deisel cold weather starting

[kjm3232]

i was wondering for those with the diesels, do you have any sort of heater to help with cold starting. i store my 1430 in a unheated garage and It took me about 7-10 times for it to turn over and start. i have added a additive to the fuel several days prior to trying to start it. If you do use some sort of heater, is it one of the magnetic heaters that attaches to the bottom of the oil pan and how good does it work or did you order a block heater from deutz? i had called the nerest deutz distributer a little while back and they want from $ 60 for a 22mm block heater or $100 for a 48mm block heater plus i would have to buy a new oil pan as well . with the temp expecting to be in the single digits this weekend having to put extra work on the battery is something i'm trying to avoid. thanks for any info

 

[MossRoad]

Some of the folks were looking at a heater element that goes in the air intake. It preheats the air. They were also talking about just pointing a blow dryer in the air intake for a minute or so and then while it is cranking. Give it a try and see if it works.

 

[Egon]

Cover the tractor with a tarp and place a small electric fan heater under it. It'll do wonders for the starting.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

With my 1845, I have had no trouble getting it started in 15 degree weather. It takes a while, however, for it to stir the hydraulic fluid enough to get the RPM up to real operation. Based on my admittedly limited experience, where you need auxiliary heat is on the hydraulic tank, not the Deutz. The tarp and heater will work. Magnetic block heaters, will, as well, attached to the tank. If you search the archives, I think you'll see some specific recommendations.
Fortunately, in Maryland, I have little sub 20 degree time, so I haven't arranged any heat for the 1845.

 

[farm23]

I have the 1430 and store it under a tarp under my deck. I have additive in the fuel and have started it in 15 deg. It will take some 7 to 10 seconds to start and then it has to run for a couple of minutes before I try to use. Deutz does have an intake heater but I have not bought one. If I have trouble I probably use a electric heaer like Egon suggest.

 

[Sedgewood]

My 1845 sits outside year round and will start in temps down as low as zero degrees F with lots of cranking and winter fuel. Some heat would certainly help but this Deutz is the best starting diesel I've yet to own.

This year I forgot to order winter fuel so it may not start at zero. It did start ok the other day at 20 degrees or so. Anybody know what temp regular diesel fuel gels at?

Anticipating the first zero degree night in 2 years tonight - simply amazing!
Sedgewood

 

[GarthH]

Cold weather certainly challanges us. Lighter oil is a primary solution - there are some 10W30's with diesel specs and one of our best is a 0W30 from Petro Canada. Hydraulic oils are in the same boat - although my experience is more with hydraulic 22 or even synthetic oil. Hytrans is close to a 56 grade so 22 is dramatically better - we see many hydraulics still operating at -40.

Check out your livestock supply places for a magnetic tank heater - they are amazing. They snap on to whatever tank, plug it in and keep the oil warm - works with the engine oil or the hydraulics.

Batteries are the next big issue. Battery blankets - a plastic blanket that fits around most batteries with a small electric element. Plug it in and way you go. More cranking amps is very important on a cold day.

We are getting pretty spoiled with heated shops. Our biggest issue is the hydraulics and ofcourse ourselves.

Garth

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Our biggest issue is the hydraulics and of course ourselves.

Garth

And not so much the hydraulics.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

My 1845 sits outside year round and will start in temps down as low as zero degrees F with lots of cranking and winter fuel. Some heat would certainly help but this Deutz is the best starting diesel I've yet to own.

Sedgewood

I agree.

When the engine pops and sputters for a while before it smooths out, I don't believe that it is the engine trying to get going, but rather the drag of the hydraulics. I did another of my inadvertant scientific tests last weekend. I was having a bit of trouble with the starter (I will dredge up the old thread on that.) I jumped it at the starter and got it going, but although completely warm, it sputtered and lugged, and wouldn't smooth out and run, just as if it were 15 degrees.
The PTO switch was on. I had just unhooked the post pounder, so there was no longer an open valve in the PTO circuit. By jumping at the starter, of course, I had bypassed the lockout.
Based on that experience, I am convinced that the Deutz will start in the cold and smooth out immediately if the hydraulic oil is warm enough not to drag it down.

 

[RegL]

I left my 1430 down at the ski jumps last night so we could use it to move a snow gun this mourning. It was outside, uncovered and the temp was 2 below zero. I cranked it 3 times for 10 or 15 seconds and it started, rough for a couple minutes than smoothed out. I noticed the hydraulic leaks are not so bad at zero degrees either lol.

