A word of advice to those that have block heaters.
Just because the coolant is warm(which is all the block heater does), doesn't mean your engine oil is warm(which sits in the pan below the block), and it doesn't mean your hydraulic oil is warm.
The hydraulic oil needs to be warmed also(especially in a hydro machine), or serious damage can result.
I only mention this because sometimes people have the misconception that since the engine starts easy, we can start and go. Such is not the case.
Kubota (and I assume other manufacturers) clearly state in the owners and shop manuals suggested warm up times at various temperatures. The colder the ambient is, the longer suggested warmup. I like that warmup. I can get my cocoa and graham crackers.:licking:
I even warm up my tractors in the summer (to allow the a/c to cool down the cab).
Not to stray too far from the subject but, I work on large diesel engines part time. On stationary diesel gensets, they start at full rated load and rpm becaue they have to assume the load with minumum interruption. Normal start sequence is about 15 seconds after utility dropout.
It's a hoot to start a V12 Caterpillar twin turbo genset. You toggle the master start switch to on, watch the panel lights go from red to green and when the last one goes green, she starts and immediately throttles to rated rpm (usually 1500 for a 4 pole head). The twin 10" exhaust stacks blow some serious smoke and it's off to the races......
....they all have on board integrated oilers that bring the oil pressure up to rated psi (45 pounds or better) prior to start. Most, but not all also have block heaters however, it's the oil pressure that's important. Most will cold start with no block heat so long as the starting batteries will provide enough amperage or there is enough air pressure and/or volume in the pressure tank to spin the air starter if its air start and quite a few are, however, they won't start if there isn't sufficient oil pressure.
To that end, in the winter, I run a lighter grade (5-40 Rotella) instead of the 15-40 Rotella I use in the summer and I dead crank the engine (with the manual shutdown pulled) until the oil pressure light goes out and then I push in the manual shutdown and start the engine. That way, I'm assured that the oil galleries are full and pressurized and the overhead has lubrication.
I've never had an issue with a dead crank even in the coldest weather but I do make sure my batteries are fully charged, the terminals are free from oxidation and the batteries aren't old. Batteries get weaker with age. About 4 years is tops and time for a new one.
Diesels all cackle when cold. Some cackle all the time. A 1693 Cat sounds like it has ball bearings inside the cylinders, warm or cold. The cackle is actually combustion and the noise you hear is a result of the combustion chamber shape and the base compression ratio.
I want to hear that rattle. It means it's making power.
