Cold Weather Question

Phillip w · Dec 30, 2017

MHarryE said:
My RTV900XT gets used about once weekly. Haven't been above zero in over a week and as cold as -42. I have Howes in mine and no problem starting and running although I didn't try on the -42 morning. I wish it had a block heater but I survive without one.

Got to admit between you location and North Dakota it definitely gets on the cooler side of cool. It is a toss up of who gets the coldest.

hiker88 · Dec 31, 2017

MHarryE said:
My RTV900XT gets used about once weekly. Haven't been above zero in over a week and as cold as -42. I have Howes in mine and no problem starting and running although I didn't try on the -42 morning. I wish it had a block heater but I survive without one.

What is Howes? As LouNY mentioned above about the install being critical, the lower radiator hose in my tractor is so short and flat, I don't see the inline heater working. I got looking at it yesterday and I think I am just going to return the one I was sold.

Peter 315 · Dec 31, 2017

hiker88 said:
What is Howes? As LouNY mentioned above about the install being critical, the lower radiator hose in my tractor is so short and flat, I don't see the inline heater working. I got looking at it yesterday and I think I am just going to return the one I was sold.

Howes is a fuel treatment like power service

crazyal · Dec 31, 2017

I think you are over thinking it. My Kubota has a block heater but I rarely use it. I got it in case I had to leave it outside in real cold temps and because it was just as easy to let the dealer install it. But it starts just fine without it. Sure it's a little harder on the engine but no harder than on your car which most likely gets started a dozen times when just as cold. If it's really cold I will turn the key on, let the glow plug light go out, turn the key off and then back on and let the glow plugs come back on once more. When it starts it'll smoke some and run a little rough but it quickly clears up. If it doesn't then chances are there's an issue with your glow plugs that you should get fixed. The last thing I would be doing in sub zero temps is trying to splice in a block heater into radiator hose.

truckdiagnostics · Dec 31, 2017

On an electronically controlled engine. I have seen it where a block heater can make the engine harder to start when it is cold. With warm block the ecm temp sender thinks the engine has been running and the ecm will not go into cold start mode. If you are concerned I would warm the battery or use the space heater in the shed warming block and air. Getting enough cranking speed is important. Do not stop and start.

hiker88 · Jan 1, 2018

Yea; I have decided I am not going to worry about it. I have the battery on a minder, and I am just going to run the kerosene heater in there if ever need be. With the snow around the sides and back of the structure, (we call them "heat banks" here) and the front zipped up, that little space warms up amazingly well with the heater going for a few hours.

This year, I had one neighbor give me the Rhino Shelter, (I just had to take it down and move it), and another neighbor that gave me a bush hog. I have been pretty blessed.

3930dave · Jan 1, 2018

You have great neighbours, and a very nice Winter home for your tractor - enjoy both !

Rgds, D.

Sonny580 · Jan 1, 2018

I prefer the howes and power service additives, but cant beat the ole kero. torpedo heater directed up under oil pan! I stay with mine and move it around a bit as engine warms up.---takes a while, but worth it when you here it start/run fairly decent, until it warms up!! thanks; sonny

Musdalen · Jan 1, 2018

This is all pretty interesting to me, but it appears that you are all more worried about him getting started than in keeping him running. They may be different issues - at least they are for me.

It was -22F last night. It's about -8F now. Yesterday was about the same, tomorrow will be only slightly better. I wanted to run my new (70 hrs) JD 3039R this afternoon, so I plugged in the transmission and engine block heaters for a few hours, and she started like a champ. I moved less than 20 yds and she died when I tried to feed a bit more fuel. I restarted and the same thing happened. I did this multiple times, but each time I got it going, I tried to creep it a little closer to its stall rather than back into the timber where I had wanted to go initially. I got there, but barely.

So, why is my new tractor dying on me? I suspect the fuel is gelling on me. I have winter fuel in there - about half a tank.

If I put an additive in there, will it somehow work its way into the fuel lines?

This isn't a big deal in so far as there is no snow to move, or truck to pull out of a ditch but that can change. What's the best way to keep a tractor running well below zero F? Isn't this going to be an issue for the OP too?