I use McCormicks mild chili seasoning. I actually saw the Williams seasoning in Wally World the other day when I stocked up on supplies. Not sure what you mean by a "Kit," though. My wife and I both can't handle a lot of spice. Kids usually bust down the door to come for dinner when I make up a pot, so I stick with it.
This IH 7500 I bought hates the cold. It wouldnt start for crap when it was 30*. Went up to 50 on wednesday and it was much easier to start. I think the older IH & CAT HEUI injectors that are oil pressurized don’t work well with cold oil.1° out this morning. Went to pick up some last-minute groceries this morning. Got the service truck at the house since I'm on call. That diesel wouldn't even think of firing this morning.
Had to Google the location for the block heater cable since it was the first time I needed it. Dragged an extension cord out and plugged it up for 45 minutes. Tried it, and the truck still wouldn't fire.
Left it plugged in for another 45 minutes. Truck started like it was a warm spring day.
Kicked the Pto on so the truck would stay running at a high idle. Has the no idle kit on it, so it will shut down after a few minutes unless the pto is engaged.
Pto sounded like it was pumping gravel instead of hydraulic fluid for a minute or so
Had some neighbors pop their heads out to see what the racket was
My work truck is a 2018 Ford F550 with a power stroke. This is the first time I've had to use the block heater. Was out in Wichita KS last year, and the high for the week was 8°. The truck started fine. Would run a little rough at first like any diesel does on a cold start.
I don't even think of trying to start our CAT without making sure the batteries are good and the intake preheater is up to temperature. FWIW: I do know first that the oil powered injectors are very sensitive to oil degradation and oil quality. (I.e. change the oil on schedule or before, which I am sure that you do)
Nothing to plow here, storm was all rain (and wind!). A little dusting of snow when the temperature dropped, maybe 1". Was 5° when I got up this morning, it's 9 now. Historically, the last week in Dec. has been quite cold, I remember some really brutal new years eves. Glad the wind died down.
I have a good coop, also. When I built here years ago I thought that the power would always be out. Every fall I would change gas in the generator and run it for a while... then shut the fuel off and let it run itself dry. The following fall I would dig the generator back out and go through the process again. One year I pulled the recoill rope out and never bothered to fix it. A few years ago I brought my father's old Lincoln WeldanPower home... last week was the first time in 19 years that my power was out for more than a few hours.
