Diesel: cold weather starting

[buickanddeere]

Still the benefits of an engine starting at 50-100F coolant temp instead of -20F coolant temp. The reduction of wear on the starter. Faster oil flow being it synthetic of mineral oil. Cleaner combustion. Improved fuel efficiency. Instant heat from the defroster. $40 for electricity is a great value and use the synthetic oil too. Need both here.
Really though, you don't have winter in the Carolina's.
I'm not that hard up financially either that I can't afford a block heater and synthetic oil.

 

[3930dave]

I understand your points Dan.

It wasn't clear (at least to me) if you understood, or just where ignoring, buick&Deere's points.

For the ambient we are talking about, any engine will come up to operating temp faster when a block heater is used. Obviously, it then gets off cold enrichment mapping faster, therefore lessening fuel loading, and increasing fuel mileage.

With automatics, at what B&D and I are talking about as cold temperatures, many are really sluggish when cold - some of that early heat you get from block heater use helps get the ATF up in temp faster too.

Like guns,trucks, and women, we all have our preferences..... just trying make sure the benefits of block heaters are understood, before they are condemned as a waste of money.

I'm with you on unneccessary idling - personally I'd like to see all drive-thru's shut down.

I have a 7.3 myself - glad to hear that you are taking good care of that one ! :drink:

Rgds, Dave.

 

[Egon]

On them cold witer days it's real enjoyable sticking your head out the window to see cause the defroster is blowing cold air and breath condensation has ice rime on the inside of the windshield!

And if your driving a diesel the defroster just don't get any warmer idling and if'n your driving the Braille approach is kinda scary.

And it gets worse if one hast to wear glasses.:thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

I appreciate all info, is there one aftermarket item (or two) that you would recommend. For example a better oil filter, or other piece of nonstandard equipment?

 

[buickanddeere]

Raleigh NC with and average January temp of 41F and 69 nights a year below freezing.and 2.7 days per year that don't rise above freezing.
Where pray tell is the winter,cold weather starting hardships and snow accumulation a consideration in the NC triangle?

 

[3930dave]

I appreciate all info, is there one aftermarket item (or two) that you would recommend. For example a better oil filter, or other piece of nonstandard equipment?

There are many decent oil filters on the market. My preference is Purolator's Pure One line. Good media, and a silicone anti-drain-back-valve, at a reasonable (IMO) price point. Nitrile as an ADBV is OK, but if you are extending OCI and dealing with low ambient temperatures, then silicone is a better choice.

Just my :2cents:, I also use Wix and Fleetguard in some applications. My only issue with Fleetguard basic oil filters is that my province's let's-turn-our-roads-into-shallow-seas (spraying brine) in-Winter game tends to rust the shell faster than I like (in use less than 1 year).

But, I put that down to 20% Fleetguard, 80% lunatic road maintenance policy.

I installed a Scangauge II on my truck. Great instrument - I use it to monitor Engine Oil Temp, and Transmission Oil Temp, + other info. The two temps come up at different rates, and take longer to reach operating range than you might think, this time of year.

Rgds, D.

 

[buickanddeere]

North Bay has an average daily temp of 0.7F in January . Average daily temp is below freezing November through April.

North Bay, Ontario - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Looking4new]

with the snow blowing off their cars and blinding the drivers behind them.

Up here it is illegal to leave the snow on your roof to blow off going down the road. Trouble is that the cops don't do much about it.

 

[Looking4new]

North Bay has an average daily temp of 0.7F in January . Average daily temp is below freezing November through April.

North Bay, Ontario - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And we get at least 2 weeks of -40F temps per winter.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Seems to me that many diesels don't either come with a block heater or none is even available, probably in the name of energy conservation. My Dad's Sprinter comes to mind, or my Kawasaki Mule Diesel. Guess they could care less about costly engine wear!

On the other hand, a friend leaves his tractor plugged in 24/7 and I can't convince him of the cost! Somehow, he seems to think that plugging it in when the machine is stone cold, will use more power.

I built a gizmo that I have found handy at times. It's a small timer motor with a cam on it. I engaged this with a heavy duty microswitch, and put this in a metal electrical box. It has a plug and an outlet. Then there is a three position switch. I have a choice of five minutes on, ten off or vice versa. It's robust, no stupid electronics and sets my mind at ease when I want to keep a machine on standby, say when it's storming. Keeps things just warm enough for an easy start. Another consumer version of this is a timer that has all those little selector tabs. Just alternate on and off every 15 minutes lets say. I have one set up this way but don't know if it would last very long.