Cold weather start, with glow plugs and block heater. Why does my tractor not start at minus 20 C?

[joea99]

After living in Canada most of my life and owning many gas and diesel engine things I honestly believe that the best thing you can do for a engine in cold starts is have a oil pan heating blanket. Block heaters are needed also but all they do is heat the block, the oil pan hangs below the block and is full of thick as honey oil. Thick oil does not flow fast enough to the top end. Remember heat rises so start heating at the very bottom,,,, your oil pan

I am sure that works for you, but "heat" does not rise, it moves to areas that are "colder". Warm air and other fluids will tend to "rise" as they are "lighter" and the colder more dense fluids.

Now heating the oil pan is a smart move as it "thins" the oil first off and the beast would likely start just from that. A block heater might eventually heat the oil as well, but it would take a lot longer. Might never do the job if no "blanket" were applied and any heat trying to get to the pan just radiates out into the air before it can get to the oil pan.

 

[ruffdog]

Dmacleo is spot on, use this carefully if you have a plastic inlet. Going back 40 years or more we used to start the old diesels this way before glow plugs were invented. Light the paper immediately before cranking.

Interesting....this guy used a propane torch in the intake manifold of a old dozer:

 

[Fielding]

Its been -30C or colder all week, hit -42C last Thursday. Northern Alberta is the land global warming forgot.

0w40 synthetic, ps diesel antigel (brand really does not matter), block heater after -20C for the new electronic diesels, transmission heater with hy gaurd low viscosity hst fluid. Any machine not used daily gets a micro charger.

Then the most important part block 4/5 of the radiator with a piece of cardboard.

Unless your living in Florida, 15w40 is a liability. Once the engine is warm they have the same kinematic viscosity anyway.

 

[Red Eye]

Kubota 6060 with block heater. Same frustration for several years. I’ve even resorted to having used ether a few times. But luckily, I’ve found the trick that works for me. Plug it in the night before to start your snow plowing the next morning. You have to have it heating for 8 hours or so. You’ll find it helps to block off the wind with big pieces of cardboard. What I’ve learned is 2 or 3 hours is just not enough time on the “dealer installed” block heater.

My biggest gripe is the stupid engineers who designed the fancy hood. Snow on the hood melts, water runs down and freezes the rubber all the way around. So when you kill the battery because the engine won’t start in the cold, now you can’t get to the battery. With the front end loader there, you can’t even pull the latch. Arrrgh!!

 

[mgstevens]

As all western Canadians (and US-PNW) are experiencing, we are quite cold for this time of year... Earlier this year, on this forum, a thread about oil got me to switch from 15w40 to 0w40 and I'm pretty sure that has helped. And, as my tractor shed is both 100+ feet from the nearest a/c outlet and will not have its own power until next year, I was hoping to not have to block-heat so early. Alas, when the temps hit -15C I could hear the battery starting to wane, no start yet. I admit, I was only doing 20-30 secs on the glow plugs, so I could extend that. Still, I ran an extension cord and let the block heater handle it. Starts like a summer day now, engine temp instantly at close to operating temp and no worries about not being able to clear if we should get a dump, which thankfully rarely happens during a cold snap.

I really like to baby my equipment whenever possible. I want it to last and not fail me when I need it. I'm surprised it would take more than a block heater at minus 20. Older battery? Wind chill exposure? If the block heater is working the temp gauge will show it.

 

[SamO]

I too have a Massey Fergusson that hates to start when it's just cold, above 0(F). I've got the digital jump starter, using 5-20
semi-syn oil and still no luck without having to move my truck to the shed where I keep the #$$&**! tractor. I've ordered battery warmers for the &*$#!!! thing. My thoughts keep going to a battery that's probably too small ( although almost new) and a compartment that won't allow me to put in a larger battery. This thing is more trouble then it's worth

 

[JWR]

While trying to muster some respect -- GOOD GAWD NO don't do that. Some of these machines use turbochargers who love to get crud ingested in them and cost thousands to repair or replace. I hope the OP is not crazy enough to do that.

If you remove the air filter so you have direct access to the air suction inlet, stuff a couple of sheets of newspaper or similar up the air intake and set fire to them whilst cranking. Guaranteed solution in any weather.

 

[JWR]

Interesting....this guy used a propane torch in the intake manifold of a old dozer:

What next !? This causes me to mention that some of the older Dodge Cummins diesels used what amounts to a hair dryer in the intake rather than glow plugs. The coils heat up and guarantee hot air entering the combustion chambers . I don't know if such a thing exists intended for supplementing glow plugs in these super cold places but it seems like a good idea.

 

[keljan11]

I'm also from southern Interior BC. I've got a 1975 Massey Perkins diesel (with no glow plugs), that is parked outside. I plug in my block heater for 2 hours, when it gets to -15C when it's time to plow. It always starts, as long as the battery is fully charged. If battery is weak, 30 min. with a battery charger and I'm good to go. I've never had gelled fuel, but have had a frozen fuel filter (forgot to drain off the water from the condensation. 15 min with a heat gun fixed that). Battery tenders and block heaters are always a good idea in cold climates.

 

[Mattsy Fergy]

OK, I just looked up what the 4707 is, a 75hp, intercooled, turbocharged, 4wd, tractor, fairly large. Don't light a newspaper and stick it in the intake!!!!!!
The manual should tell how to start in cold weather, but online says 1-3 minutes for the glowplugs. Sometimes I will use glowplugs, try to start, use glowplugs again.
It does need to spin over normally, so battery help may be needed.

Your engine has a preheater(glow plug) in the intake manifold.

Most times the key to on not start and wait 1-3 minutes before cranking.

It is located on the intake manifold. The link below, click on it to see picture.

I hope this helps you.

Wayne

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