So I fired up my DK 45 at 0 degrees F today

Jesse masterson · Dec 14, 2013

for the 2 or 3 times a year we get low teens or single digits a torpedo heater fora out 20 min or so seems to do the trick. Can't justify the block heater cause if it's zero im not outside ,

grsthegreat · Dec 14, 2013

DeereMann said:
The snowplow went by AGAIN last evening - to clean up a 1 inch dusting of snow. It was -5 degrees F, the tractor is in 45 degree F pole barn. It fires right up, of course, I let it mid-idle speed for 5 minutes or so outside (per manufacturer's recommendation), but it doesn't really warm up - the engine coolant temp needle barely comes off "cold" peg.

No coolant heater came with my engine, so it likely doesn't need one. Then again, this is a 2012 pre-EPA Tier IV emissions model. That means it has more advanced fuel injection timing than new engines, so i guess all is well?

Anyway, it does not white smoke or stumble, so I guess all is well.

just a quick question..why do you bother plowing 1" of snow? we dont worry about it till it reaches 4" or more. just wonder

Jose G · Dec 14, 2013

was -40F this morning and fired right up, no block heater, nothing. i'm really glad I bought this tractor.

DarkBlack · Dec 14, 2013

Jose G said:
was -40F this morning and fired right up, no block heater, nothing. i'm really glad I bought this tractor.

-40F? you must be stating wind chill temp?

IndyIan · Dec 14, 2013

Jose G said:
was -40F this morning and fired right up, no block heater, nothing. i'm really glad I bought this tractor.

Wow, 0W40 in the motor? Is yours HST? I think for my next fluid change I'm going to get a synthetic fluid and motor oil. This winter I've got 15w40 and a thicker tractor fluid and I'm waiting until it's atleast -10C to start the tractor.

grm61 · Dec 15, 2013

IndyIan said:
Wow, 0W40 in the motor? Is yours HST? I think for my next fluid change I'm going to get a synthetic fluid and motor oil. This winter I've got 15w40 and a thicker tractor fluid and I'm waiting until it's atleast -10C to start the tractor.

I'd dump the 15W40 motor oil, unless the weather is to bad to do it, oils not that expensive.
Takes a long to pump that stuff where it needs to go when it is that cold, and puts a heck of a load on the motor trying to pump it.

DeereMann · Dec 16, 2013

grs - four reasons I cleanup 1" snowfalls:
(1) the main reason is to prevent snow mounds from vehicles. we have 5 months of winter up here, and if you don't keep your active driveways clean, they get rutted from compacted vehicle wheel tracks very quickly
(2) I'm getting old so don't hand-shovel as much any more, and I have two+ drives
(3) exercises the tractor more regularly
(4) I like operating my new tractor :thumbsup:

DeereMann · Dec 16, 2013

CJ - are those DK engines DI or IDI?

CJONE · Dec 16, 2013

DeereMann said:
CJ - are those DK engines DI or IDI?

Injection pump with injectors but I can't remember if it has pre combustion or not. I think it does but I just read the manual, never had to work on it and hope I don't have to! Oh by the way -18 below F here this morning. It was about -5 last night when I plowed and it started without much fuss but you can tell it is a little chilly. CJ

grsthegreat · Dec 16, 2013

i dont care what anyone says, i have heaters on my oil pan. Set on timer to run 2 hours prior to when i usually operate tractor. I havnt bothered plugging the tractor in this year yet, as weve really had no snow to talk about to date. If i know im going to use the tractor, i make sure that its had some preheat. The entire tractor just sounds so much happier starting up if its been warmed up.

It will start and run without preheating it, but you can hear that its not happy.