Thoughts on Cold Starting....

[rmonio]

Mark -

My hydraulic heater goes in where the filter sits and I had the dealer take care of it for me. This is on a 4600 HST, so your situation might vary.

I'll never NOT make sure I plug those heaters in again - EARLY... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif That and I'll put a can of Sea Foam in every time I add fuel (even if I'm using off-road or the right #1/#2 mix).

Thanks again.

-Bob

 

[JDgreen227]

That oil draining idea sounds great but I doubt if many of us would want to go through the procedure very often.

 

[DaveNay]

I saw a show on PBS a few years ago that was about life in Siberia. Not the prison camps, but the people who actually CHOOSE to live there. They showed film of the farm trucks parked in various places, and they said that they never shut down the trucks, and they kept a fire burning under the differential and axle in the rear to keep them from freezing solid overnight.

Similar to this are the diesel electric locomotives. I understand that the engines on modern locomotives are almost never shut down unless there are service requirements. This is all year, not only in the winter. I guess the fuel costs associated with cold starting and warmup are higher than just letting them idle.

Dave

 

[Egon]

Someone from a previous years post indicated the locomotives were cooled by water with no glycol added. It's either run them or drain them when shut down.

Egon

 

[44trxfun]

Good idea, Cowboydoc--thanks. It's probaby buried in the archives somewhere but as long as this thread is going, how much PowerService do you guys use for a five-gallon can? (My tractor did start this morning, but it took longer on the glow plugs than I've needed before. Snowblower worked great!)

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm not sure what the per gallon ounces are. It's right on the side of the bottle though how much to put in. I have 300 gallon tanks so I just add a gallon everytime I have my tanks filled.

 

[bigpete]

Here's a link to a Cat spec sheet for one of their bigger locomotive engines.

A few amazing numbers:

-16 Cylinders
-6.7" Bore
-7.5" Stroke
-4,210 cu. inch displacement
-Compression ratio = 14:1
- HP = 2,250 /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
-Cooling system liquid capacity = 54 gallons
-Oil system capacity (refill) = 106 gallons
-Weight = 17,000 pounds
-Length = 11.2 feet
-Width = 5 feet
-Fuel consumption per hour @ 600 RPM (idle) = 2 gallons
-Fuel consumption per hour @ 1,800 RPM (full load) = 107.3 gallons /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
-Cold starting capability = 50 degrees F. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

No block heater needed here. It seems like once these monsters are turning over, they don't shut them down until they need service.

Here's the link to the spec sheet: Caterpillar 3516B Locomotive Engine PDF Specification Sheet


Here's the real big dog: 18-Cylinder Marine Propulsion

 

[Dave___in___CT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...how much PowerService do you guys use for a five-gallon can? )</font>

Go by the formula on the container... and do the math...

I did the math... it's like 2 ounces or so...
...got a measuring cup with the right amount of water in it for 5 & then 10 gallons.. poured the water into a 7 oz. paper "Dixie cup"... then marked the side of the cup for both... then marked a few cups the same...

Now I pour the Powerservice to the mark in the Dixie cup... then into the fuel container...


Dave...

 

[BillyP]

My brother works for the railroad. I used to go with him, on Sundays, to check the locomotive engines. One Sunday he asked me if I wanted to drive the train /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

It's amazing how a locomotive, with 100 cars, can take off with so little effort.

 

[zuiko]

I put in about 3 ounces. There are two ranges on the bottle (regular and maximum protection), this puts it in between. I also use it year round just to be on the safe side, it is pretty cheap.

 

[tawilson]

OK, below zero this morning and everything started and ran fine all day. I think my 50/50 mix is good for all winter but I think I'll get a can of that Powerservice anyways. I'm surprised about the dealer that didn't recommend a block heater. My 2120 started right up with one.

 

[frank_f15]

as a point of interest to u the temp this morning on my thermometer was 8 deg.F went to the garage and gave the glow plugs 2 , 10 sec cycles and it fired right up, let it warm for 10 min the cycled the hydraulics a few times and let it warm anothe 10 min while i went in and had a cup.

you have got to be in my area somewhere, would like to know where u are. we may be neighbors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[frank_f15]

kevinj : thanks for the info on the fuel gelling, i buy from a truck stop that sells an awful lot of high grade diesel, and i always make sure i get fresh diesel, for the winter so i am sure it is treated for cold weather.

FRANK

 

[DaveNay]

A few years ago, I was working for an engineering company that did work for the Electro Motive Division of General Motors. Numerous times I was in the plant where the engines are actually fabricated. Wow! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Very impressive. Their older engines are given descriptors like "420" and "600" These are the cubic inch displacement per cylinder and they are made as large as 20 cylinders. The newest engine they are building is designed to have 6000 H.P. from a 16 cylinder configuration.

Dave

 

[44trxfun]

Frank, I'm a little north of Jamestown. I'll try your technique just for grins tomorrow (NWS forecasting another cold night tonight). I'm new to the diesel tractors so any tips are appreciated...

 

[MikeInIdaho]

You call that a BIG engine? It wouldn't even start this one:

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/

Now that's an ENGINE!

 

[PineRidge]

108,920 hp at 102 rpm
That one is a monster any way you look at it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Huge machinery fascinates me to no end.

 

[44trxfun]

Good tip Frank--thanks! Needed just a dot more time on the 2nd round, but much better than yesterday (although it is considerably warmer today). We got about a foot of snow last night so I get more blower time today!

 

[frank_f15]

WHOA BABY that is one big engine. wonder what one of them cost?

 

[rmonio]

I don't think I'd want to change the oil on one of those things... 106 gallons? wow.