cold starting -9 F

[Slowpoke Slim]

Mine sits out year round. Gets to -40 in winter. Some days that's our high for the day too. And no, that's not "wind chill" (which is a man made thing). I have an engine block heater, a pad heater under the oil pan, and a pad heater under the hydrotrans sump. They are on an outdoor timer that I have set to come on at 4am. I think I have it set to turn off at 10am (I like to sleep in on weekends). I've never had any issue starting it up after only one glow plug cycle, and that's at around 2 hrs of "on" time for the timer most days.

I let it idle for a few minutes, then bump it up to idle at 1500 rpms and leave it there until I'm done and shut it off.

I am running synthetic engine oil.

I did have my OEM wet cell interstate battery die on me last winter. Went and got an Optima battery then, and still have zero issues starting it in the cold this winter.

Edited to add--

I do run Power Service fuel additive, and mix it per instructions for -40 F air temps, and I am running winter blend red dye fuel.

 

[BoylermanCT]

My body doesn't like to move at those cold temps so I won't put my machinery through it either. I moved some firewood today with the wheelbarrow and the thing did not even need to be warmed up before I used it.

I tried moving my wheelbarrow yesterday, and it was frozen solid to the ground. I should have bought the same brand you did!

 

[ruffdog]

I tried moving my wheelbarrow yesterday, and it was frozen solid to the ground. I should have bought the same brand you did!

I keep my wheelbarrow protected in the shed....it starts easier that way.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Hmmm, it is my hope that I can go the rest of my life WITHOUT another wheelbarrow (currently don't have one). No intention of buying one, and if someone tries to give me one, they better run.

Lol.

 

[dnw64]

Mine sits out year round. Gets to -40 in winter. Some days that's our high for the day too. And no, that's not "wind chill" (which is a man made thing).

Temperature is a man made thing. Doesn't make it feel any warmer at -40 though, does it?

Wind chill is a modification for the effect of radiated heat from a body. It only affects things that create their own heat, such as warm blooded animals and running engines. It's relevant because the rate of transfer of heat increases with difference in temperature. With no wind, your body creates a (very) small pocket of "warm" air around you, which reduces the heat loss. The stronger the wind, the smaller that pocket and the more quickly you lose heat.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

SR- No. If those rear tires are frozen solid into the ground tractor movement in a forward motion will cause the tractor to rotate around its axle and not the tires.

In more than 50 years of tractor use, including 25 of it in ---------> ALASKA, I've NEVER even remotely seen anything like that happen... NEVER once had the front end come up off the ground from the tires being frozen to the ground!

Sitting on level ground, frozen to the ground, (not sunk in the mud) and going over backwards??? ha ha ha I'm NOT buying what you are selling!!

SR

 

[Oldpath05]

I dont even have a wheel barrel licence. Two weekends ago temp was around 15* at noon, pluged block heater in for 20 minutes, 20 sec on glow plug, then turn key>> whomp whomp whomp and one more whomp and tractor fires, so far this has been a good starting tractor on the same battery since 6/2007 with 1000+ hard hrs. Usually it's 1-2 hours on block heater when temp is in the single numbers before start up.

 

[iflywhatevr]

Every year when this topic comes up it always amazes me how many people are like “it starts no matter how cold”. “I never plug it in” etc etc. Yes in many cases it will start way below zero especially if you cycle the plugs a few times but have you actually listened to a cold soaked engine and thought about the wear occurring during that cold start that could be avoided by plugging in for a little while. Oh well their money not mine.

 

[Oldpath05]

In more than 50 years of tractor use, including 25 of it in ---------> ALASKA, I've NEVER even remotely seen anything like that happen... NEVER once had the front end come up off the ground from the tires being frozen to the ground!

Sitting on level ground, frozen to the ground, (not sunk in the mud) and going over backwards??? ha ha ha I'm NOT buying what you are selling!!

SR

How about for only .25 and or while I was dragging a log..........................

 

[jbrumberg]

Rob- I acknowledge your relevant experience and years of safe operation. Unfortunately it can happen and has. I did not make this up. I only offered this information for safety's sake. I do not get my undies in a bunch whether or not owner/operators agree or not. One thing to note 4WD/4WMD tractors are less prone to torque flip as the front wheels if engaged help offset the rear tire's torque. One reads of lots of tractor deaths each year; a lot of reasons for those fatalities. If this article helps an owner/operator operate their tractor more safely then I am happy for posting the link.

 

[mcfarmall]

Why not keep the engine block heater plugged in all the time during cold spells? We have a diesel generator with a block heater that runs 24-7-365 days a year. Keeps the engine at around 100 degrees year round.

 

[iflywhatevr]

Why not keep the engine block heater plugged in all the time during cold spells? We have a diesel generator with a block heater that runs 24-7-365 days a year. Keeps the engine at around 100 degrees year round.

You certainly can but unlike a standby generator that may be called into service at any time with zero notice most people know when they will be using their tractors for the most part. They use quite a bit of power so only plugging them in when needed can save some serious cash over an entire winter.

 

[marchanna]

I usually run the block heater for a few hours prior. I have remote controlled receptacles too. It’s certainly a nice way of doing things. Leaving the block heater on all the time can get pretty costly - around here running 750-watt heater 24 hours a day will cost you about $80 a month. A remote receptacle only costs $40.

White smoke is pretty normal on a cold start. A little cetane booster and multi grade motor oil helps the cold starts also.

 

[MHarryE]

We have had several days in a row with lows between -30 and -40. We have 2 farms with cattle needing to be fed daily. Each has a tractor plugged in 24/7 - except when being used. My nephew’s method is to start tractor after milking, have breakfast, then go out and use it. My cousin similar, starts tractor, hand feeds indoor stock, then uses tractor. Never had any block heater problems. Run #1 diesel without treatment. My place is in the middle, no cattle, CUT that fits in my heated garage. I don’t experience winter.

 

[otlski]

I tried moving my wheelbarrow yesterday, and it was frozen solid to the ground. I should have bought the same brand you did!

Make certain you start your wheelbarrow in reverse first. You do not want to end up in it.

 

[jbrumberg]

^^^^ Awesome visual Thanks for the laugh. In subzero temperatures how long should I run the preheater on my wheelbarrow?

Respect the "Torque": Wheelbarrow Face Plant - YouTube

 

[shooterdon]

If it is too cold to start a tractor, it is too cold to push a wheelbarrow. Add some snow, and it sounds unreasonable.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Last week I used a drop light with a 60W bulb to thaw some residual water left in the main water supply coming in from the well. It took about 30 minutes to thaw. Over the weekend I left the tractor out overnight in sub zero temps and had the fuel gel up on me. Wished I had thought about the droplight trick.

In the 50s we went to a mountain cabin often in the winter and the pipes were always frozen. Put 6 candles in the crawl space for a hour and bingo they all un-froze.

Ron

 

[D2Cat]

In the 50s we went to a mountain cabin often in the winter and the pipes were always frozen. Put 6 candles in the crawl space for a hour and bingo they all un-froze.

Ron

So the solution was to burn the cabin down?

 

[iflywhatevr]

So the solution was to burn the cabin down?

Works every time!!