Extreme winter coming....for what I have planned

I ran mine in -40 before with no Mods up in canada last winter. I did use a grill cover of foam insulation (about 1 inch thick, that's all i had and it worked) I also used tons of fuel additive and put anti ice stuff in the brakes. The truck ran pretty bad but it did stay running and i wouldn't dare shut it off. Neg 60 though, belly might want some protection. I kept fluids the same although you may need to adjust your antifreeze to make sure it has enough antifreese in it. Also some winter window washer is good. Engine oil will be at running temps and thus wont be a problem as long as you don't turn the truck off. Main thing to worry about is keeping the engine warm and keeping brakes working. Webasto couldn't hurt, but i didnt need one at -40. See if there is anyone here with -60 experience.....but for neg 40 just add a grill cover, make sure ur antifreeze is good, add some brake de ice and you should be good to go. AND DONT EVER TURN IT OFF lol. not even to fuel it. Most drivers in the real cols leave it on to fuel.

 

Richter gives good advice. I too have done cold weather trucking in Alaska during the winters. I removed the bunk wall covering and installed solar-guard mylar film first, and 1" thick blue-board (styrofoam type material used for insulating homes) over the film. Taped the joints with that metal HVAC tape. It made a HUGE difference from the first winter up there to the next after the project was installed. I used to have to take an extra hose to run from my webasto outlet and put it under the sheets on the bed to keep my feet warm. It worked great, but wasn't needed after the blue-board. The sheets of blue-board also work pretty well for sealing off areas of the engine compartment from cold air coming in.

Keep some ether with you, too. A can of that could get things started if you forget and shut her off resulting in a no-start due to gelling. A cute little honey riding along with you also helps to *cough* keep things warm.

 

i have done -40 more time than id like to think for -40 a winterfron't and some #1 and leave the truck running and your be ok. make sure you have plenty of warm dry clothes and several changes of socks. -60 is pretty extreem belly would defiantly be advised. when you park the truck make sure you face the front out of the wind. even with the winter front ect on and idle at 1000 a strong bitter wind and your struggle to keep engine temps up if your facing into it.

 

Also when you park, try to find level ground and chock the tractor and trailer, leaving the brakes charged with air, otherwise you'll be on the ground on your back beating the drums with a sledge to get them to let go. I used to carry a torch with me in case I had to set them and then melt them loose after they froze up.

When you've been driving for long enough to heat up the tires, after you shut down, wait 10 minutes, and pull forward / backward a full tire rotation. This will help prevent those road-hot tires from melting you into a rut, then freezing you into it for fun times the next morning. After 10 minutes the rubber has cooled and won't melt you down into a channel.

 

Another thing I havent seen mentioned yet is tire chains. With cold weather comes crappy roads and chains will be a lifesaver in some situations.

I used to drive a rathole chase truck in northern alberta in the winter, although the coldest weather i have worked in was around -50 with the windchill. We used whatever anti gel stuff we could find that they sold at the ufa's, and it worked. We never shut our trucks off either. We didnt really outfit the trucks super special because most of the time we had hotels or camps to stay in so i cant comment on the bunk part.

I do like the idea of bringing a torch along, we had them on our trailers and they came in hand ALOT of frozen up.. well anything. Good for cooking hot dogs too!

 

Can you lock your axles? Not just two sets of duals but all 4 sets.

 

The two stroke oil will work for a lubricant, but I question any anti-gel properties it might have. I have run in -30 with straight 2 in it. As long as it stays running, you will be good. -40, I would probably put some number 1 in it. You don't need straight 1 as long as you keep it running. I have used some of the stuff in the red bottles, Power service 911. I have used it to un-gel filters before. I would have a couple of jugs of that along for sure, along with a couple of sets of filters and a jug of straight 1 with some 911 mixed in.

Make sure your air dryer is working, and serviced. I like to do mine later in the fall, and make sure the system is dry. Never ran in -60. I could see a belly tarp coming in handy in those conditions. Like another poster said above, if it is cold and windy, try to keep the wind at your back when parked. You won't be able to idle your truck high enough to keep it over 150 in the temps you are talking about if it is windy. Even with the grill blocked off.

Don't turn the truck off and expect it to start with the webasto heater on the motor. Don't do it. I have used mine down to -20F and it started, but I usually have a very strong blend of #1, say 70%, when it starts getting that cold for starting purposes. I kind of wonder how it would work at -30. I usually leave my truck run if it is going to be 30 below F.

One more thing to think about. If it starts getting to -20, I don't like to let my fuel get to low. I try to keep the top half ful, that way when I'm putting -20 to -30 degree fuel in tank, not all the fuel will be that cold. I feel you have alot less chance of gelling up that way.