Deutz engine and PT hydraulic oil cold weather warm up proceedures

PowerTracManiac · Dec 26, 2020

I like doing tree work when its cold outside and I want to develop a cold weather start procedure for the PT. It is currently outside under a tarp and we are going to be in the 20s, so I am looking for a good way to get everything warmed up properly.
Have a torpedo heater that I used to cook the hydraulic oil tank on cold start attempt #1 but I dont think I left it on there long enough last time cause it took several tries to start up. I dont think the engine got warmed up cause the heat isn't getting to it. Going to get a digital thermometer to check for tommorows cold start attempt #2.
I gather I need to warm up both the Deutz engine and the hydraulic oil in the PT tank?
My new plan is to use a heat gun shooting hot air into the exhaust of the engine. The exhaust is under the intake and I think if I leave the hot air gun on there for a while it should warm up the intake, the head and some of the engine. Thought about heat gun into the intake but its plastic and I dont want to melt the intake components. Shooting hot air into the exhaust tailpipe I can leave the hot air gun on high for as long as necessary and I won't have to worry about burning anything up.

Do u all think its necessary to also warm up the hydraulic oil before attempting to start it or is that just a waste of effort and propane?
Does the hydraulic oil circulate through the pump and to and from the tank when it is in park, engine running but not moving? If the oil circulates to the tank, then maybe it would be enough to just warm up the engine, then start it and let it run for 15 minutes while parked to warm up the hydraulic oil?

RegL · Dec 26, 2020

This is not a recommendation, only what I do when the temp goes down. I give it a 1 second shot of starting fluid and usually the engine starts right up and runs on both cylinders. Some say you shouldn’t use starting fluid in diesel engines but I’ve had no problems.

ponytug · Dec 26, 2020

My concern with things like heat guns is that the temperature in the gun is so high that I worry that they represent a significant fire hazard.

I think that the prior threads had discussed that the Wolverine style stick on oil heaters are quite effective; one on the hydraulic tank, one on the Deutz.

Available on Amazon. Make sure whatever you apply them to is oil free and squeaky clean.

Having said that, if your starter can turn the engine over, Deutz air pre-heating coil(s) are said to be very effective. SpringHollow is a big fan. Just once the engine starts, give the tractor time to warm up both the engine oil and the hydraulic oil. I have not yet installed the coils, but they are inexpensive, ($30ish on eBay) though they require fuse, switch, and possibly a relay to be wired up. One of my larger diesels has a preheater that works amazingly well, and much better than the in cylinder glow plugs that I have had in the past.

I believe that for the Deutz 2011 engine that you want the coil style glow plug, like this;

I have seen ebay sellers advertising a different style glow plug that I don't believe fits/works for the 2011 engine.

All the best,

Peter