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

[sellisrulz]

cold start

Coldest was like -40F. I thought she was plugged in, little did i know it was a dead plug. 1st clue was when the wait to start light stayed lit for like 45 seconds. She fired right up. Always lots of smoke, but then its always cold up here. Its not whether it'll start, its how she'll drive? The tires seem square, the shocks are non existent, clutch is stiff, transmission wont shift, hard to steer and stop. Fact of life up here. Never had a gell problem either. Been all the way to Deadhorse in October caribou huntin, aint no plugs out there, always starts. Best truck I've ever owned. 1st and last cummins as far as I'm concerned. We're gonna grow old together!!

 

[Neibe]

I started mine at -10 actual without the wind chill cycled the heaters twice started right up. Sat for 12 hours at that temp.

 

[Wooter]

I've started mine at 0 deg F w/out block heater. It had not been started for 2 days and only 15 deg for a high the prior day. I have 3 yrs on batteries (best ones Autozone had at the time). I'm sure it would not have started with stock batt even when they were new. Yep, it rattled and sounded bad for a few minutes. Speekin of Chevs; I had a 84 - 6. 2 and it would start when gas ones wouldnt. My wife called me from her work and told me our car wouldnt start; it was 18 deg below 0! Trk was o/side but not facing into wind and not plugged in. Cranked hard but took off! I went and jump started her car, and 10 other ones in the parking lot. To start the chev, ya held it to the floor till it started and kep on running. It made a whole bunch of noise too. Now ya got my story.

 

[MPlunkett]

I live in Az and plug mine in to a timer to turn on about 3 hours before I go to work whenever the temp is below 40. Probably not needed , but I figure it will prolong life on the engine if it is not subjected to unnecessary stresses... . Just my 2 cents

 

[johncameron]

Heres my truck at -40 without being plugged in! Can you see the Honda?????

 

[Excessive Force]

-28 back in january

 

[chuckwilson]

-28 F in atlanta, mi. went up to see a friend and forgot to plug mine in to!!!!

 

[rrnut-2]

My coldest with the '91 240K mi has been -29 F. I replaced the battery every two years though, heat it 3 times, and must have cranking speed. My new '99,

hasn't been cold yet, only got down to -12 F and no problems. Just ignore the white smoke and it was time for the neighbors to get up anyway.

 

[Tlambert]

Just a thought--doesn't get that cold here in Oklahoma--but I bought a $15 24 hour radio shack timer and have it set to come on two hours before start in the Winter for both my 97 2500 (220K) and my 85 MB 300 TD Wagon (254K). Haven't detected it on the monthly utility either. Figure it can't hurt to have that oil ready to move in the mornings. HTH

 

[jaynes]

cold start test

I have an early '91 (non IC) and one year (this was back when my starter didn't give me troubles in cold weather) it got down to about -10 F. I decided to try to start it one morning without using the grids. Boy I didn't know much those actually helped! I rolled the key right over to 'start' and cranked it for about 7-8 seconds. No fire. Tried it again, this time after about another five seconds i could hear cylinders trying to light, and after about another 3 seconds I let go and it was kickin over on about 3-4 cylinders. It was not happy. BUT it did start!!



This past winter i think the coldest it got was about -5 or -6. My starter (reman from Autozone, bad mistake ) likes to kick out of engagement in cold temps, so it will crank for about half a second then kick out halfway and just grind. Sometimes it won't engage at all! But with the grid heaters, it makes it easier, because it always lights right up in subzero temps (when the starter isn't being a PITA!). I love my truck.



jaynes

 

[DFerverda]

I live up in Northern Indiana. Last year i plugged in my truck about every nite a couple times i forgot and it started at 4-6 degrees without any trouble. This winter i have not plugged it in at all. We have had several nites it was -7 or 8 the truck sat for 8-10 hours Cycled heater 1 time about 37 seconds the light goes out and i give her 1 crank and BERRRRRRR ... Gosh I Love This Truck

Dirk

 

[BMote]

The Great White North

Take my 91 dodge cummins to my bush camp all winter long. Nothing to plug into if I wished, the current bush has not enuff power. Had 10w30 oil and would start no problem at -10C, switched to rotella SB 0w30 and truck would start at -30C , cycle heaters three times and a 1/4 throttle. I'm impressed with that synthetic oil. Made a big believer of me.

 

[PHellen]

Mine Started at Sand Mountain NV With 9 degrees out. It didn't like it but it started