Cold weather starts

I usually only plugged in the block heater the night before I was going to leave. Even at -34 it always starts.

 

Go to the drug store and buy a couple quarts of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), its got to be 90% alcohol or better... Dump 8 oz of the alcohol in for every 100 gallons of diesel... The company will never know and you will sleep easier knowing you have treated fuel. Perfectly safe for these newer engines as well. It doesn't change the appearance, smell or anything else about the diesel but it helps to prevent gelling.

 

Thing about plugging it up is that won't charge your batteries. It will make it turn over easier though. I might trot out a hour or so prior and see if it cranks and put the charger on then if not. If it's the cold zappin your batteries then they may be down again in am

 

That is one of the reasons why my truck has an APU installed...

It's both block heater, and battery charger...

 

I feel horrible - it’s been 0-25 since Christmas, aside from 1 day it poked over 35 for a few hours.

Truck in shop, plugged to shore power, space heater running, inverter/charger tending batteries, block heater ready to switch on if, . . . and only IF . . .

I actually ENTERTAIN the idea of working until it’s above 35 degrees.

This isn’t forecast until Friday.

 

So what....

Another thing: The seals shrink with temp drop. Keeping them warm, minimizes shrinkage, and potential oil leak.

I saw a truck today that would not start....it had a puddle of oil as the owner tried to crank her. I brought my truck to jump him, after he was stuck under load for 2hrs trying to crank.

As @Nukem said...how much do you care your money maker? I'd say, plug her in, keep her happy when you crank her.

 

I leave it in day and night (blockheater).
Surprise this morning. -25c and someome forgot to plug the truck. Quarter turn and started. Fresh oil change and 4 new batteries might have helped.

On a side note, stupid weedburner exhaust!!!!!

 

My block heater is on a timer. 5 hrs is generally lots. 3 hrs will do it too. Starts up quiet at 5 but bangs a little at 3. Still not as bad as a detroit in the summer though you can get timers that are temp sensitive too. I've never had one though.

 

I like these newer engines. Anybody been around 30+ years remembers the "ether injection systems" that was practically required for starts below 25 F

 

Had a company tell me that. Was at the Hook in Saskatoon on the fuel island when the big red STOP ENGINE started flashing and the gelling started at minus 50. The wreckers were busy that night in the truckstop parking lot. Trucks were freezing left and right.

What do you do? Call and ask for permission or save your hide?

There was another driver with me that called night dispatch. He’d fueled up at the same spot. He’s on the phone with dispatch telling them what was happening to him and waiting for someone who doesn’t know anything to make a decision for him.

At the very least, you’d better carry some Diesel 911. You will hear people tell you that the fuel in their area is treated and that you won’t gell. Both times I’ve almost gelled up, I had fueled up north. And in case you didn’t know, that biodiesel gels a lot faster than regular uls diesel.