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Vanity: Info Required On Cold Weather Starts
Self

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.


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KEYWORDS: cold; diesels
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1 posted on 01/01/2014 8:32:17 AM PST by Gay State Conservative
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To: Gay State Conservative

Leave it running.


2 posted on 01/01/2014 8:33:53 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

If it’s that cold there, there might be engine block heaters scattered about? I know Fairbanks has them.


3 posted on 01/01/2014 8:34:06 AM PST by Black Agnes
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To: Gay State Conservative

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.


4 posted on 01/01/2014 8:36:13 AM PST by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Well for me my wife blowning in my ear usualy works. ;-)


5 posted on 01/01/2014 8:36:50 AM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Gay State Conservative

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


6 posted on 01/01/2014 8:37:25 AM PST by rednek ("Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.")
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To: Gay State Conservative

I think I’d leave it running.


7 posted on 01/01/2014 8:37:31 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

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.


8 posted on 01/01/2014 8:38:07 AM PST by apoxonu
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To: Gay State Conservative

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.


9 posted on 01/01/2014 8:38:11 AM PST by WILLIALAL
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To: Gay State Conservative

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.


10 posted on 01/01/2014 8:38:17 AM PST by datura (Democrat=Communist, GOP=Democrat, TEA=American)
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To: Gay State Conservative

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).


11 posted on 01/01/2014 8:39:15 AM PST by Fred Hayek (The Democratic Party is now the operational arm of the CPUSA)
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To: Gay State Conservative
Extension cord, drop light and 100 watt bulb under the engine bay...

12 posted on 01/01/2014 8:40:09 AM PST by frankenMonkey
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To: Gay State Conservative
Stay over in a place that allows pet diesels...

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.

13 posted on 01/01/2014 8:40:19 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Gay State Conservative

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.


14 posted on 01/01/2014 8:42:22 AM PST by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: Gay State Conservative
In a worse case scenario, buy a couple bags (or more if you want) of dry popcorn and pour them into a cotton type pillowcase. Tie off the top. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes (or until nice and hot depending on your microwave or size of the bag). The corn in the bag will be hot and stay warm for hours due to the moisture in the corn.
You can set this bag under your hood where it will do the most good. The bigger the bag, the better the coverage and the longer the bag will stay hot. It'll be better than nothing.

(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)

15 posted on 01/01/2014 8:43:19 AM PST by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal")
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To: frankenMonkey

heh..heh...heh....some simians are faster than others.


16 posted on 01/01/2014 8:43:28 AM PST by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: gorush

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.


17 posted on 01/01/2014 8:43:30 AM PST by SauronOfMordor (Socialists want YOUR wealth redistributed, never THEIRS!)
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To: frankenMonkey

Outstanding out of the box thinking!


18 posted on 01/01/2014 8:43:32 AM PST by montomike (Politics should be about service and not a lucrative, money-making opportunity!)
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To: PowderMonkey

Hey!
Are you some kind of stalker?
;-)


19 posted on 01/01/2014 8:44:47 AM PST by frankenMonkey
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To: Gay State Conservative

Where in the world will you be for it to get to -40? You gonna drive to antartica to rescue those dimwits?


20 posted on 01/01/2014 8:48:23 AM PST by eastforker (Cruz for steam in 2016)
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