Cold weather starts

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Gunner75, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    My trucks been sitting since Friday afternoon, temps have not gotten above 5 degrees once. I usually go out the night before I leave and start the truck up to charge the batteries. I went out earlier today to start it up and the batteries were almost drained. It turned over 4 or 5 times but was really hard at turning over. I hooked up my battery charger for a few hours and plugged the block heater in for about an hour. When out started it was rough for about 30 seconds but smoothed out.

    Question is, should I leave the block heater plugged in overnight? Truck is running right now, but I'll shut it off before I go to bed, and it'll sit in the cold for about 7 hours with temps below 0
     
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  3. Nukem

    Nukem Road Train Member

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    Seems like you already know the answer if your asking the question...

    Yes, I'd leave it on...
     
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  4. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    That's what I figured, was hoping is get a "it shouldn't be necessary" the #### thing uses a lot of electric
     
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  5. Nukem

    Nukem Road Train Member

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    Is one or two nights of running up the electricity worth the risk of not having your paycheck start in the morning? Plus the added cost of having to spend your time waiting for the batteries to charge and HOPEFULLY she turns over...
     
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  6. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    Or you can you can help it the morning with a small shot of ether. And I mean a slight shot. Don’t need the stuff here in the West coast. Been about 40’s 50’s here at night early morning
     
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  7. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    Haven't you ever lived in north Dakota ? Lol
    Treat fuel prior to parking .
    Plug in .
    Leave it plugged in !!
     
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  8. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    North what? That state isn't even in my vocabulary.

    As for treating fuel, my company doesn't want us to treat our fuel
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2018
    MACK E-6, Highway Sailor and bzinger Thank this.
  9. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    Oh it's a company truck ...they're problem then ....leave I running unless they're paying your electric bill .
     
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  10. Nukem

    Nukem Road Train Member

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    I've been to NORTH Carolina... that's SOUTH of Virginia...

    Never been to North Dakota... Might have to Google it one of these days! :p
     
    stwik, Shock Therapy and bzinger Thank this.
  11. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    I love this.

    I never kill a truck in the cold. IF the company screams then I tell them a bit of fuel is way cheaper than a breakdown tow or road call... due to a frozen truck.

    We had block heaters with Bowman in Frederick, and those things are plugged in all night regardless of the winter issue. I have never had a truck fail to start early in the am at -30 in those conditions. Now the fuel might be a different problem but I don't think they sat long enough to chill down and gel on us. Eh I edit my thought about fail to start, we used air starts almost exclusively up until they issued me a virgin mack daycab.
     
    Oxbow Thanks this.
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