Winter Storage

[don b]

I Am Not Driving My Ctd This Winter As I Have An Old Nissan 4x4 Truck As My Daily Driver. My Ctd Sits Under A Tarp Building With The Camper On It And Air Bags Inflated. i Start It Up Every 2 Weeks Or So And Let The Engine Get Warm. The Truck Is Moved Around The Yard Occasionally. I Want To Use The Truck Exclusively As A Rv And Hope To Store It During Our Wet Bc Winters And Only Use The Dodge For Trips And Good Runs. Are There Any Special Precautions To Be Taken When Parking These Trucks For Extended Times And Am I Inviting Potential Problems. Thanks.

 

[cguthrie]

i wouldn't think you'd have any problems storing it especially if your going to be driving it a little and starting it up every once in a while. You need to get some pictures of that thing so we can see it. I'd like to see your rear seat that you have.



Chris

 

[Greenleaf]

Mine is now officially off the road. You guys may rest easy now. Mine has a tough time starting after setting for about three months and not running. Like there is no fuel at the injectors untill I crank her over many times. Then it fires right up.



One good thing to remember is to pre lube the engine prior to turning on the fuel.



Check your freeze points or your cool points will be out the window come spring.



Scott

 

[JLEONARD]

As long as your antifreeze is good it won't hurt the engine to sit all winter. Block the exhaust pipe off, and the intake to keep any moisture out.

Now brakes, brake cables, undercab rust, that sort of thing is another problem after sitting for 6 months.

Jay

 

[Greenleaf]

Six Months!!!

:--)







Dag-gone!! I hope it ain't that long :{



The bright side is I'll get tons of work done to it at my liesure. Now where did I set that welder and B1 turbo



GL

 

[PaulG]

make sure you add some anti-gel in the tank and run it for a day or so this way it in the lines good and mixed in the tank well. plugging up holes is good cause mice will make homes in your exhaust or intake. also be sure to look un hood before starting cause mice will also make home in your engine bay.

 

[don b]

How Do You Pre Lube The Engine Prior To Turning On Fuel? What Do You Mean About Checking Freeze Points Or Cool Points Will Be Out The Window? Checking Antifreeze Or Blowing Frost Plugs? Re Rear Seat- A Guy In Vernon Bc Made This For The Previous Owner And It Matches The Upholstery In My Truck, It Folds Up And Cost About$ 700. 00 Canadian Pesos( $3. 21us) I Will Try To Get A Digital Camera And Post Pictures. Why Do I Drive A Riceburner In The Winter? Well They Call B. c. British California And People Dont Think It Snows Here In The Winter. Lots Of People Refuse To Buy Snow Tires And Dont Slow Down In Snow And Ice. the Municipal Governments And Private Road Maintenence Contractors Do A Lousy Job Of Plowing And Sanding Roads In Order To Save Money. There Are Lots Of Major Accidents Every Time There Is Any Snow Or Ice. So I Prefer To Drive My Beater In Those Conditions

 

[MFalkinham]

Even under a tarp building winter will really hurt the undercarriage due to all the frost and moisture in the air. Be prepared to replace the exhaust, steel fuel lines and steel brake lines before too long.



I'd put small bowls filled with some mothballs inside of the cab, the glovebox, and under the hood. Mice don't like the smell, and it will help to keep them from making a winter home inside of your truck.



- Mike

 

[JLEONARD]

How Do You Pre Lube The Engine Prior To Turning On Fuel

The simple way is to remove the wire that powers your stop solenoid and crank the engine using the starter until you see oil pressure starting to register on the gage.

Then re-install the wire and fire her up.

 

[DPetrey]

I would also put a moisture absorber in the cab keep the mold down and from growing in your seats and carpet up here in Ak we have the same weather and over time you will bet mold where you have spilled things in the past and then let them sit our Boat upolstery get the same way.

 

[DPetrey]

Oops one other thing change the oil before you park it the oil will turn acidk over time and pit the bearings buy not being run all the time and change it at least once while it is parked

 

[tugboatphil]

Don,



It would be a whole lot easier if you put your truck into storage, in a location south of BC. Let's say, for example... . Virginia. You'd need to put a temporary plate on, get your insurance to add an additional driver, and lastly, find a trustworthy caretaker.



Hey! You know what? I think I could look after the ol' girl. Probably wouldn't put many miles on either. Yepper. I think I'll do you a favor so you won't have to worry about all those tedious pre-layup procedures. So as soon as I get that plane ticket in the mail, I'll be up to put your truck into "Southern Storage!" And if you act now, I'll make sure there's a few gallons of fresh diesel in the tank when I bring her back up next August..... that is when summer starts in BC, isn't it?

 

[JLEONARD]

change it at least once while it is parked

Not necessary to change it if you don't run it. We boaters change oil prior to putting the boat away for the winter period. Then fire up in the spring (after "pre-lubbing") and run to normal change interval.



The moisture absorbing stuff (calcium cloride) in the cab is a good idea.

 

[don b]

Thanks For All The Tips On Storage. I Cant Store The Truck In The Us Because Bush Won The Election. It Would Seem Sensible To Install A Separate Switch Or A Delay Timer To The Fuel Shutoff Valve In Order To Prelube The Motor Every Time It Is Started. A Switch Would Also Prevent Theft. Question- Is It Normal For The Clutch Fan To Engage For 5 Second Intervals When The Truck Is Idling Before It Has Reached Operating Temperatures? Is It Really Necessary To Change Oil If Truck Is Started Weekly?

 

[Greenleaf]

Hi guys,



Are you all checking your freeze pioints??? If you are, l you guys using the balls-that-float unit from NAPA or the cheepie that has the plastic needle that floats and points to the mark???



I have been mixing some Formulated NAPA Coolant (purple stuff) and some of the Dex-Cool (orange) that your not to use in our trucks(?) and have found that when mixing EXACTLY 50/50 the tester reads -10°F



Any of you guys found these cheep testers to be full of buffalo dung??



The refractormeter (spelling) is "suposed" to be the most accurate method. (as opposed to testing the spacific gravity with the stupid little floaty balls). I ain't got one.



What are you guys using and finding.



Thanks for any input.



FWIW I have never had a cracked engine due to using the cheep coolant tester. I'm thinking 50/50 is -34°F no matter what you use to test it, right??



BTW guys,,,,,,,keep in mind that the wind chill is not the same as the temerature. Personally, I have never seen the temp here in NC Ohio below 0°F and thats like once every ten years.



Scott

 

[WashingtonFLHTRider]

When you store it, don't bother starting the engine unless you take it out and drive it and get the engine up to full operating temp.

If you can't take it out and drive it for 20 or 30 miles, just leave it parked. Maybe with a battery tender hooked up to it.

The problem is this. Starting it and just letting it run will create condensation in the crankcase and also fuel wash the cylinders.

Changing the oil before you park it for the winter is highly asdvised. As is a Dri-Z-Air canister in the cab. You can pick these up at any RV parts house for arround $10. 00.

 

[DPetrey]

Jleonard you will find over winter oil that absorbes water will become acidk and pit the bearings here with out being run more so with a diesel than a gas let me know what you bottom end looks like when you come up for overhaul you will see what llokes like small water markes inj the bearings from the acidk oil.