-32 here in nw montana and the wind chill was -43, It didn't want to run when it started, but then a few minutes later It was fine after that I always plug it in when its that cold, but I just wanted to see if it would start when It's that cold

 

[DMcLeod]

I had to start the truck at -30 last year after sitting for 3 days not plugged in at those temps. It started, though the batteries don't have much punch at that temp. The worst part was the power steering pump noise (high pitched whine). Dodge says in the manual to only use their MS9933 I think it was... . NOT ATF! A MT dealer told me the same thing, but didn't know specifically what their product was. Well, I took a bottle of that Mopar stuff and left it outside at minus 35 last week and it poured, but thicker than honey.



Is it ok to use AFT+4 in my power steering system? Does anyone know if Dodge published anything that updates their manual? I know they allow ATF+4 in many of their other vehicles. I'm considering flushing it soon and a synthetic ATF might work better for me. This cold is taking it's toll, and the fluid is smelling sort of burnt.

 

[Turboman]

Amsoil ATF+4 is working fine in mine. Never that cold here, but around 0*F sometimes.

 

[AKDrifter]

A parts dealer in Whitehorse told me the Amsoil ATF was fine... ... I ran it for about a year, then the steering pump started to make a squeeking noise(not the whine when cold) whenever I turned, winter, summer, cold , warm. Didn't matter. So I swapped out with the Mopar stuff,..... squeek went away.



Not to say the Amsoil ATF doesn't work for others, I just wanted to wait and find some Valvoline Synthetic power steering fluid, couldn't find it up North where I was, but I'm going to get some before I head back in March... ... enjoying the balmy West coast for now ..... Paul

 

[CAgnoli]

I plug my truck in every night, and it always fires up. BUT, If I forget to plug it in, it always starts up and just takes a little longer to make heat.



Two nights ago, I forgot to plug the truck in, and when I went out to start it, it was -14 with the windchill (Truck was nose in the wind), and I cycled the grid heaters twice, and she cranked right up. Idled rough (between 800 and 1100 up down up down for about three minutes, then smoothed right out, stopped puking white smoke, and the high idle circuit kicked in) Needless to say, my truck isn't "addicted" to the 120v shot.



I do however try to plug my truck in at work if the conditions permit, for two reasons, 1, so I have heat in short order, and 2, just a security blanket, hopefully the oil's a little warmer



C

 

[Joe Mc]

@ work I plug in as soon as I arrive. Coldest I recal was about 15, and the GFI must have tripped as soon as I plugged in. It started normal, without having to do an extra cycle of the grids. It didn't like it too much and was extra noisy for a while. @ work I now have an extension with a smal lamp in the female end so I can glance out and make sure there's still power.



@ home I have the extension plugged into a timer. I usually leave for work between 6-7a, so timer starts @ 3a and goes off @ 7. Starts fine this way and definitly warms up (makes heat in cab) quicker. Just my $0. 02

 

[ntillm01]

Mine would not crank over recently at 14 deg F unplugged. About half an hour of plugging the block heater in and charging the batteries and we were in business again.



After replacing the 4 1/2 year old batteries with new Mopar replacements, it has no problem cranking and starting at 0-10 deg F. That the lowest "test start" temperatures I've tried. That's with 15W-40 valvoline diesel oil. It idles a little rough for the first three seconds, then is fine. No excessive smoke, no extra go-pedal required.



The groaning power steering/brake pump bothers me the most. Even after fast-idling for ten minutes it's still not happy. I'm not sure it's good for it either. I've been too whimpy in those temps to see if it is simply low, or the thick fluid is cavitating. My mind tells me there is a bulletin recommending a fluid that works better is cold temps, but I haven't found it.

 

[LDPetersen]

I have started mine afew times -25 and -30 , it is common up here in the frozen tundra. Way northern Wisconsin. Lots of us do it when we have to , but anything that sounds that bad is causing a lot more wear and tear than a warm start. l had 300k on my 92' and 160k on my 95' . IMO Howes seems to be the best anti-gel product I have found. Recommended by big rig guys. I See it at all big truck stops up north. From what I have seen The Cummins boys always start better than the others. The grid system is the best. Larry.

 

[DieselTweaker]

below 0 for me and I have a 12v far from stock with no grid heater It took a little work but It fired up.

 

[SKneeland]

started unplugged at -40 ambient a couple of times (fyi windchill doesnt mean a thing as far as this thread is concerned), 5-40 chevron synthetic

 

[Ncostello]

0 Degrees Kelvin Oil was a little slow to show pressure however!

 

[KKlingbeil]

0 Degrees Kelvin Oil was a little slow to show pressure however!

Correct me if im wrong, isn't 0 kelvin like -273. 15 celsius, or absolute zero. Im pretty sure that no one has ever hit absolute zero, thats like -300 something F.

 

[Stalker04]

Started mine last Saturday morning with the temp reading -17 f. It had sat for about 15 hours. Started after the second try. :{ It didn't like it at all, lots of thick white smoke. It cleared up after about 10 mins. Will be plugging in from now on below 40.

 

[ak_fleming]

Guy's I've been told that heating your engine in warm temperatures causes it to get "addicted".

------------------

LMAO

If an engine could get addicted I think that it would get addicted to summer and then it wouldn't start at all in the winter. I know some people treat these trucks like family ,but they are just inanimate objects.

 

[Ncostello]

Just a little humor about the Cummins starting in the cold. Mine always started (unplugged) as if it were any other day... down to -10F. Little noisy at first... but not for long. We have 4BT forklifts at work that sit outside and have never plugged them in. Never fail to start after a little "key" heat. The Cummins do a great job in the cold.

 

[diesel DOG]

6 degrees and no start Ford Excursion PSD started right up.



I charged the batteries and it kicked ok. They went dead a month ago because I left the light on for a day. I guess they are never the same after that?

 

[DPelletier]

6 degrees and no start Ford Excursion PSD started right up.



I charged the batteries and it kicked ok. Then went dead a month ago because I left the light on for a day. I guess they are never the same after that?

Good batteries are extremely important for a diesel in the winter. Yes, if you killed them down to 0 charge, they may never be the same. A battery shop should be able to test them for you.



These trucks start great for diesels. -27deg C is the lowest I've started in without plugging in. I usually plug in below freezing, because its easier on the motor. My Cummins starts way better than my GM diesel, better than my old 7. 3PSD and better than my buddies 6. 0 PSD's.



Dave

 

[Hohn]

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.

Wind chill has NO effect on an inanimate object-- it only affects warm-blooded things like PEOPLE.



That's because wind chill accounts for RATE OF HEAT LOSS.



It's been pretty mild here in WY with only a day or two near zero. Truck fired right up without being plugged in. It gave off a lot of white smoke, and then went into 3cyl idle mode and made a lot of noise, LOL. Neighbors weren't as happy as me.



I don't buy the myth that using a block heater makes a truck dependent upon that heat to start. There's REASON that starting fluid causes this.



The block heater won't cause this, though, as it doesn't affect the engine the way ether does.



JLH