 

[MossRoad]

My old IH had a hydraulic dump valve that you could push with your heel. That would remove all hydrualic pressure from the system when starting the engine. How hard would it be to modify a PT for that?

Right now, as I understand it, when the treadle peddle is in neutral, the variable volume pump isn't pushing much oil, just the charge pump section. So the only real load would be the PTO pumps, which power the PTO, the steering and the lift circuits. The PTO pump has no load with no implement attached or running, so the main drag would probably be the steering/lift/aux PTO pump section. Any thoughts on bypassing that?

 

[kjm3232]

thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think i will be buying a magnetic type heater tonite. since the deutz doesn't have glowplugs,does anyone know if when you turn the key over to the 1st posistion clockwise is that a "preheat" posistion taking the place of the glowplugs before turning the key to the 2nd starting position? thanks again for all the good advice

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think i will be buying a magnetic type heater tonite. since the deutz doesn't have glowplugs,does anyone know if when you turn the key over to the 1st posistion clockwise is that a "preheat" posistion taking the place of the glowplugs before turning the key to the 2nd starting position? thanks again for all the good advice

There isn't any preheat. The first position on the switch activates the "ignition" pole, which in the diesel activates the fuel solenoid, and the "accessories" pole, which powers the gauge pack, PTO switch, etc.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

i was wondering for those with the diesels, do you have any sort of heater to help with cold starting. i store my 1430 in a unheated garage and It took me about 7-10 times for it to turn over and start.

How goes your project?
This morning, my 1845 started in 12 degree weather. Took a little cranking to get it to smooth out, but I got out to plow our 1 1/2" of snow.

 

[ldabe]

How goes your project?
This morning, my 1845 started in 12 degree weather. Took a little cranking to get it to smooth out, but I got out to plow our 1 1/2" of snow.

Charlie,
You got luckier than I did.
I did not use my 422 for almost 2 wks ( I know, shame on me) and went to start it in about 9 degree weather.
It took a while for the battery to start to die down, but still no start.
I took the plugs out, looked pretty good but deceided to replace them anyway.
With new plugs in and my vehicle with jumper cables on 422 battery, it still took holding the key for about 40 seconds, but it did start and stayed running.
BUT!...As it was running I had the engine compartment up and noticed oil in the bed of compartment...[quickly shuts off engine].
Now that I think about it, I guess I was lucky indeed.
From what I could see it looks like the engine oil filter either came loose or blew the seal.
So, I am going to go ahead and change the oil (whats left) and the oil filter and hope that is all it needs to get it back operating.
PT's cannot be beat when they work with no problems...but when problems arise it beats me up good with the tight confined spaces to try to work in.

 

[kjm3232]

Charlie, I went out and bought a battery charger last week at a Autozone and had it on friday nite into sat morning trickle charging. I had to plow sat morning (5am) before i headed down to hartford,ct for my military drill weekend. (The wife wasn't going outside unless she absolutely had to)Anyway, the tractor started alot quicker than before in the cold. I still have to pick up a magnetic heater and see how that helps with the cold weather starting. thanks again for all the info and advice

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Charlie, I went out and bought a battery charger last week at a Autozone and had it on friday nite into sat morning trickle charging. I had to plow sat morning (5am) before i headed down to hartford,ct for my military drill weekend. (The wife wasn't going outside unless she absolutely had to)Anyway, the tractor started alot quicker than before in the cold. I still have to pick up a magnetic heater and see how that helps with the cold weather starting. thanks again for all the info and advice

No question a trickle charger helps. Cold works against the battery. Having it at top charge, and possibly a skosh warmer even because of the small current definitely helps.
With magnetic heater(s) on the hydraulic tank and engine, it'll start like summer. Or maybe just take it for a nice Florida vacation.

 

[AltavistaLawn]

I thought about buying a cheap electric blanket to drape over the engine; and plug in the night before.

If I try it , I;ll post the results.

 

[kjm3232]

I bought 2 magnetic heaters and got them yesterday. I plan on putting them on a timer and run them for say 2 hours on saturday and see how it turns over.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

I bought 2 magnetic heaters and got them yesterday. I plan on putting them on a timer and run them for say 2 hours on saturday and see how it turns over.

Just in time for Spring?