GC cold weather start ??

[Egon]

I am on record, that if you need a block heater to start your tractor, be my guest.

I have also said, that if I lived somewhere that gets extremely cold, all the time, perhaps I would use one.

My principal complaint is, that it is constantly suggested that these tractors need, or have to have, a block heater. That is not necessarily true.

In the 12 years I have had my tractor, I have not ever needed a block heater. And, it's gotten below 0F.

You do have to learn how to start it. Yes, it's done differently.

Thinking, that because you can't start it, when it's cold, without a lot of issues, it's must not be possible, is incorrect. Perhaps it's the one thing you aren't good at.

Cranking it until the battery dies, does not ever work.

Thinking that you need to crank a long time, when cold starting is wrong. In fact, it often does not necessarily crank any longer than when it's not cold out.

Also incorrect, is the thinking that a cold diesel engine will chug, shake, run rough, and and billow smoke, when it starts. That can happen, if you don't start it correctly, or you have mechanical issues. It does not have to happen.

You can argue the virtues of using a block heater. But, I suggest you still know how to start it without killing the battery, for when you can't, or don't plug it in.

You have a secret method that's not been disclosed or just never been in extended cold situations?

Many of today's engines do start at very cold temperatures but after it gets down to maybe -30F and sitting for a time things do change. Maybe look at battery amp output/temperature chart. And for real information get on the end of a crank to start the engine.

Both batteries and lubricating oils have been greatly improved over the years but cold is still cold!

Urrrg, Urrrg, Urrrg, click, click, silence!

 

[Snobdds]

The illusion of knowledge is only obscured by lack of knowledge!

We have an amateur philosopher amongst us...who knew.

The truly knowledgeable are those who succeed at staying abreast of their ignorance, glimpsing the broad contours of what they do not know. It's a valuable sort of intelligence. The fox knows many things unlike the hedgehog who knows but one thing, but that one thing he knows deeply.

See, I can do it too... :thumbsup:

 

[Snobdds]

You have a secret method that's not been disclosed or just never been in extended cold situations?

Many of today's engines do start at very cold temperatures but after it gets down to maybe -30F and sitting for a time things do change. Maybe look at battery amp output/temperature chart. And for real information get on the end of a crank to start the engine.

Both batteries and lubricating oils have been greatly improved over the years but cold is still cold!

Urrrg, Urrrg, Urrrg, click, click, silence!

How hard is it to...

Check the oil to assess if your oil is frozen solid
Check the antifreeze to assess if your coolant is frozen solid.
Turn on the ignition, this lets you know if your battery is frozen solid.
Let the glow plugs cycle for 30 seconds.
Let the glow plugs cycle for another 30 seconds.
Turn the Key.
I bet it starts.

 

[piercedtiger]

While it didn't get down to -11F or -20F this year like it did last year, I have to say all of my previous cold start issue went away with a new battery, and unhooking a parasitic draw until those lights were needed with the engine running. It was still below freezing, and identical to other days last winter where it was a 45-60 minute battle to get it going. It's amazing how much simpler the process is with a new, fully functioning, fully charged, battery.

 

[Egon]

We have an amateur philosopher amongst us...who knew.

The truly knowledgeable are those who succeed at staying abreast of their ignorance, glimpsing the broad contours of what they do not know. It's a valuable sort of intelligence. The fox knows many things unlike the hedgehog who knows but one thing, but that one thing he knows deeply.i

See, I can do it too... :thumbsup:

Do what?

 

[Egon]

How hard is it to...

Check the oil to assess if your oil is frozen solid
Check the antifreeze to assess if your coolant is frozen solid.
Turn on the ignition, this lets you know if your battery is frozen solid.
Let the glow plugs cycle for 30 seconds.
Let the glow plugs cycle for another 30 seconds.
Turn the Key.
I bet it starts.

The wind must have delusional effects! Just stick to turning the key and listening.

Urrrg-Urrrg-click-Urr-Click-silence. Hermon Nelson time!
,

 

[Oldpath05]

How hard is it to...

Check the oil to assess if your oil is frozen solid
Check the antifreeze to assess if your coolant is frozen solid.
Turn on the ignition, this lets you know if your battery is frozen solid.
Let the glow plugs cycle for 30 seconds.
Let the glow plugs cycle for another 30 seconds.
Turn the Key.
I bet it starts.

We'll let me compare my list to your's, but keep in mind this is from another amateur philosopher
Step 1> Plug block heater in when parked from last use.
Step 2>A week later, Sat. it's 10F out or colder at 9am, From inside my warm house I pick up remote control for outside outlet and push on.....

After that hard work of pushing a button it's time to make coffee, have some Grape Nuts cereal with toast with homemade jelly, 10am coffee is now ready, power up the com. do some net working, go on TBN, sip some java and read about, To be or not to be, the block heater is for me.

Next thing I know it's 11:30am, wow where'd the time go, then my son stops in, throws his hands up in the air, saying I've been up since 7am bla bla bla.............after his enthusiastic speech I grab my cold weather cloths, get to the tractor at 12 noon-ish, start tractor like it's July 4th in February............

 

[atsah]

We'll let me compare my list to your's, but keep in mind this is from another amateur philosopher
Step 1> Plug block heater in when parked from last use.
Step 2>A week later, Sat. it's 10F out or colder at 9am, From inside my warm house I pick up remote control for outside outlet and push on.....

After that hard work of pushing a button it's time to make coffee, have some Grape Nuts cereal with toast with homemade jelly, 10am coffee is now ready, power up the com. do some net working, go on TBN, sip some java and read about, To be or not to be, the block heater is for me.

Next thing I know it's 11:30am, wow where'd the time go, then my son stops in, throws his hands up in the air, saying I've been up since 7am bla bla bla.............after his enthusiastic speech I grab my cold weather cloths, get to the tractor at 12 noon-ish, start tractor like it's July 4th in February............

This consists of my morning as well, Cheers..