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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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To: jocon307

The problem will be the fuel. Warm battery won’t help that. A -40 is way different from even -20.


61 posted on 01/01/2014 10:24:02 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: concerned about politics
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).

Are you talking about microwaving already-popped, or still un-popped, popping corn?

And wouldn't the emanating water vapor be a problem?

Regards

62 posted on 01/01/2014 10:30:17 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Gay State Conservative; cripplecreek; Fightin Whitey; null and void; SunkenCiv

i got a pair of leg warmers i got fer my wife fer Christmas at my local auto parts store in their “diesel fitter” department that you can have


63 posted on 01/01/2014 10:32:24 AM PST by bigheadfred
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To: Kenny Bunk

On my 1990 F250 FWD diesel, there is a heater on the fuel filter nad a block heater. I am the second owner and the original owner lived in Miuba.

However, he was a geologist with a degree earned back wnhen a second language and calculus were required of graduates.

Being both intelligent and a hunter, his truck was ordered with cold weather starting insurance.

On - let the Greenholes badmouth diesel. Taht way the demand for diesel won’t drive my fuel bill up.

;-)

Happy New Year!


64 posted on 01/01/2014 10:32:29 AM PST by GladesGuru (Islam Delenda Est - Because of what Islam is and because of what Muslims do.)
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To: Gay State Conservative
I just had my diesel clog up on BP "winter mix" diesel that was obviously not mixed properly. The heavier fuel clouded when the temperature dropped as the higher molecular weights fell out of solution and clogged the fuel filter with paraffin type waxes. At this point heating the fuel in the system wouldn't fix the problem on its own.

Not wanting to disassemble the fuel system, I tried to use a diesel additive called "Diesel 9-1-1" to unclog it but this didn't work completely. I then called about a half dozen truck stops and could not find straight #1 type diesel anywhere. After all else had failed, I then read the owner's manual and found that I could run a mix of diesel #2 and kerosine. After buying a 5 gallon blue fuel tank, I was able to get enough in it and that cleared everything up almost immediately.

I would recommend consulting your owner's manual and find the right fuel mix for your conditions. My guess is that it will be nearly straight diesel #1 or kerosine.

65 posted on 01/01/2014 10:33:36 AM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: concerned about politics

You’ve never been in -40 weather, have you?


66 posted on 01/01/2014 10:38:52 AM PST by B4Ranch (Name your illness, do a Google & YouTube search with "hydrogen peroxide". Do it and be surprised.)
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To: blastbaby
Go to synthetic in the gearbox also. I've done it on trans and transfer cases in several vehicles. They will shift more smoothly at all temps.
67 posted on 01/01/2014 10:40:56 AM PST by CrazyIvan (Obama phones= Bread and circuits.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Not in Tampa, its 59 here and were complaining.


68 posted on 01/01/2014 10:42:15 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Wearing parkas bought the only time they’ve seen snow up in the NC mountains too no doubt, lol.


69 posted on 01/01/2014 10:44:57 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: Gay State Conservative

First off, do NOT use any type of starter spray (ether) into the intake system. Your pre-heater or glow plugs will ignite it and can cause an explosion.

With the newer ultra-low sulfer diesel fuel, it will gell at a higher temp if not treated or blended. Treatments mentioned earlier can help a little. The best thingto do in that low of temp is to blend fuel.
I would use a 60-40. 60% #2 diesel, 40% #1diesel or kerosene.

You can do all the other things to ensure you get started, but without the correct fuel, you will not be going far.

I’m the diesel truck shop foreman of a local trucking company. If you have any questions, freep-mail me, or ask away here.

Good luck.


70 posted on 01/01/2014 10:45:34 AM PST by MountainDad (Support your local Militia)
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To: Gay State Conservative
A few good strategies for you mentioned. Probably the best ones are to idle the engine at least every few hours or to park indoors. If where you're at there happens to be a tire shop or repair garage perhaps you could slip them a few bucks to use their bay for the overnight.

The difference between -30 and -40 F or C is major with respect to starting. For that matter, at -40 all the fluids turn to molasses: brake, power steering, transmission, diffs so when you first start out it will a few miles until the vehicle is driving half way normal. Fuel economy will take a hit even after warming up.

IMHO the 100W drop light under the hood is not going to do much good although seems like putting it at the battery and wrapping the a towel could give enough oomph to get the engine to fire up.

Last winter in Ontario, my battery struggled at -30 but -40 killed it. It was not all that old at all and over sized or at least I thought over sized enough. Wrong! Barely got it started and pulled into a Canadian Tire for a new battery. Whatever battery they put in the truck would spin the engine like a turbine at -40.

