Re: It\'s 14 degrees and going lower
Coffeeman - I realize your post was for a little humor. However it did open up an important point. Your tractor sitting in the cold outside is void of any discomfort despite the temperatures. It doesn't require any care, trust me, unless you need it to start. Wisconsin winters aren't the worst in the world but I plug in my block heater a few hours before I start my 4500 up. My concern is to get the lubricating oil warn enough to provide proper lubrication on startup. Glow plugs or intake manifold heaters are great but how long does it take for that oil to start really doing it's job? Once the engine is started, I try to work the hydraulics without load for a few minutes and sometimes even run the tractor around to let everything warm up. Depending on the temperatures, this can sometimes take 1/2 hour. Because of all of the necessary warmup, I try to accumulate a few jobs to be done and keep initial cold weather startups to a minimum.
Incidentally, here and probably in any state that hits below freezing temperatures, the fuel in the station pumps have a winter blend to alleviate fuel "clouding" I read in alot of sites where alot of guys put in extra additives to prevent this. I run a diesel dozer, a diesel pickup, and a diesel tractor and I've never had a problem in the winter with gelling. Are these additives a waste of money?
Just my opinion - Clyde