2005 c5500 4x4 duramax/allison 1500 miles on it. Truck was plugged in for 3 hours. Get in let it warm for a minute or two. Drove fine for a couple of miles, then the SES light came on and it won't get over 15 mph.

It is darn cold (but not as cold as it "could" get). Stock oil fill/tranny fill, guess this is the motivation for transynd and 5-40 synthetic.

Yes, I buy my diesel from a "good" place (I run two other diesel plow trucks). Yes I have anti-gel in the tank.

I drove it back to the shop, set it on high idle (1800 rpm) and it won't even warm up past 130 degrees.

Got any ideas? Need to get it going to go out and plow/salt. The nearest medium duty dealer is 100 miles away FYI..

Sounds temp related. No winter cover? If you shut it off wait 10 sec and restart does the SES stay on?

Plug back in. Without a winter cover, the next best thing is covering about 1/2 or so of the radiator with cardboard.

Any time any of my "stupid" diesels don't make power it is the fuel filter. Always carry a spare and never assume that it can't be clogged.

I've read where even the smallest amount of condensation (mainly accumulated during the low fuel shipment from factory to dealer) will contribute to a lot of water in the tank. And with it being VERY cold this freezes and prevents your pickup tube from getting any fuel through.

Get a salamander heater on your tank and see if that clears things up. Then add some type of dispersant.

Sounds temp related. No winter cover? If you shut it off wait 10 sec and restart does the SES stay on?

Plug back in. Without a winter cover, the next best thing is covering about 1/2 or so of the radiator with cardboard.

Any time any of my "stupid" diesels don't make power it is the fuel filter. Always carry a spare and never assume that it can't be clogged.
I am sure it is temp related. I left it plugged in all night and the SES came on this morning. I don't run a winter cover as the plow does an effective job. SHOULD not be the fuel as the same fuel is running in two other trucks...(bought here at 10,000 feet above sea level it is 50/50 blend winter diesel)

Hopefully with a few more key on/off cycles the light will go away. We will see what power is like to here in a few minutes.

My ownly fear is that I might have limped the tranny (NO I DON'T HAVE ANY POWER ADDERS) I did not do any sort of tranny warm up before leaving. Reading the owners manual is say to preheat the tranny fluid if it is below -10.

THANKS FOR THE IDEAS...

Howard

I've read where even the smallest amount of condensation (mainly accumulated during the low fuel shipment from factory to dealer) will contribute to a lot of water in the tank. And with it being VERY cold this freezes and prevents your pickup tube from getting any fuel through.

Get a salamander heater on your tank and see if that clears things up. Then add some type of dispersant.
Power service anti gel has been in the tank for the last two fills (I have probably 8-10 fills on the truck, I don't get great mileage plowing):h )

I am going to try to get it into a heated shop today.

Keep the ideas coming PLEASE....

Howard

do you have any way to read the code in the ECM? that would provide some insight..

I remember they had problems with the 01's when you used the block heater it would throw a code.

Have the Trouble Code read to be sure what's going on.

What type of fuel conditioner do you use, a demulsifier or emulsifier? (yes, back to that debate)

The demulsifiers seperate the water from the fuel, and supposedly allow water seperators remove the water from the system when drained. Problem is that free-water can accumulate in tanks, fuel line, or filters and freeze or cause corrosion. If free water passes through our fuel system, it is hard on pumps and injectors, because of no lubrication.
Emulsifiers break down water into tiny particles and safely allow it to pass in our fuel systems and be burnt. No free water accumulates to promote corrosion, freeze, or wear pumps or injectors.
I only use emulsifiers, (PFFP or Primrose), and never had any fuel system problems down to -10 Deg F., and have never seen any free water accumulate in my fuel filter.

I am no expert, by any means. What I believe, (or know), is what I've read and learned here. Form your own opinion. Searching this forum you can find many previous posts.
I know what has worked for me for four winters in NE WI.

you mentioned high idle. How is your wired ? is it so that it has a switch that could have accidently been left on? If the PTO has power to it then it will cause lots of issues

Good point, PTO limits engine revs. Are you running the hydraulics off the tranny?

Winter front very important and have over 1/2 to 3/4 covered and let warm up before moving. This way the whole system can get a little heat. Keep covered unless really working.

The high idle is switch on the dash which is factory stock with the medium duties and adjusted with the cruise control. It is/was off. The hydros are running electric over on the plow.

As for a cold front... the truck does not leave its spot unless it is pushing snow or hauling salt.

It seems to be running ALOT better, but the SES light is still on. My biggest fear is that if I attempt to drive it to the dealer I won't make it.

Is it true that only a certified medium duty dealer can work on the c5500 and above? Roadside assistance also told me that I would have to remove the spreader, which is a PIA.

I am going to go down to Denver tommorrow to borrow a code scanner from a mechanic friend. I need to get myself one that could also read my Turds (I mean Fords.

I'll let you know what I find out! Thanks for the help!

Howard

Here is a pic of the truck...
http://chtucker.home.bresnan.net/sidesnow.jpg

why would you have to remove the spreader?

They say it can't be towed with it... I already dumped the salt out.

I don't know why they would say that:confused:

I guess they can't hook the wrecker up from the rear with it on or something.....you would think they could tow it from the front or get a big rollback or something...

If the trans temp is to low I think you can only get certin gears. In some cases if it is cold enough only first gear. I remember reading about it some where. Does it shift OK?

No it did not shift ok.... but it had thrown some tranny codes and is now running well that the temps are up..

Howard

chtucker,

Checkout the link below concerning tranny sump temps and shifting:


http://service.gm.com/gmtechlink/images/issues/aug04/TLaug04e.html

Good Luck!

Gary

I experinced the cold weather shifting Just before Christmas in MN.
It was around -17 F and I had driven about 7 miles then turned into the wind and the allison would downshift to 2nd gear and not go more than 25 mph. It did this on two different occasions that day and I attributed it it gelling even though I had a healthy dose of additive in the tank.
I am pretty sure it was just the allison limiting shifts. I just turned it off for a few minutes restarted and everything was ok. I wonder what I could do to help the tranny warm up faster? Cover the Trans cooler when it is this cold and monitor tranny temps? I do have a winter front over the grill but not the bumber. What do you guys think?

We were pretty close to -40 a couple of weeks ago and mine shifted up fine but when it is really cold the allison delays the shifts until the rpm is close to 2000. At those temps the trans gague hardly comes off the bottom. If you sit at idle it will just cool down more compared to driving.

Your fueling problem could be from filter ICING, small particles of water hit the filter and freeze plugging it up. Power service emergency 911 will help with this condition. I just read an article from a power service engineer and he said this is a common problem that is not corrected by using regular power service.;)