Cold Weather Starting

[snowman]

I have a B7500 that I keep in an unheated garage. Have had it two winters now and have had no problems starting. As everyone says, Just let the glow plugs glow for about fifteen seconds, start it up, then let it warm up.

I usually start it, then do whatever manual shoveling I need to do around the garage doors, etc. then jump on it.

My concern was with the diesel fuel gelling. There have been topics on this on TBN. I bought some anti-gel stuff at PEP Boys (in the diesel additive section) and poured some of that into the tractor's tank and my diesel cans at the beginning of cold weather. Have never had a problem.

I'm down in Pompey. I go to White's every now and then to get parts and supplies, so I drive right past your place (went onto your website and saw your land map); had bought my tractor from DeVeau, who went bankrupt a few months later.

 

[Trev]

Hi Scott,

<font color=blue>use a heavy duty timer(like you use for an a/ c unit) to turn it on in the mornings 2 hours before you wake up...</font color=blue>

I was going to do this, just for those mornings when I might need to go push some snow. But then I got to wondering.. let's say we have a couple or three weeks of no snow. Is it hard in any way on the tractor to have the heaters come on every morning and then shut off again without ever starting and running the engine? I wonder about condensation, etc..?

Tks,
Bob

 

[frank_f15]

have never had a problem with diesel gelling. it get pretty cold here but my tractor starts right up. just let it warm up before doing any work (10 min) and u are set to go. MHO

 

[chim]

I had fuel gel twice. The first time was in a diesel Toyota Pickup. It started fine, and I got about a mile down the road one really cold morning. Then the truck started smoking, losing power and RPM's. I was able to keep it running and limped to a Western Auto for some additive. I had warmed the engine before starting out. I was surprised there was a problem with it since I had been running fuel from a service station that was supposed to be "winterized".

The other time was with one of the in-law's tractors. My tractor was in the shop, and I borrowed another to clear some snow. It ran fine for a while, then when the sun went down and it got unmercifully cold, the tractor shut off. It wouldn't start regardless what we tried. The next afternoon, when the weather warmed up a bit, it started and ran fine. Found out later they had two diesel tanks on the farm. One of the tractors and all of the trucks drank from the "road fuel" (aka winterized) tank. The other tractors had been fueled from the "farm fuel" (NOT winterized) tank................chim

 

[snowman]

I read enough about gelling to make me want to get the additive. Wasn't costly and is good peace of mind for me. I constantly worry that the tractor will die on me somehow in the middle of snowstorm or some time when I need it the most, so I have a tendency to overcompensate on the cautious side.

Basically, my quite limited understanding from reading those threads last year is that the additive is similar to straight kerosine.

 

[chim]

I used an additive for a couple Winters (starting when the Toyota coughed), then stopped using it. I had no further trouble with fuel bought at the local Exxon station.

The additive I was using only required a couple ounces per tank of fuel, so I doubt it was too much like kerosene. Kerosene would need to be mixed in at a greater ratio than a few ounces to 15 gallons.

The method I used to dump the additive was to fill the dispenser nozzle from the additive bottle, then insert the nozzle into the fuel tank. Then squeeze the handle to fill & mix...................chim

 

[weedsportpete]

Hi Snowman - I see from your profile that you both a blade and a snow blower... if you had to buy only one, which would it be??

And for everyone, how hard is it to install a block heater?

 

[Booker57]

Anyone here us a thermostatic outlet? You plug it in to a live outlet and when the temp drops to a pre-set level it energizes what ever is pluged into it.

Make sure that the oil is the proper viscosity. To thick oil will not let the engine spin up to speed.

I like diesels but you have to treat them right.

 

[arkydog]

Hi Booker57.

That thermostat outlet sounds like something that I could use for my well pump house to keep the pipes from freezing! I'm now using two 60 watt light bulbs that burn all winter long. Where do you think I could possibly find some?

Thanks

arkydog

 

[snowman]

If I could only buy either the blower or the blade, it would be the blower, simply because it can move much more snow.

I initially got the blade because my driveway was not paved and I had a terrible time with the blower and gravel (breaking shear pins left and right). I figured that the blade would help move the layer of slush that I couldn't do with the blower. I then had it paved, so that lessened the need. However, the blade does an excellent job of clearing that last bit of snow off, so my driveway has many times been bare drive pavement at the end of a cold day instead of hardpack or icey.

The blower cost about $2,000 and the blade cost about $370, so the additional cost of the blade wa small enough to be worth it, in my opinion.