Cold weather diesel starting

[redneck joe]

The boy got an extra 24 hours of liberty so staying an extra day. The forcasted hi temp sunday is to be minus one. I remember what i didnt like about living north of TN.

Can i get the thing started? I didn't bring my extension cord (i can get one) and not sure there is an outside outlet here at the hotel. Honestly I've never plugged up my truck i think i have it on this one - my 03 had it. I think about 15 degrees is coldest ive had to start it in.

 

[Scott Danforth]

all the Cummins diesels come with a block heater. its a core plug heater on the last cylinder on the passenger side. the plug is routed to up by the headlight.

however you should be able to start down to about -10 without it. it will white smoke like a ***** for the first few minutes.

 

[Scott Danforth]

park near a side entrance. borrow an extension chord from the front desk. run it out the hotel door. there are outlets for the cleaning staff at all the outside entrances.

 

[Scott Danforth]

or look into adding one of these: http://www.esparofmichigan.com/products/hydronic-5/

it runs off the diesel in your tank with a bit of juice from your batteries. its a mini diesel fired boiler with a mini circulation pump.

 

[dingbat]

I take it trucks don't a manual "heat" 'function. No problems starting the tractors down to 0.

 

[alldodge]

Turn key ON then wait for light to go out, then turn OFF. Turn key back ON and wait for light to go out then start it. It will start if your batteries are in good shape. This is the main reason for the two batteries. During normal starts in cool to warm weather you only need one, but in real cold stuff you need the preheater to run some more

 

[Baylinerchuck]

+1 on the AD post......It'll knock like a son of a gun til she warms a little. But she'll run....

 

[redneck joe]

ok cool - two new batteries about 18 months ago when I got her so should be good. I do have a good inverter and have a second vehicle if I needed to run the heater but i'll just glow plug it up a few times.


thanks folks.

 

[MTboatguy]

You want to really have fun, I have had to start mine using Starting Fluid, but if you have auto glow plugs don't try it, I have my glow plugs set up on a manual switch, but man it is fun once you spray a little go juice it in!

 

[Scott Danforth]

your motor should have a grid heater vs glow plugs. Cummins hasnt used glow plugs for about 30 years

 

[WIMUSKY]

I know with my tractor, I plugged it in when it got to 10? or below. Even when it was new. Not that it wouldn't start when it was colder, start, die, start, die. It was just easier on the motor.....

 

[dingbat]

Cummins hasnt used glow plugs for about 30 years

Any reason in particular?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Any reason in particular?

Because they went with grid heaters. Less chance of failure. The L10 was the last block with glow plugs. Grid heaters continue to run after motor fires for white smoke reduction

 

[WIMUSKY]

I was curious too about the glow plugs. Found this:
http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94-98-engine/578781-grid-heaters-glow-plugs.html

 

[alldodge]

You can tell when the heater is working when the motor is running by watching the ALT gauge. It shows above 14V then starts dropping quickly to about 12V and about 10 seconds later it comes back up. Ever so many seconds it repeats. When its real cold, the idle is kicked up a bit until you depress the break peddle (thinks your ready to go in gear)

 

[Scott Danforth]

I was curious too about the glow plugs. Found this:
http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94-98-engine/578781-grid-heaters-glow-plugs.html

The B series and C series never had glow plugs.

 

[redneck joe]

You can tell when the heater is working when the motor is running by watching the ALT gauge. It shows above 14V then starts dropping quickly to about 12V and about 10 seconds later it comes back up. Ever so many seconds it repeats. When its real cold, the idle is kicked up a bit until you depress the break peddle (thinks your ready to go in gear)

yeah it will when you step on the brake and my lights (both old one and this one) the lights do dim every few seconds always wondered what that was.

 

[redneck joe]

Eell, made it. Started no problem starting however had trouble getting any speed until we got in the upper teens at Effingham. It was like it was being rev limited. The engine temp was fine is there something that limits the tranny ? At 3 degrees hen we left all i could do is about 65 and as it warmed up farther south it slowly let me get to 80.

 

[alldodge]

Have not heard of this issue but it could be the computer doing this IF your truck is unmodified, or it could be with the cold air your not getting a full burn of the fuel. The diesel needs heat generated to fire, so as the speed increases there is a lot of air coming in and the grid heater cannot keep up, so less BTU generated when burning

 

[alldodge]

When it gets cold I find a piece of cardboard and place it between the radiator and A/C condenser. If we happen to get a heat wave the cardboard is removed until it gets cold again