Starting your Diesel on a cold day tip

[buickanddeere]

Being a little harsh there aren't you Bucky. If you don't have a block heater and its below zero what's your next move. I've tented mine under tarps and put a Mr heat propane heater in there to heat up the whole tractor including the jelled up fuel lines. My father would place an ash pan full of hot coals under the oil pan of a 62 ford until the oil snapped and popped. Some times you have to make do with what you've got close at hand. I wouldn't burn off any paint but I'd use a torch if that's all I had.

Just had another look at my email. Somebody for a 2nd time in less than three hours thinks it's ok to risk limb, life and property. And has been offended when told they are promoting dangerous practices to others.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Really? You can't figure out where vtsnowedin lives? {Vermont snowed in.}
Can you see it now.
Minus 20 F is not just an example, it was yesterday.!

And the day before, and the day before and the day before......minus 20 is actually warm compared to the last few weeks ;-)

While I would rather have the ability to plug in my tractor, there's no power in the building its spending this winter. Double cycle the glow plugs and it always fires up. Fast idle for 15-20 min and get to work. Tuesday I turned on the PTO also and that seemed to help a bunch with the warm up.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I know now where u are...I hear it gets cold there... I got corrected on our temp.. our forecast for tonight is 13* with a wind chill of 0.. Now that's cold !!! Of course, we don't get the snow with the cold

OK your getting there on the understanding part. I was in Atlanta last month and it was a cold spell that had billboards out telling people to let their water "drip" so it wouldn't freeze the pipes. Up here you don't need any billboards or public announcements and people let it "run" if it isn't buried six feet deep or in a heated basement.

 

[kenmac]

You probably won't see the 100* temps with 90% humidity though..I would rather have the -20... Let the water drip LOL !! If we don't tell them everyone will have damaged pipes

 

[vtsnowedin]

You probably won't see the 100* temps with 90% humidity though..I would rather have the -20... Let the water drip LOL !! If we don't tell them everyone will have damaged pipes

Nope only gets to 100 here about one day a year down in the valley. I was amazed at parking garages that had sprinkler systems and open walls to the outside. Wouldn't last a week here in January.

 

[MossRoad]

Nope only gets to 100 here about one day a year down in the valley. I was amazed at parking garages that had sprinkler systems and open walls to the outside. Wouldn't last a week here in January.

We have dry sprinkler systems in our parking garages for just such occasions. :thumbsup:

 

[square1]

Any concern over using a concentrated heat source on a casting? If it were really cold, like here the last 7~10 days, I'd be afraid of the casting cracking if it isn't evenly heated. I use the tarp tent & salamander, next year a block heater WILL be installed

 

[k0ua]

Any concern over using a concentrated heat source on a casting? If it were really cold, like here the last 7~10 days, I'd be afraid of the casting cracking if it isn't evenly heated. I use the tarp tent & salamander, next year a block heater WILL be installed

I wondered about that myself.. I don't think I will be taking a torch to anything on the engine.

 

[Paddy]

His post is gone now, but here was my reply

Wow. I guess he didn't know that diesel fuel has the same flammability as bacon grease. God forbid if his wife used a gas stove to cook it! I assumed anyone reading this would be smart about the heat source and have a bit of intelligence on a distance to hold the flame not to burn your tractor. Oh, and the paint did not burn off the the intake manifold though it wanted to match the exhaust manifold

There is a fine line between McGiver and McGruber

 

[Ed of all trades]

I know I am here in the nice and nice and cozy south, it is 4 here not -20 or anything like that but this helps me. I put the battery charger on low for a few minutes to heat the battery a bit and it helps and the motor turns faster and stronger.