Oil & Fuel Cold weather diesel recommendations wanted

[BrendanAtBucksteep]

I live at 1900 ft in western Massachusetts and looks like it's going to stay around 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the winter. My JD 3320 is a bit slow to start around 10 degrees. I only have an unheated, dirt floor barn to park it in.

What practices do you recommend in cold weather for diesel fuel or the diesel engine under these conditions?

 

[budgie9]

I think the most important addition is a block heater, or an in-line water heater. I added the latter recently, and I started the tractor at -25 c, here in Canada. The diesel I add some conditioner to it, rated for winterizing diesel. Because I had some summer diesel left over. No problems starting at all when keeping the tractor in an un-heated garage. I am at 4600 Ft.

 

[DanD78]

I have the same tractor with a block heater. When plugged in the tractor will start like summer time after only being plugged in for a couple of hours. I keep mine in the same conditions as you. I also use 60/40 blended fuel with power service. It was 10 deg one day late last week and it fired right up with no smoke.

Dan

 

[bp fick]

Yes on the block heater. IMO, dealers north of a certain line ought to just install them as a matter of course and make their customers lives happier.

 

[Labrat]

Synthetic engine oil is a good practice at those temps.

 

[Reg]

I think the ONLY thing that matters is that you get winter blend fuel in it.

If it is fragile/temperamental about starting in cold weather then troubleshoot and fix whatever problem(s) that is due to.

I can't see coddling a tractor into starting, I would rather FIX it than pamper it (-:

 

[mscheer772]

Tractors don't like to start when its -40 below. A block heater is a must where my tractor resides.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

....I would rather FIX it than pamper it (-:

LOL, you must live where its hot...been there done that when I was still plowing with my F935 which needed some work...safe to say after freezing my fingers off one night when I HAD to get it running to plow the 12" of snow in my driveway I tore it down the next summer and rebuilt it all so I wouldnt have to deal with it again.

"Coddling" your machine goes a long way....at what we pay for these machines, I'll coddle it all night long if I have too....

Winter Prep - Block heater, Winter Fuel with some Anti-Gel like PowerService, and Warm Clothes if you have an Open Station...

 

[bp fick]

"coddling"?

 

[stlbill]

Hi everyone:

Maybe I've just been living in "the South" too long, but I do not understand how you cannot have a block heater, a coolant heater and a battery maintainer in the conditions you describe.

For my little tractor all three devices were under $300 dealer-installed.

Even the people who think my tractor is overprepared for this climate won't tell me I'm hurting anything by having them.

Better safe than sorry. That's my approach to this topic.


-Bill