Posted on 01/01/2014 8:32:17 AM PST by Gay State Conservative
My dilemma...tomorrow night my diesel and I will spend the night in a town where it's forecast to drop to -40F overnight.I'll have no garage,no battery charger,no oil pan heater...nothing.Does anyone have any experience with diesels at that temperature? My previous diesel once started after a night of -30F but I'm concerned about this.As on the previous occasion I plan to fill up with locally blended Shell diesel when I arrive but my car maker forbids the use of *any* fuel additives (it's still under warranty).Thanks in advance for any advice.
Leave it running.
If it’s that cold there, there might be engine block heaters scattered about? I know Fairbanks has them.
Run the preheater or glow plugs, depending on your model, numerous times (3 or 4) before attempting to start...good luck. Otherwise, go and start it every few hours and allow it to warm up.
Well for me my wife blowning in my ear usualy works. ;-)
Leave it running. Might also find some cardboard and cover the grill. Your biggest problem is going to be a fuel fikter full of green jello. 40 below is ugly....red
I think I’d leave it running.
Take the battery indoors with you. Keep in mind that a freezing cold battery has less than half the cranking power. A full tank of #1, plus a warm battery may make all the difference you’ll need.
At those temps, fuel gelling may be a bigger problem than starting unless your truck has a fuel heater for the filter.
If you can, the only real advantage you can give yourself would be to bring the battery (ies) inside overnight.
Only problem with that is removing batteries will usually effect the radio among possible other electric components which would then need to be reset.
Check your owner’s manual if the car is new for instructions on extended idling, and follow them when you let it run all night. I know my semi requires me to run a couple of hundred RPMs higher than idle for long periods.
If you can’t find a heat source letting it run is best.
If the Shell local blend is done right it should work. There are specific winter blends of diesel that are good, one example being Flint Hills’ Arctic Diesel (that particular brand is in the upper Midwest).
Better yet, travel to kinder climes.
How much does an oil pan heater cost (and how well do they work) - I'm not sure my gasoline engine would be happy trying to start in -40 (it would need someone to sub form because my tush ain't hitting that cold a seat).
Hope someone else has more useful stuff to say.
Head to the local hardware store for a long outdoor extension cord and a 100 watt trouble light. Plug it in. Turn it on. Place under the hood next to the engine block, and close her up. Should provide just enough heat to stave off problems in the morning.
(Old timers used to make these, warm them by the fire or wood stove, and take them to bed with them to stay warm at night)
heh..heh...heh....some simians are faster than others.
I agree. The important thing is to not let it get too cold. Besides difficulty starting, your lubricating oil will get too thick to do its job of reducing wear, possibly resulting in engine damage IF you manage to get it started.
A tank of fuel is cheaper than a damaged engine. Run it frequently overnite to keep it warm, and get a block heater as soon as possible.
Outstanding out of the box thinking!
Hey!
Are you some kind of stalker?
;-)
Where in the world will you be for it to get to -40? You gonna drive to antartica to rescue those dimwits?
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