Another Rookie Question(s)

I live in Southern MN...so I am going to be in for some cold weather. I know that ambient temp will make the answer vary, but in general...

1. I am going to plug in my truck at home, my question is how Long should I set the timer for in the morning? I was thinking 2 hours before I leave should be enough time to warm up? Any opinions on that?

2. I had the Glow Plugs checked...seem to all be working. I had someone tell me that cycling the plugs twice in really cold weather will help with starts, I dont' see how that makes them any "hotter" Opinions on that one?

3. My concern is at work, I will not be able to plug it in....on really cold days it will sit for 11hours at a time. What can expect for 'cranking time' If I have to crank it over more than 10 seconds do I stop???

any other general tips on cold starts???

I generally leave my truck pluged in all night, but thats just me. Some people say it is bad to leave your truck pluged in all night. Ive seen people leave theirs pluged in for 2 days and never hurt em. Ive tried to cycle the glows but it doesnt work for me. I have to crank it over cut the key off, cut the key back on and glow agian. Generally i plug mine in when necessary.

Depends on how cold cold it gets out there but when it gets to about 15 Fahrenheit out usually I plug it in for about an hour it doesen't give me any problems(little bit of smoke).Now with the plugs its not hotter but longer.With the starter 15 seconds than let it cool off for about a minute then try again.

Here in Alberta (gets down to -30) I plug in for 2 hours. I have a block heater and oil pan heater. I use 15-40 all year round. I have started at -30 not pluged in after sitting for 8 hours...don't want to do that to offen. Not sure how cold you get there but I believe my owners manual states to use 10-30 when temperatures get below a certain temperature...I'd have to check to be sure what temperature.

I live in MI... no block heater...
First deisel winter... should I be scared?

If yes...
Where do I get one? ~cost?

How cold does it get there? I plug mine in when it gets to -10 C (14F). It will start colder, but it's easier on the engine...oil pressure comes up faster.

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed? I always change mine when the winter fuel hits the street. In my area it's coming soon.

Here is a pic of my owners manual page on oil and temperature...hope it attaches.

IMHO a block heater is a must for anyone north of my location. I use it here too but usually not until after January begins.

If your vehicle has to sit for 11 hours in extreme cold then your only salvation will be the performance of your batteries and your glow plugs. If I had to let my vehicle sit that long I would without question install a manaul override for the glow plugs, which I intend to do on my truck before too long.

My experience with this tells me that you have a limited window of opportunity to start an IDI diesel at 0 degrees without a block heater and the goal is to never miss that opportunity.

my .02

Here in Manitoba, it gets fricken cold.

What I do:

-Make sure all 8 glows are working
-Always use 0-40 full synthetic oil
-Plug the truck in all night/day so it's always ready for use
-Make sure the truck heats (thermostats)
-Install my interior car heater for the cab

I live in MI... no block heater...
First deisel winter... should I be scared?

If yes...
Where do I get one? ~cost?


In short.....yes, be scared.

You can go to your local GM dealer and buy one for like 30 bucks or so. Installing it is a bit of a mess though.
Go get one. You won't be sorry.

First check the truck real close...you may have one and don't realize it.

Does anyone here use the grill cover in the winter, I see them every once in a while around here. Additionally from my experience make sure your batteries are up to par, your plugs operational, and your winter additive in your tank. My truck didn't start last year when it was about 5 degrees F, but since then I have 2 aux batteries in the bed because there is no place to plug it in at college and I haven't had a problem since.

Yes, I use the grill cover...and I also cut some 8 inch square (X2 inch thick) foam rubber in the bumper holes. It stops the engine oil cooler from freezing up.

Where did you get your grill cover, I'm interested about getting one. Thanks

Oh boy......I bought it about 9 years ago at a truck a accessory shop in Saskatoon, Sask....a long way from where you live...I'm not much help to you here.

I use the winter front. Ordered it off the web a couple years ago. If ya look in my garage there is a pic of it, like the look of the truck with it on much more then off.

