Late Model KW and Cummins Cold Weather Plugging in

i thought the problem was fuel gelling so how does a block heater work if its not heating the fuel tanks?

 

It doesn’t... block heater let’s engine turn over easier....

Your need to treat fuel when you fuel up....

P.S. there are many problems in cold weather .

 

Next week will separate those that are prepared for and set up for extreme cold and those that arnt.
Thank you Lord for making me a native north dakotan.

 

Good answer . . .

To a good question.

 

Heats the engine block. Fuel will just have to fend for itself. They usually sell winter blends which can get down some. But not too long. I don't know about these post 2007 high water content fuel but in my time gelling was rare. It does happen now and then.

However it never happened when one rule is applied in winter. NEVER SHUT OFF ENGINE. The return fuel to the tanks while it's running is pretty hot so the tanks gain a temperature above gelling.

 

the only fix is bring it inside or like some 911 maybe then ?

 

Newer EGR engines encounter major issues when idled.

Smart operators will opt for APU usage.

Long term operation at sub zero temps therefore presents an issue.

 

Drop filters, fill new ones with 911 - start and keep running.

Pretreat heavily with fuel additive.

Winter is brutal.

But yeah - ideally - drag truck to 32 plus degree environment and wait.

 

I bought a truck in Vancouver. Being a Canadian, I assumed it had a block heater.
First time it was really cold. It wouldn’t turn over. Turns out it only had an oil pan heater, 150watts. And apparently, no, heat does not rise when there isn’t enough of it. I had to put a propane tiger torch under it for a few hours to get it to start.
So I had to get the dealer to install a block heater. When your truck sits off, there is no oil in the block, only coolant. A block heater heats the coolant. The block heater was 1500 Watts. The next time it was really cold, the truck fired up just like it was summer.
Fuel tank heaters: depends on what style you have. Some burn fuel like an Espar or Webasto bunk heater, some are propane, some are electric 12 volt, some 120 volt. And some use coolant from your engine.
The DEF is only heated by coolant, the DEF lines are heated electrically. Both only when the truck is running.

 

Well, here in the south close to Texas there is a form of building similar to a qounset hut which is essentially bolted arches of steel until you had a garage yea high and yea long to fit a 18 wheeler in with room to spare. A few thousand at best plus concrete pad and labor time to build it. Relatively easy.

Any time you can get a rig out of the cold, it really likes it. ALOT.