Long term if you need it, you need some heaters and I like to be self sufficient so no plug in required. Put in a separate deep cycle battery with an isolator to keep it electrically separate from your starting battery. Install immersion heaters into the oil pan and transmission plus an electric blanket for the batteries. Rig these to all power from the deep cycle battery and use on/off switches via a relays to energize the heat when needed. The alternator will keep both the OEM starting and auxiliary battery charged.

Good luck!

71 posted on 01/01/2014 10:47:07 AM PST by Hootowl99
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To: RegulatorCountry

The worst part is travel. One time I got off the plane up north and realized I had forgotten it was winter. Did not even own a heavy jacket.


72 posted on 01/01/2014 10:52:28 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: B4Ranch
I've been exposed to that sort of weather blessedly few times. Once had a rental car frozen to the pavement in Chanhassen, MN. Wondered why all the locals weren't parking there, the standing water wasn't all that much. It had gotten above freezing and the snow piles had melted, an Alberta Clipper came through overnight. The snooty French concierge had a blowdryer-looking thing to plug into the cigarette lighter to unfreeze it, nit very effective. Didn't come unstuck until the sun had been on it for a few hours. You live and learn I guess, that sort of thing is alien to me.
73 posted on 01/01/2014 10:52:57 AM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: All

Bookmarking this for later, just in case it ever gets that cold down here in the South central part of the USA. (Global cooling, ya know!) ;)


74 posted on 01/01/2014 11:00:50 AM PST by I_Publius
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To: Gay State Conservative

If you don’t have coolant rated for that temperature, fill the tank and leave it running all night. Make sure you have winterized diesel fuel.


75 posted on 01/01/2014 11:03:33 AM PST by fso301
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To: Gay State Conservative

#1 Look for indoor parking - a local gas station maybe or a warehouse.

#2 Keep it out of the wind- Drive onto a big tarp and pull it up over the front of the car. Let it hang down on the sides. You can even tie up the lower part against the vehicle body.

#3 Use 100 watt lamps. One for the battery side of the engine and one for the oil pan.

#4 Leave the transmission in Neutral and the emergency brake off. Chock your wheels.

When it starts, keep the RPM below 1000 for five minutes. Wait 10 minutes before moving the car. Cover your radiator with cardboard while driving during the day if the temp stays below -20.

Make sure there is warm clothing for everyone in the car when driving. Keep food and fluids (and TP) in case you break down. This is the kind of weather than kills quickly so think ahead. Good Luck


76 posted on 01/01/2014 11:06:05 AM PST by B4Ranch (Name your illness, do a Google & YouTube search with "hydrogen peroxide". Do it and be surprised.)
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To: All
Lots and lots of good,logical suggestions folks.Thanks much.To answer a few question and correct a few misconceptions:

Where will I be? central Quebec,a couple of hundred miles north of Montreal.What kind of truck am I driving? It's not a truck,it's an Audi A3 TDI (diesel).Do I have access to power to plug anything in? Nope! Should I keep it running all night? Maybe,but if forced to choose I'd rather not start than have to explain my theft claim to the insurance company...or to the police (in French).

I'll just give it a shot I guess...and if you don't hear from me again you'll know that I went to that big hockey rink in the sky!

77 posted on 01/01/2014 11:09:05 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Osama Obama Care: A Religion That Will Have You On Your Knees!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Good suggestions, especially bringing battery inside. Any battery over 5 years old is suspect in average cold, but -40 will KO even a strong, new one.

I lived on Quebec border for several years. Key was to tuck nose of car up against a building to keep it out of the wind. If no structure is handy, orient back end of car into the wind when parking. Ideally, park on leeward side of a building to shelter from the wind. Look for a parking garage if in a city. Trouble lights work well, as many suggested. As another person noted, shifting was harder than starting the car. I had a manual trans Toyota that always started but was a bear to shift until it was warmed up.

Make sure you have boots/blankets/protective clothing for you and your passengers. Getting stranded due to an accident or breakdown can subject you to life-threatening weather. -40 is lethally cold and I worry more about human life than getting the car started. People not from the north often underestimate the danger of cold to themselves.


78 posted on 01/01/2014 11:56:33 AM PST by Panzerfaust
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To: bigheadfred
Got my wife some heavy flannels and an electric blanket.

Anything past 20 below we just tuck her in right over the fuel injectors.

79 posted on 01/01/2014 12:27:40 PM PST by Fightin Whitey
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To: Gay State Conservative

I was in ND recently. It was negative 10 or so then. Point being that I separated the ignition key from the remote control fob.

So I could start the car and leave it running, then lock it. No theft worries.

(Too cold there for most criminals anyway.)


80 posted on 01/01/2014 12:55:41 PM PST by SoothingDave
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