ok i have looked at a 91 gmc 6.2l diesel and it ran fine ect, but im going back to buy it now a month and a while later, the temp here has been -15 to -38 in the last month. what should i do to prepare to get this truck going? what is the best way to get it going without harming the engine?? should i put some anit-freezing stuff in it? i know the block heater dosent work in the truck so what do you guys think would be the best thing to do?? someone told me its ok to use eather on the 6.2's but theres no way im going to do that cause i dont think its save. what would be the best way to get this truck going??

ok i have looked at a 91 gmc 6.2l diesel and it ran fine ect, but im going back to buy it now a month and a while later, the temp here has been -15 to -38 in the last month. what should i do to prepare to get this truck going? what is the best way to get it going without harming the engine?? should i put some anit-freezing stuff in it? i know the block heater dosent work in the truck so what do you guys think would be the best thing to do?? someone told me its ok to use eather on the 6.2's but theres no way im going to do that cause i dont think its save. what would be the best way to get this truck going??


I have used starting fluid before but, was in a desperate situation. If you have to try to use something with an oil base to it. Did you try to crank it over at all?

no, the truck isnt in the same town as me, im going to go back this weekend. i know it hasent been started in about a month so im just woundering what would be the best way, i want to know what the best stuff to use would be IF i have to use a starting fluid. i hope that it will just start up though

Any starting fluid will work. It is better if you have someone there to give it a squirt while you crank over the motor. This is strictly a last resort, and I can't emphasize enough how little starting fluid you need. If the fuel is Gelled, which it probably is, this will not get the truck running. You'll have to get it in a heated garage to thaw it out.

the truck is low on fuel so what if i drop a big can of diesel with some clean flow or something in it, would that work??

Where do you live? Definatley don't go if it's super cold. Not worth the trouble.

1. See if the seller can plug in the block heater.

2. Add some fuel to the tank. Straight #1 or kero wouldn't hurt.

3. Unless the batteries are new put good jumpers cables on it right away. Assume the worst.

4. I'm not sure about a '91 but if it has a full mechanical pump hold it to the floor while cranking.

5. If it doesn't go after a half dozen tries give it a shot of either/starting fluid but I'd disconnect the glow plug relay first. If it runs fine when warm I wouldn't spray it with the plugs still working.

THANKS for the info. i am going to be going if it is cold or not as the owner is going in for surgury next week and i would have to wait till after his recovery if i dont go this weekend. im up in bc canada , but the truck is in alberta canada. it has been cold where the truck is right now but my plan is to plug it in for a few hours, put fuel with streight #1 or kero put the cables on it right away and crank her over it should fire up, but if it dosent i will just have to use a little either/starting fluid. im hoping for the best, but if something goes wrong i want a heads up on what to do. anyother info or little tricks would be great. if i have to spray some starting fluid in the truck i will just have to pull off the air cleaner and give it a shot right?

Don't use starting fluid unless you want to damage the engine!!!! If the truck were mine than I would turn the fuel filter heater on for about 10 minutes to get any wax melted in the fuel filter. The computer should turn on the heater when you turn on the ignition switch. Next, I would remove the air cleaner lid and heat the intake chamber with a hair dryer to get the air warmed up. I would also direct hot air right into it as someone cranks the engine. I would also have someone jump the batteries to get the best cranking speed since the truck batteries charge may be low.

thanks cougarjohn, that was sounds better. i want to be safe when i am doing this. i dont want anything to get screwed up. do you think that heating the oil pan would helps too?? thanks for all the info guys it has helped out lots. any other info you guys have would be great. thanks

If you have a torpedo heater throw a tarp around the truck and let the heater warm everything up.

ya i wish i had one of those, but i dont so i guess the old ladys hair dryer is going to have to do

ok guys im leaving on saturday jan15th to get it anything else you guys know would be awsome, thanks

