Is it too cold to start my tractor?

GManBart · Feb 25, 2015

legrandice said:
Interesting..I think 150' would just reach to the shed from my garage. I will look into this, I did not think about the restive heater having no issue with voltage drop. I always figured it was too far.

Last year I made a 250' extension cord out of 10/2 UF to supply power over to where my barn was going up. I ran it off a 30amp breaker wired to an exterior generator plug and calculated the voltage drop....I can't recall what that figure was, but it wasn't much, and when I put a meter on it, the calculation was pretty close. Just to be sure, I hooked my compressor up to it and then tried a circular saw and grinder (all with loads on them)...no problems. I just wanted to make sure it would power the normal stuff for construction. You should be fine just powering a block heater.

oldpilgrim · Feb 25, 2015

I used this site to calc my electrical quality at my well pump when I bought my new generator.

Voltage Drop Calculator

legrandice · Feb 25, 2015

oldpilgrim said:
I used this site to calc my electrical quality at my well pump when I bought my new generator.

Voltage Drop Calculator

Thanks!

trollingfever · Feb 25, 2015

im in no way an expert in diesel starting in extreme cold temps. i have a 2015 chevy duramax, which has the urea tank. i don't add anything to the fuel, and it always starts, even sub zero. although my sons dodge cummins won't start below -5 or -10, but has no urea tank. we also have a vw passet with the additive urea, and it always starts. i don't think the compact tractors have this yet. does this help in cold weather starting?

MHarryE · Feb 25, 2015

trollingfever said:
im in no way an expert in diesel starting in extreme cold temps. i have a 2015 chevy duramax, which has the urea tank. i don't add anything to the fuel, and it always starts, even sub zero. although my sons dodge cummins won't start below -5 or -10, but has no urea tank. we also have a vw passet with the additive urea, and it always starts. i don't think the compact tractors have this yet. does this help in cold weather starting?

No, the DEF which is a urea and water mixture us injected into the hot exhaust so it has no effect on starting. Your engines, however, have very high pressure common rail systems which break the fuel into much finer droplets than they were in conventional systems and are easier to ignite. Diesel combustion produces nitrogen oxides or NOX which is hard on the lungs. Urea in the hot exhaust is converts the NOX to ammonia NH4 which is then converted to water and nitrogen by the catalytic converter so it is all downstream. Using DEF to clean up NOX, however, allows higher combustion temps which create the NOX and could possibly have an effect, but I think of those high combustion temps being part if high output operation, not cold start.

CalG · Feb 25, 2015

jonnmero said:
Maybe easier with an Ebersp臘her heater, first introduced on the VeeDub Beetle to supplement the skipping rope in the glove-box to keep you warm in winter. Have one in my boat, though never used it.

I just looked at one of those USED on ebay UK. 320 POUNDS! plus shipping.

They are not giving those units away ;-)

But wouldn't it be nice to slip into a cab tractor and find all the controls and the seat pleasantly warm...;-)

CalG · Feb 25, 2015

GManBart said:
Last year I made a 250' extension cord out of 10/2 UF to supply power over to where my barn was going up. I ran it off a 30amp breaker wired to an exterior generator plug and calculated the voltage drop....I can't recall what that figure was, but it wasn't much, and when I put a meter on it, the calculation was pretty close. Just to be sure, I hooked my compressor up to it and then tried a circular saw and grinder (all with loads on them)...no problems. I just wanted to make sure it would power the normal stuff for construction. You should be fine just powering a block heater.

Both saw and grinder use brush type universal motors. They will operate on just about any voltage, and even work with DC power.

An INDUCTION motor is subject to trouble with drooping line voltage.
Be aware too, theat droop is proportional to amp draw. Measuring voltage at the end of the line with no load in a meaningless measurement.

jonnmero · Feb 26, 2015

CalG said:
I just looked at one of those USED on ebay UK. 320 POUNDS! plus shipping.

They are not giving those units away ;-)

But wouldn't it be nice to slip into a cab tractor and find all the controls and the seat pleasantly warm...;-)

When you have it in, warming not just cabin and seat, but engine as well, you soon forget the cost! Just ask ten thousands of car owners here in Scandinavia, coming out to a car deep frozen inside and out, and five minutes later warm as toast (not quite that warm, but you get my drift)!

trollingfever · Feb 26, 2015

THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION, THERE ARE SOME REALLY SKILLED PEOPLE HERE ON SITE.

vtsnowedin · Feb 26, 2015

Back to the original question. I ran a little unplanned test this morning. It was just Zero at dawn and about eight thirty I needed to go into town to run an errand. My Nissan pickup was pinned between my tractor and my daughters car. Not wanting to go back in the house to get her keys I thought I'd give the tractor a try even though it was not plugged in. I gave the intake heater a full fifteen count then tried to start it. No Go. It turned over but nowhere near fast enough to start it. Original battery shipped with tractor from India on it's third and probably last winter. Plan B plug in tractor go get daughters keys, swap car around and run my errand and treated myself to breakfast at the local restaurant and old geezers meeting spot.
When I got home the tractor started right up on the first revolution.
Why anyone north of the Mason Dixon line would buy a tractor without a block heater is beyond me.