He in Ohio it gets pretty cold too. I usually plug it in before i come in for the night when it gets in the 30's . Like right now it is plugged in because it is supposed to be in the 20's tonight. Mine will start fine even if not plugged in, i just like it to be a little warmer when i start it. I also let it set and warm up for a few mintues before i leave. Mine also sets for 8-9 hour a day in the school parking lot with no way of plugging in, it starts fine but it lets everyone in the parking lot know that its cold. (sounds like i dropped a handfull of nuts and bolts in the intake)

I don't use the block heater unless it below zero (on the 95 Burb). I bought a grill cover from Cabelas for about $45. It helps alot with warm up time.

I use a Fia bug/winter front.

1) My timer is set for 3 hours. I've been pluggin' it in for the last month, supposed to be -9C tonight, brrrr. It will start fine w/o bein' plugged in, but it sounds so much easier on my poor ol' engine with a little warmth.

2) I would make sure you have 60g's or equiv. GP's then install a manual override. Makes life so much simpler in the cold. I turn the key on, wait for the light to go out, hit the manual switch and hold it on dependin' on the temps then fire'er up. Starts much more smooth.

3) Again manual override will make it easier after sittin' for 11 hours.

I always plug mine in anytime it's 30 or colder..I leave it on all nite everynite in the winter ..truck always starts after 1rst gp cycle and runs nice n smooth let it run 5min. and hit the snow.

Hey first thing I have to say the Tom Baker "Doctor Who" icon is way way cool. Now for advice on cold weather starting from across the river in NoDak.

1.) Plug in all night long keeping the block heater on all night will not hurt your tuck and the extra cost of heating it is small price to pay verses the battle of starting it after a prolonged sit with out heat or weak batteries.

2.) As for starting at work get yourself the best batteries you can find. I run two 950cca units and if I could get bigger I would. Doing the manual GP mod is a great idea and giving the plugs some extra time before cranking helps a lot if you have to let the truck sit unplugged while working.

3.) While on the subject of working I work 10 hour shifts also in the real dead of winter I like to start and run the truck on my breaks even for only the ten minutes or so it helps. And with how easy and cheep auto starts are these days you don't even need to leave the shop or sit in the cold to do so.

4.) Get a winter front they help make the truck warm up faster but have other advantages also. Some folks laugh at me for saying so but keeping air flow threw or around the engine after shutting down slows the loss of heat. It may sound crazy but every little bit helps. I even try to always park out of the wind behind the shop I work at.

5.) One last thought in years past I drove a GMC Jimmy with 6.2l that was a cold blooded beast for starting. One thing that helped a ton with that one was to hook up a small 2amp trickle charger (I had one permanently mounted under the hood) and leave that on with the block heater at night. Keeping those batteries warm gets you the full out put of the batteries most times that is a lot more then they will give you cold.

I live in MI... no block heater...
First deisel winter... should I be scared?

If yes...
Where do I get one? ~cost?

Where abouts are ya?,,, I'm in Lake Odessa,,,

I did buy a new block heater form Car Quest for about $25. You have to pop out a Freeze plug to install block heater, <after you clean up from the coolant bath>, ,, and just pop it in the hole,, and tighten up the nut and its done,,, well after you plug in the Elc cord that is. But you might want to look at the drivers side thru the wheel well opening,, and look to see if you dont allready have one in there, and maybe just the elc cord is either missing or tied up somewhere out of the way.

I would install a Manual override too as mentioned,,, that way at work you could fire them up a little extra longer to get that good start!

I was told here that 2hrs would be enough time even on the coldest mornings,,,,to be pluged in,,, but at about 200 watts of energey use,,, you could leave it on all night and not worry bout running up the Elc bill, or hurting anything! think of it this way,,, your computer power supply is over 2 times that wattage!

Mine started on Tuesday morning,, with NO problem 28*F not pluged in or anything and with very little extra smoke.... But I have a new engine with about 4000 miles,, and New Ac Delco G60 Glow Plugs, with no override.

I think 2 hours is a minimum for the block heater, I usually go about 3. No need to go all night, it won't get it any warmer than three hours will, and those things draw a ton of electricity. Electricity is wicked expensive here in the Northeast, maybe why others aren't as concerned about it as me. I always cycle my glow plugs twice if it's been sitting in the cold a long time. Learned that from an old-timer, seems to help with starting.
I used to change to a thinner oil in the winter but I haven't for the last couple years, kind ofgave up on it. What amazes me is that pic of the owners manual in an earlier post says you can change to 10w30 but not 10w40? WTF? If you only want it to be thinner on start up, you should use 10w40, which is 50% thinner than 15w40 cold (roughly). 10w30 is going to 50% thinner cold as well, but also 25% thinner warmed up. Why would you want it thinner when at operating temp, that can't be good. Unless everything I know about oil is wrong, that just doesn't make any sense. I KNOW the first number is oil weight when cold, and the second number is at operating temp. I used to worry about running 10w40 so I stopped, I definitely wouldn't want 10w30 in it.

