What is typical amperage needed to start a typical 13 to 15 Liter diesel?

Lot of different factors to consider, such as outside temp, oil viscosity, specific gravity on old batteries, cable size and length (resistance), dirty connections, bad ground, resistant levels in the starter, etc, no set amount fits all. In my Pete 362 (Cummins big cam 4) I run 4 Interstate H.D.@ 1100 amps each, but the low temps up here can be -30 F.

Is a 800 amp jump pack gonna work on dead batteries in cold temps, I doubt it. Also, depending on how cold it is out and oil viscosity, and not being plugged in, put a lot of juice to the starter and bad things will likely happen.

I once unloaded in FL, all was fine, went to leave, no start. Long story short, one of the three batteries had reversed itself. Figured out which one by separating all three and by just using a test light saw that one was dimmer than the other two.....But then again, they always said I was a dim bulb, so that test came easy.

 

4 batteries deep cycling 1200 amps all out total almost 5000 amps.

You will crank when shes that cold if your batteries are virgin, young and fully charge that once for you. More than likely you have tired neglected batteries that will burn up on you when you really need them.

Once a battery is dead, replace the whole pack with fresh young virgin set of new batteries. It will be the difference between your dead truck in the worst of winter. Never shut off that truck below a certain temperature. She aint gonna start for you again outside of a heated shop.

Do not whatever you do try to kick over a big kitty on crappy car batteries via jumper. That rig will try to kill your car. Its unequal. Very much so.

Sometimes on new trucks you see those fancy add ons to connect to for jumping or charging. Don't bother.

You want massive heated fuel returns to both tanks whatever you do. If you DO NOT have that feature keeping your fuel currently toasty and warm find another truck that has it. Or quit and join a company that has these things. When you have been running a while without shutting off and you hit a cold snap on that toasty fuel you would be happy you have it.

Learn where on the starter motor against the engine block to put the hot clippers and the black cold ones onto the frame close to that starter motor you are jumping directly. Make sure twice that ##### is in Nuetral with chocks out. As soon you crank it has to be in nuetral.

In life or death situation, get out the magnesium slab, spark it off into a dallop of fuel on dry tinder wood with a couple of small shake shingle wood items ready to go. When small fire gets hot enough, throw the shake in. You got about 5 minutes as you oil temp comes up first followed by the water temp next. After a certian temp try to crank it and she should fire. But that is something not condoned by anyone in this industry, building a fire to thaw out a engine block. At least carry a little group of alternative type heating so thta fuel is not the only go for Joe you ever have. Make sure you kick the fire out after your engine oil temp starts to rise she feels the heat enough as it is and there are too much delicate crap stuff all over that block these days. You can kill it just as easy.

 

Those boost packs are good, but they likely wouldn't get you going with flatlined batteries. Even trying to get engines in the 4-7L range started at -30C it was hit or miss.

 

The replacement battery for a T680 is 950 CCA according to Autozone. Anything that you can lift isn’t going to crank it for long. If it is smaller than one normal tractor battery it probably wouldn’t cut it.

 

Delco 39mt starters will draw 1000 ish amps.

We had a 1000cca boost pack that would only start engines in warm weather. Cold no chance.
Dead cold batteries will suck up amps like crazy. We have a 4 batt 925cca each cart that will balk at frozen batteries.
If it just needs a lil bit to go, boost pack will probably start. Anything more it wont go.
I once boosted my f150 with my sled. Barely went.

 

Stone dead batteries at below freezing temperatures I doubt it'll start it.

The clamps on the cable leads have a small fraction of the contact area a battery cable has on the battery's post. You lose a fair amount of potential right there with just a poor connection to the battery terminals.

 

Cheap harbor freight genset and either a battery charger or install a nice inverter that has the battery charging feature. Let it run and charge, you can also plug in the block heater if you have one.

Those jump packs are a complete waste of time and money.

 

More amps more more more always more. Crank it. She'll start. If she aint? Wal... its dead jim.

Back in the days of airstart we didnt care what batteries were into the box pack. Whatever we tossed in there 3 or 4 of them is good. Even the little ones (Relatively at 1000 CCA each) The important thing they need to be is deep cycle.

Otherwise go to air start. I don't think today's computer trucks can handle air start. But modern Railroad locomotives do use them.