Is it too cold to start my tractor?

[Dr_Zinj]

I've started it cold some mornings without having used the block heater. Just let the glow plugs warm up and then give it a crank.

 

[paulfun9]

Nope no problem starting any of my machines in cold weather. However there is that problem of getting me to go out there!! I seem to stall most times right when I look threw the window and see a negative number on the thermometer.

 

[buickanddeere]

Synthetic oil and consider running power to the shed.
Start engine and ensure oil pressure and the initial roughness after starting has smoothed out . Immediately use tractor a partial load and near rated rpms until temperature gauge climbs to near normal . Idling a diesel in winter doesn't warm it up. The excess airflow at light loads and the reduced combustion chamber temperature from compression at idle vs operating at near rated rpms . The engine stays cold and just wet stacks, washes down the cylinder walls and dilutes the lube oil.

 

[sandyc]

Suggest using amsoil or some other synthetic. After I switched to synthetic I found the engine much quieter upon start up. Also suggest getting the best hydraulic fluid in order to keep that system happy as well. Warming up is mentioned in the Kubota manual....I let mine warm up as long as it takes me to clear the rear deck with a snow shovel. About 10-15 minutes.....and by that time the tractor is ready to either blow or plow.

 

[legrandice]

Synthetic oil and consider running power to the shed.
Start engine and ensure oil pressure and the initial roughness after starting has smoothed out . Immediately use tractor a partial load and near rated rpms until temperature gauge climbs to near normal . Idling a diesel in winter doesn't warm it up. The excess airflow at light loads and the reduced combustion chamber temperature from compression at idle vs operating at near rated rpms . The engine stays cold and just wet stacks, washes down the cylinder walls and dilutes the lube oil.

I think I will run synthetic for my next oil change. I have thought of running power to the shed, and may do so this summer when I rent a trencher for some other projects. I have been running the tractor at 1500rpm minimum in the winter per the manual after the idle roughness is over.

 

[buickanddeere]

Sounds good . Touch base with us here on running power to the shed. Sometimes grounding, neutral bonding and wire sizing is subject to interpiration.

 

[pat32rf]

I'm always surprised why no one uses a 3-4KW genny to preheat in times like this. just install block heaters, rad hose heaters and a battery heater. Plug them all in and let the genny run for an hour with a blanket over the tractor engine.

 

[GManBart]

Also, cycle the glow plugs two or three times before starting in really cold weather....helps it start quicker, and smooth out faster.

 

[TomSeller]

I'm always surprised why no one uses a 3-4KW genny to preheat in times like this. just install block heaters, rad hose heaters and a battery heater. Plug them all in and let the genny run for an hour with a blanket over the tractor engine.

Right. I have two portable generators for this type of thing.

 

[Henniker]

MY poor Kubota lives outside, and I've used it all winter to clear my driveway. I run a Battery Tender cable from the garage to keep the battery fully charged. In sub-zero temps I run the glow plugs longer than normal (45s-1min), and I let it warm up for at least 5min before doing anything. The hydraulics are sluggish at first, but when they warm up, they're fine. The Battery Tender is one of the best investments I've made. (I own 3).