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

[sdalton]

I was lurking at the Ford and Chevy sites, and have noticed that they seem to have a hard time getting started below freezing. What is the coldest temp your Cummins has started, without problems, and unplugged?? I have only had mine start at 21 degrees, w/o a problem. Not too cold in Texas yet. But cold enough for me. #ad


------------------
Y2K, 2500, 4x2, QC, 3. 54 LSD, patriot blue. K&N, silencer ring put back in. 12800 miles as of 12-20-00. best milage:28. 5 mpg. transmission reflashed

 

[DUBSTER]

We took my truck to Mich for Christmas/New Years and while up in Alpena Mi it dropped below 0 a few times. I started my truck after a -6 night. I wanted to test out the cold starting of my truck and cycled the heater 3 times and tryed cranked it up, she didn't want anything to do with it. I cycled it 2 more times and she fired up and ran. She sounded terrible for about 5 min. and then began to purr. Throw a couple pair of tennis shoes in the dryer and that is kinda like the sound. I didn't keep my truck plugged in all the time as some folks do I would plug it in a hour or two before wanting to go some where.
I plug mine in if the temp is below 10 degrees for an hour or two.
See Ya
Chris

------------------
2001. 5 2500 Intense Blue Sport 285-16 BFGs mounted on 8x16 Baja
6 speed 4:10 limited slip heavy duty everything, Cab lights, Xenon flares, Linexed Nerf bars, Linexed OTR bed, Brush/grill guard,
no heated seats or leather.

 

[LSMITH]

I have started mine at -7* unplugged. It sat at that temp for 12 hours. I cycled the heaters once and it fired on the second turn. When the heaters would shut off it hammered pretty bad. White smoke was thick. Sounded horrible, but at least you know that it will start when you need it. The noise from the power steering pump is really bad at those temps too. Cummins claims -20* is the limit. I don't find that unrealistic from what I saw at -7.

------------------
99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S

 

[LSMITH]

By the way that was with Rotella 15-40 in the crankcase. I have switched to the Rotella SB 10-30 for the winter and it turns over faster.

------------------
99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S

 

[DUBSTER]

I didn't plug my truck in that night at all, and I too have Shell 15W40 in the crankcase.

 

[Arcticat]

-15* is my coldest. Started on the third revolution, maybe 1 1/2 seconds of cranking. That was with the stock 15W oil. As long as your batteries are both strong I know it will go a ways lower. I'm not plugging in no matter how cold it gets. If it can't start without an outlet around, it isn't worth owning in my opinion. BTW, make it easy on yourself and replace that 15W with some high quality 5w synth. Your truck will thank you when it gets cold out.


------------------
'00 2500 reg cab LB 4x4, 5spd, LSD, Hot Poweredge, 275 injectors, Warn HS9500I winch, Trans4mer grille guard/winchmount, TracRack, Line-X OTR, G-tech, Loadsaver, and a bunch of other crap I don't technically "need" Name a factory option-I don't have it!

 

[Archive]

<font color=blue>Truck sat for two days subzero temps.

Fired up at -5&deg; for me just fine. This is with 15w-40 Premium Blue. I plug it in if I get a chance two hours before leaving, however it sits unplugged 3pm to 11pm while I am at work and fires right up unplugged at 11pm.

It gets a bit chilly here in Omahell, NE.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

my truck has fired at about 0. Started right up. It shook and smoked, but thats to be expected. had 15W-40 in the sump.

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 01-06-2001). ]

 

[Bob Cochran]

I started mine at 15 degrees one morning up north. I cycled heater 2 times fired right up. Did sound like hell. One day after driving a couple of hours and idle the heaters started cycling and I don't know how could it was then. From waht I know plugging in is best but when you have to it will start without as long as fuel does not jell in tank. Then you have a real problem then.

------------------
2001 RAM 3500 dually Quad Cab SLT, 4. 10 limited slip, HO 245 hp, 6-speed, dark garnet pearl coat, interior agate, All options except heated leather, added Betterbuilt brite diamond tool box, Linex spray-in bed liner, Lund hood deflector 3 piece smoke color, DeeZee brite diamond cab/bed running boards and TurboSaver (from Gino's) also Reese 5th wheel 15k hitch. No plans to bomb. This is my retirment vehicle currently pulling 21' 5er want to buy 30 to 35 for retirment.

 

[jkern]

10 below zero F with 15W40 oil, cycled the heaters twice, and fired right up... cranked a little slow, but cold temps and heavy oil will do that. that is unplugged... i try to keep it plugged in most of the time though!

------------------
Jeremy Kern
1999 2500HD 4x4 QC,SB, ISB, 5spd, 3. 54LSD, 33x12. 50 cooper STT's Denver off-road bumper with Ramsey RE12000, PIAA series 520, Rancho RS9000's, heavy ft. springs, JVD Torque Enhancer, DiPricol boost and pryo gauges, and a bunch of other little things! www.geocities.com/phrn30 for pics!

 

[Jff24Gordn]

-23F* Did cycle the heaters twice. Stared in 5 seconds. Smoked alot, shook like he| |. Had to give it a little throttle to stay running for a few seconds. But it did start. It easily had the power to crank over. Took a while to have heat.

------------------
1996 2500, 4x4, 5 speed
-- email address removed -- Great Lakes TDR
PURDUE STUDENT 
GO BOILERS

 

[Lurch]

-15 my fuel jelled. Straight #2. Got caught behind a storm. Had set for about 30 hrs in below zero. Cranked fine but no fuel to fire on.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Some of you Alaskan guys must have some good stories.

