Starting your Diesel on a cold day tip

[jymbee]

Yeah, apparently Massey has you by the balls on this one. Something about having to use their specific heater as the water jackets are too shallow for a conventional heater. Doesn't bother me too bad. I probably would have paid double after the last month of sub-zero temps we've had.

Thanks to the suggestions I read here on TBN I made sure having a block heater installed on my new Massey before delivery was part of the deal. As I've had to do such things as dig out snowed in vehicles and make my way back to the reserve firewood supply with temps around 20 below, that has proven to be GREAT advice.

 

[buickanddeere]

I haven't seen a tractor with one of those in decades. Perhaps some tractor mechanic that sees a lot of different machines can tell us if any are still being made.

Tractor manufactures were getting tired of paying for warrenty engine rebuilds on CUT . Bubba kept waking up in the morning finding the lane blocked with snow. Instead of having the block heater plugged in over night "wasting power" . Bubba would start spraying either instead of spending 75 cents a night on electricity.
Few are the people that can spray "just enough" ether to start the engine instead of lots of ether to be sure to have enough.
To get around the Bubba factor. Equipment manufactures have went to glow plugs and manifold heaters instead of ether injection.

 

[JDgreen227]

buickand deere: Is the engine damage you say is caused by excessive ether use noticible enough so that a shop can tell it's the cause? I am asking so that I may learn something.

 

[buickanddeere]

My Father-in-law who rebuilds engines at Ideal Supply is grateful for the job security that broken rings, crushed ring lands, bent rods and blown head gaskets that ether over use provides.
That rattling knocking sound during an ether start is pressure spikes 2-3 times over design for operation.
Cold metal tends to be more brittle than warm metal.

 

[JDgreen227]

My Father-in-law who rebuilds engines at Ideal Supply is grateful for the job security that broken rings, crushed ring lands, bent rods and blown head gaskets that ether over use provides.
That rattling knocking sound during an ether start is pressure spikes 2-3 times over design for operation.
Cold metal tends to be more brittle than warm metal.

Thanks for feedback...my work trucks had metered ether injection...are you referring to damage caused by just spraying ether into CUT intakes?

 

[tcreeley]

During cold weather is when we get the house fires up here- units are used improperly, unused-then used, and people are creative. Just be careful however you start your tractor. I prefer my block heater.
Heat sources can produce enough heat to start fires given the right circumstances- especially un-attended!

 

[buickanddeere]

Thanks for feedback...my work trucks had metered ether injection...are you referring to damage caused by just spraying ether into CUT intakes?

Free hand ether spraying is a perilous procedure .

 

[Will_C]

Interesting thread. I have been around diesels and cold weather most of my life. 30-40 years ago, ether and the built in spray systems were "state of the art." Block heaters came into vogue shortly afterwards, and are still used on most of our compact tractors.

The last 3 pieces of construction equipment my brother has purchased use intake heaters as the primary warming source, although he adds block heaters as well. Most of the loggers and contractors that have to start equipment that has been left outside overnight in sub zero weather are carrying small generators to utilize the block heater , use a battery charger to warm the battery, and may even put a salamander heater under the dozer or skidder.

I do remember my father starting a small fire under a dozer in the 1970's, and I put a bed of coals from a wood stove under an ATV in the Adirondack mountains during a -25 degree morning at hunting camp. Glad I don't have to so that every time I plow snow.

Will

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[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

I bought a new 2013 Deere 5075E in November. I had them add a block heater(installed for $92). It has the intake manifold heater also. I have been using just the manifold heater at temps in the mid 20s, she starts fine but I dont care for the rattling. Temps started dropped so opted for the block heater at 15 degrees. I let her cook for about 2 1/2 hours, hit the key and she started and idled like it was a 75 degree day. Second test, same deal but now well below 10 degrees and I let her cook for 1 hour(yeah I timed it both times) when I hit the key she started and idled (high idle 1500rpm) like a champ. I don't even start that well in cold weather.

 

[RoyJackson]

You probably won't see the 100* temps with 90% humidity though..I would rather have the -20... Let the water drip LOL !! If we don't tell them everyone will have damaged pipes

Until you experience the minus 20...and the have been a lot of minus double digit temperatures the last two winters...you really don't know what you're missing.

I use a block heater...much easier on the engine. I also treat my fuel...just in case (Power Service white bottle). It's also advisable, IMHO, to not keep too much fuel around (maybe 40-50 gallons) so you ensure you get the winter blend when the time comes.