Some good suggestions here, but, starting fluid does have it's place. It is much better to use it if someone is cranking the engine over after the glow plugs go out. Have a helper spray a very small amount into the air cleaner. But don't do this first. 1) Add 5 gallons of #1 diesel possibly with power service emergency 911 to help disipate any ice. 2) do something to try and warm the oil, even if you have to do an oil change, at which point I would refill with Mobil 1 10-30 or Shell rotella 5-40(both are available at wallmart). 3)Borrow your wifes hair drier and hold it on the fuel filter until it is warm to the touch. Now cycle the glow plugs 2 times(turn key on until light goes out,turn key off, turn back on) Hold pedal 1/2 to 3/4 to the floor and crank engine. Don't exceed 30 seconds without letting starter cool off. Good idea to have another vehicle jumped to truck in advance to give batteries a boost(batteries have much less oomph at cold temps. Watch for smoke coming from the exhaust as you crank, if you have smoke, you have fuel. If truck tries to start but won't use a very small amount of starting fluid into the air cleaner while you are cranking it over, do not spray while glow plug light is on! Note: the starting fluid available of late is not anywhere as explosive as it used to be and tends to not be as hard on starting your diesel. P.S. I have used this method to start 6.2's for the last 15 years in very cold weather and have never had any engine damage occur and I have even trained my daughter to start her 86 k5 6.2 blazer with starting fluid when she has to, and she always gets hers started, knock on wood it is supposed to be close to -20 for the next few nights. Lastly, buy a new block heater from NAPA auto parts, get the original equipment version and take the new cord from the kit and plug it into the block heater and plug it it an listen for gurgling sounds. 9 times out of 10 the cord goes bad on the block heater. If that doesn't work you still have the new block heater(they are pretty easy to install) just have to drain the coolant. Good luck!

Ok Guys, I Went To Get The Truck And The Guy Didnt Even Have Batterys In It Haha, So I Got His Old Ones That He Was Charging Up For Me. One Was *****ed And The Other Was Ok. So I Put That And My New One In It From My Truck. Turned The Key....nothing, So I Looked A Little Closer Under The Hood And The Battery Post On One Was Screwed And A Ground Was Off, Bla Bla Bla,turned The Key On Again And All The Gauges Were Going Crazy. Took Everthing Off, Cleaned Them Up Again And Everything Was Fine. It Was -33 That Day So Using Tools Got Kinda Cold. Turned The Key On And Warmed Up The Glow Plugs, Turned Over Slow But Didnt Fire Up. Waited And Tried Again, Nothing. So Took Off The Air Cleaner And Used A Little Little Squirt Of Eather, And I Mean Small, Fired Up But Stalled Right Away. Sp O Waited A Minute Or Two To Turn It Over, Tried It Without Eather( By The Way I Only Used It Once And I Unpluged The Glow Plug Relay) And It Fired Right Up And Runs Like A Top!!! Now My Next Question Is In The Morning It Turns Over A Few Times Before It Fires Up But After That Allday Even If I Leave It For 8hours It Fires Right Up?? The Block Heater Dosent Work In It, Everything Seems To Be Good Do You Know What/ Why It Is Doing This? It Is Very Minor. Would It Just Be Cause It Is Cold And Not Pluged In?? So Other Than That It Is Awsome. I Got My 35's On There And It Looks Cool.runs Awsome. Thanks For All Your Help Guys. If I Have Any Questions In The Future I Will Ask

Possibly a little drainback, probably just because its so much colder when you try to start it in the mornings that it takes a little longer to get her to crack. Glad to hear you got it started in the first place!

ya that could be it, i wouldnt have gotten it started with out your guys help though.:ro)

It may not be "normal", but it certainly isn't uncommon for an older 6.2 to take a little more time to start after sitting overnight. It may be fuel drainback, it may be cold parts/oil, could be anything but it certainly isn't unusual.

Both of mine do this at times. The truck is the slower of the two due to high mileage/compression loss. It usually takes two glo-plug cycles and short crankings to get it going when cold. (This is after it sits overnight and no heaters/staring aids are in play.)

The "trick of the month" that I use most successfully is to turn the key directly to the crank position (bypass the "run" position and don't let the glo-plugs come on), let the engine turn over about two revolutions to wet the prechambers with fuel. Turn the key off and back on. Let the glo-plugs heat up and turn off, then start it up. If all is normal and it isn't bitterly cold, it starts on this second cranking cycle. This work 90% of the time here in western Oregon. Probably wouldn't help in cold country.

Have you checked out the block heater yet. Remove the cord and check for continuity between the top two terminals,(lower terminal is ground), then check the cord. The cord can be bought at your local napa parts store. Fix your block heater and then we can move on to hard starting if it still is.;)