Got drunk #ad
one night, and my truck sat for 14 hours. Went to pick it up the next morning. -34c or -30f! Cycled the heaters twice and she fired right up... ... . kinda. #ad
Pressed on the diesel pedal about 1/8 throttle. The loudest roughest running engine I have ever heard. Choked sputtered coughed and gagged for about 2-3 minutes with me still depressing the throttle. Got my high idle stick in place and set it at about 1,100 rpm. It was the funniest thing, because I bet at least a block of houses were affected by this. 3 houses were totally invisible from the white smoke. Even after 15-20 minutes of the high idle, when I finally drove away, the power steering was stiff and still making funny noises. I have never felt so sorry for my truck. #ad


Normaly it is always pluged in with a 0-40 semi-synthetic. I also have an oilpan heater, which is one of the best things I ever could have done for my engine.

So, that is my coldest, which I hope I never duplicate. #ad


------------------
John McEachern
Fort St John B. C. Canada
1998 12v, 4X4, QC, auto w/tc switch, air, tilt, cruise, 3. 55 gears, TST #6, Isspro boost/pyro/transmission gauges, BD VB&TC, CC industries headache rack and rails, JVC KD-SX949 Cd player, forest green, Brigestone Dueler M/T's 285/75/16, Eagle 16x8 rims, K&N airfilter.

 

[HC]

The other day it was headed down to 10 degrees here, so I stayed unplugged just to see. One cycle of the grid heater, and she fired right up like nothing unusual was going on. Got some white smoke (just the usual condensation from any cold engine) for a minute or two. I've got 5W-30 synthetic, but many others report no real problems starting even with 15W-40. I think the threshold for "hard to start" with the Cummins must be somewhere below zero. Come on Alaska/Canadian friends, how low can we go without a block heater?

 

[Larry Willard]

Well just for the heck of it I started mine at 20 degrees a couple weeks ago, without using the grid heaters! It was hard and required a little cranking, but I just wanted to see it would work. Ran real rough and had to hold the loud pedal down, since it didn't want to idle right away. Probably won't do it again, just wanted to prove it would start.
Larry

------------------
Ram Rod
'01 3500 white quad cab sport 4x4 ETH DEE SLT+ 4:10s posi Pac brake combo gauge tow/camper 20k reese 5th hitch pkg.
35' holiday rambler 5th wheel

 

[oilburner]

Swamp Donkey,

Is that Esso 0W40 you are using? I am using this oil and find it excellent.

Originally posted by Swamp Donkey:
Some of you Alaskan guys must have some good stories.

Got drunk #ad
one night, and my truck sat for 14 hours. Went to pick it up the next morning. -34c or -30f! Cycled the heaters twice and she fired right up... ... . kinda. #ad
Pressed on the diesel pedal about 1/8 throttle. The loudest roughest running engine I have ever heard. Choked sputtered coughed and gagged for about 2-3 minutes with me still depressing the throttle. Got my high idle stick in place and set it at about 1,100 rpm. It was the funniest thing, because I bet at least a block of houses were affected by this. 3 houses were totally invisible from the white smoke. Even after 15-20 minutes of the high idle, when I finally drove away, the power steering was stiff and still making funny noises. I have never felt so sorry for my truck. #ad


Normaly it is always pluged in with a 0-40 semi-synthetic. I also have an oilpan heater, which is one of the best things I ever could have done for my engine.

So, that is my coldest, which I hope I never duplicate. #ad

 

[D.Duncan]

Guy's I've been told that heating your engine in warm temperatures causes it to get "addicted". A lot of the guys where I work say for there farm eguipment, rigs, and their powerstrokes, makes engine starting harder if they don't plug'em in everytime now. They use the term addicted like I've heard some people talk about people using starting fluid on an engine.
Because of this I've have never used my block heater at all. My engine has never failed to start, or made an unusual noise; even when starting in -5 degree weather. (Yes, it does get that cold in the Mtns. of N. C. )
If my truck has been setting for more than 3 or 4 hrs, in cold weather, I just cycle the grid heaters twice, and let my truck warm up for about 5 minutes and slowly bring up the throtle for the first mile or so.

------------------
01' QuadCab 4x4 auto, 3. 54, MP 12-disc changer
MP tow hooks, Speedliner, UWS toolbox, Garnet red w/
driftwood. Pure Stocker

 

[LSMITH]

The computer takes all of the conditions into account and determines what is needed to start. A truck can't get addicted to the block heater. Mine is plugged in alot and still starts fine when it is not. Our average temp for Dec. was 17* so it's not like I don't have some cold weather experience to draw on. The guy that told you that the Cummins can get addicted to the block heater was yanking your chain. My dad lives in Colorado and works at a ski area. The parking lot is at 10800' and he routinely starts his '95 12V at -10 to -30 without being plugged in. At that altitude the powerstrokes and GM 6. 5's have a tough time.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Oilburner,

Yes, it is the Esso XD-3 0-40. I don't mind it, but had an oil analysis come back showing less then optimum viscosity levels. #ad
Something like 60% of what is should be. Everything else was fine, I think! I will check again on my next oilchange.

------------------
John McEachern
Fort St John B. C. Canada
1998 12v, 4X4, QC, auto w/tc switch, air, tilt, cruise, 3. 55 gears, TST #6, Isspro boost/pyro/transmission gauges, BD VB&TC, CC industries headache rack and rails, JVC KD-SX949 Cd player, forest green, Brigestone Dueler M/T's 285/75/16, Eagle 16x8 rims, K&N airfilter.

 

[Bear834]

Mine started when it was down to -5. It started no different that when I start it and its 80 degress and the sun is shinning. After I started it I checked the temp on the overhead and it said 61 degrees so I open the door on my heated garage and backed out... . Worked great

C'Ya Bear

[This message has been edited by Bear834 (edited 01-07-2001). ]