I know a lot of people have misunderstandings about what those numbers mean, but I am pretty sure I am right on this one.

I guess I'm the only lucky one who gets to park inside a heated garage while at work ;)
I can even wash it with hot water whenever I feel like it.

Where abouts are ya?,,, I'm in Lake Odessa,,,

I did buy a new block heater form Car Quest for about $25. You have to pop out a Freeze plug to install block heater, <after you clean up from the coolant bath>, ,, and just pop it in the hole,, and tighten up the nut and its done,,, well after you plug in the Elc cord that is. But you might want to look at the drivers side thru the wheel well opening,, and look to see if you dont allready have one in there, and maybe just the elc cord is either missing or tied up somewhere out of the way.

I would install a Manual override too as mentioned,,, that way at work you could fire them up a little extra longer to get that good start!

I was told here that 2hrs would be enough time even on the coldest mornings,,,,to be pluged in,,, but at about 200 watts of energey use,,, you could leave it on all night and not worry bout running up the Elc bill, or hurting anything! think of it this way,,, your computer power supply is over 2 times that wattage!

Mine started on Tuesday morning,, with NO problem 28*F not pluged in or anything and with very little extra smoke.... But I have a new engine with about 4000 miles,, and New Ac Delco G60 Glow Plugs, with no override.
I bought a heater for a truck one time, it went inline in a heater hose. Super easy install, just cut a hose and clamp it in there. When the coolant got warm enough it was supposed to circulate itself and warm the entire engine instead of just the oilpan. I was always a little afraid of touching a freeze plug, with my luck it would fall out or at least leak and never seal up right.
I was always under the impression those block heaters pulled a ton of electricity

I bought a heater for a truck one time, it went inline in a heater hose. Super easy install, just cut a hose and clamp it in there. When the coolant got warm enough it was supposed to circulate itself and warm the entire engine instead of just the oilpan. I was always a little afraid of touching a freeze plug, with my luck it would fall out or at least leak and never seal up right.
I was always under the impression those block heaters pulled a ton of electricity

I had one of those when I lived in Canada. Eh? Worked great even when it got down to -35F (before metrification). That's what I would get if ever I were to return to cold country (not bloody likely).

Peyton

Right after I bought my truck I put in a remote start. It's got an automatic start feature, set to start every 4 hours for 10 min then shut off. I work out of town alot all day, so it really saved me last winter while it was just sitting alone all day not plugged in. Money well spent...

Right after I bought my truck I put in a remote start. It's got an automatic start feature, set to start every 4 hours for 10 min then shut off. I work out of town alot all day, so it really saved me last winter while it was just sitting alone all day not plugged in. Money well spent...


I have the same thing. 2 way remote that lets me know its started and keeping warm during the times you can't plug it in. In my opinion this is the route to go, sure you spend some money on fuel but like others said its better then going out there and the thing barely turns. Where I live a remote start is so nice to have, this way you don't have to get dressed to go start the truck then come in get undressed do your thing and then get dressed again to get going.

I might have missed a Sask boy's advice, but I leave my truck plugged in whenever I can. Right now I am still running 15w40 in my truck. Will change right around the end of hunting season (Dec 7th) to 0-30 semi synthetic. Las year at mminus 30 I went to work and someone stepped on my cord and pulled it out. I didn't realize it till the glows stayed on longer than normal, but it started up. She wasn't happy and it was at least 15-20 min before I put it into medium idle, but it sure impressed me that it started.....

I think 2 hours is a minimum for the block heater, I usually go about 3. No need to go all night, it won't get it any warmer than three hours will, and those things draw a ton of electricity.

Man, unless your a Vol. FF or plowing snow and need to go at anytime, leaving it plugged in all the time costs a small fortune.

That reminds me that I still need to get a timer. :eek: