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

[ding beep]

CalG: Good Tip. Anything is worth a try in this weather!

Off Topic: My dear departed mom used to switch on her windshield wipers when she was low on fuel.

She was sure that's why she never ran out of gas while searching for a filling station. LOLOL

 

[ray66v]

CalG: Good Tip. Anything is worth a try in this weather!

Off Topic: My dear departed mom used to switch on her windshield wipers when she was low on fuel.

She was sure that's why she never ran out of gas while searching for a filling station. LOLOL

Reminds me of my first wife, she always filled her gas tank when it was at half, because "It was cheaper".

 

[Dmacleo]

-5f with wind chill of -25f last night. right now at 0920am its -4f windchill -20f.
yup even with battery tender plugged in she ain't starting. after 2 minutes glow plug run she sputters but thats it.
so plugged block heater in and will check it in 30 minutes.
I foolishly left it parked where the northern winds hit engine directly. was not feeling well yesterday so never moved it 15 feet yesterday where it would be blocked from winds.
even the 2010 marquis and 2013 escape had issues this morning.

 

[Dmacleo]

-5f with wind chill of -25f last night. right now at 0920am its -4f windchill -20f.
yup even with battery tender plugged in she ain't starting. after 2 minutes glow plug run she sputters but thats it.
so plugged block heater in and will check it in 30 minutes.
I foolishly left it parked where the northern winds hit engine directly. was not feeling well yesterday so never moved it 15 feet yesterday where it would be blocked from winds.
even the 2010 marquis and 2013 escape had issues this morning.

30 minutes later started and running. much safer then salamander under engine or start fluids.
letting it run a bit before working it, one of the trade-offs with a hydro unit. never work it immediately.

 

[bcjmmac]

In colder weather I hook up the battery charger when I plug in the block heater. Battery doesn’t draw much but it seems to warm it up/turns over & starts faster

 

[CalG]

And now for the IDIOT award of this thread.

We got that cold snap up here in God's Country. Came in yesterday evening.
Me, the bright light in the darkness, says, I better put the charger on the little tractor to make sure the battery is topped off enough to start in the morning.

I pull out the stretch (extension cord to some) and hook on the auto charger. Name brand but the economy model.

The display prompts to select Lead acid or Lithium Ion
Lead acid ...Check

Then the display reads "Connect the leads to the Lead Acid Battery"
The Leads ARE connected, and the terminals are clean, but I reset the clamps anyway

Still get the "Connect the leads to the Lead Acid battery"

What the heck, scrtching my head bare handed at 5 below on a dark tractor shed, holding the flashlight in my teeth, wiggling the charger clamps AGAIN.......

Then I notice, The key is not vertical. I left the switch on. I do that because the key switch doesn't shut down a diesel, the fuel cut off does. OH! How long has this been like this? we haven't had any snow, This tractor hasn't been used for WEEKS. That's many hard freezes, This battery is TOAST, Another $100 down the tubes...Oh how quickly dread and ill thoughts pass through the guilty mind ;-)

I finally realize, the battery is too flat to show up as anything in the "Smart chargers" brain. Nada, zilch, nothing. Not a pot to piss in.

I go over to the shop and grab a "DUMB" charge. (with a no-op amp meter ;-) And hook it up. Plug in the cord and put my ear to the box and listen for the comforting humm of a working transformer.

My fingers are Ice and sting like the blazes (Interesting counter images there ;-)

I go in for supper.

Out again after a couple of hours. I hook on the Smart charger to replace the Dumb one that works in spite of being held back in school.

The display on the Smart box indicates 52% charge. A smile breakes on my cold lips. IT"S NOT DEAD YET! Sulfation has not shorted more than 4 of the cells! I'm not as big an oaf as I had thought.

Back in the house to warm up.
Later that night, just after loading up the wood stove and shutting it down for the night. I walk across the door yard through the crunching crispy crusty snow by flash light. The moon is low to the east and it's cloudy. Dunkel!

I take a look at the charger display. 83%. Smile again. There is Hope!

This morning, the display shows "maintaining battery- Fully Charged". I should be OK Whew.

But I bet this battery doesn't make it through next winter. The stress and consequences of living under the neglect and carelessness of the present owner.

Oh Well, They make batteries every day....

I might buy another battery maintainer tomorrow......too many rigs to keep up with.

 

[irvingj]

I was in the same situation over on this side of the CT River... No amount of block heater, a blanket over the hood, battery charger, heat gun (even aimed down the air intake)... and yes, I hate to admit it, but a quick shot of ether in the air inlet tube... Nada, except for some farting.

All day I'm at this, off & on, but finally, after chasing down a new fitting for my regulator (one with outside thread/plastic knob connector), I fired up my "Mr Heater" torpedo and aimed it under the blanket into the engine area -- safely, from 8' away. When the hell did they change the %$@$#@$ internal connector on those 15-lb propane tanks???

FINALLY, after only about 10 minutes of that, the little red s__t started right up. Same as Dave in the other Etna -- used it the day before, then it sat as the temp dropped. We had -8 here in the NH Etna yesterday AM. Shouldda fired it up Monday!!

 

[ray66v]

-5f with wind chill of -25f last night. right now at 0920am its -4f windchill -20f.

I foolishly left it parked where the northern winds hit engine directly. was not feeling well yesterday so never moved it 15 feet yesterday where it would be blocked from winds.

Keep in mind, a wind chill is a measurement of how fast heat leaves the body.

While wind can cause the heat to leave the engine faster when its no longer running, it doesn't have that effect on a cold engine. The engine will be at the ambient temperature, regardless of the wind chill.

 

[ray66v]

I was in the same situation over on this side of the CT River... No amount of block heater, a blanket over the hood, battery charger, heat gun (even aimed down the air intake)... and yes, I hate to admit it, but a quick shot of ether in the air inlet tube... Nada, except for some farting.

All day I'm at this, off & on, but finally, after chasing down a new fitting for my regulator (one with outside thread/plastic knob connector), I fired up my "Mr Heater" torpedo and aimed it under the blanket into the engine area -- safely, from 8' away. When the hell did they change the %$@$#@$ internal connector on those 15-lb propane tanks???

FINALLY, after only about 10 minutes of that, the little red s__t started right up. Same as Dave in the other Etna -- used it the day before, then it sat as the temp dropped. We had -8 here in the NH Etna yesterday AM. Shouldda fired it up Monday!!

Perhaps it's time to replace that 20 year old battery?

 

[Dmacleo]

Keep in mind, a wind chill is a measurement of how fast heat leaves the body.

While wind can cause the heat to leave the engine faster when its no longer running, it doesn't have that effect on a cold engine. The engine will be at the ambient temperature, regardless of the wind chill.

and yet the battery will lose any heat caused by its chemical reaction due to wind.

everyone that talks about wind chill and body heat seems to want to avoid that point.