Cold Weather Questions

[jdholder]

I am about to take my Excursion into some cold weather (15 degrees F or so) and wanted to know if there was anything I needed to do to prepare for it?

I have already done a service, and just replaced the OLD OE Batteries with Red Top Optimas (the OE Batteries were not holding a charge too well).

I have the block heater. Should I plug it in at night? I don't know if I will be able to, as I am staying in a hotel and don't know if they will have a place for me to.

Anything else I should do?

Thanks!

[OB-1]

Treat your diesel fuel with a good anti-gel fuel treatment or use #1 diesel fuel. I use Howes Fuel Treatment. It works great, but there are others. For light trucks, always double the recommended dose of fuel treatment. You can't hurt your truck by using too much anti-gel fuel treatment.

I use one 1/2 gallon bottle of Howes per tank in my Excursion. If you ever have fuel gel in your vehicle, you'll never want to experience it again.

As for the block heater, I've never used mine and I live near Casper, WY. My trucks, (96 F-250 4x4 & 2000 Excursion) have never failed to start regardless of the temperature. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[jdholder]

Great!! Where would I get these Anti-Gel Treatments? Living in Southern California, I bet they are not readily available. Is there an online source?

THANKS!

[crumm]

Like OB-1 said you should add some anti-gel to your tank if you are going into cold weather on Southern California fuel. I am guessing that your fuel is straight number 2. I am sure if you do a search on google or another search engine you should be able to find some on-line. Try looking for Howe's, Schaeffer's, Power Service or any other reputable product. If you don't find it on-line you should be able to pick some up while you are in-route to the colder climate. Try a few truckstops along the way and you should be able to come up with some. As far a plugging in I would if you can but if there is no plug-ins available don't worry about it. As long as your glow-plug system is working properly it will fire right up down to some very cold temperatures. It is just better on the engine not to cold start it.

[FamilyRide]

And.....as my siter and brother in law found out, what might be sold in a warm climate (Houston in their case) as an anti-gel, doens't mean it's any good in a climate where gelling is actually a possibility. They used HEAT and gelled big time in Colorado. Dealership that let theirs warm up over night in their shop, and check it out laughed at HEAT, and recommended several other brands that actually do work.

Doesn't Stanadyne have anti-gel componants? I'm running that for the first time and I can't believe how well my Exursion likes that stuff!!!

[AllAboutJeeps]

[ QUOTE ]
I am about to take my Excursion into some cold weather (15 degrees F or so) and wanted to know if there was anything I needed to do to prepare for it?


[/ QUOTE ]

Here is my list.

1. Read the ownders manual and supplemental diesel manual sections on cold weather operation. It doesn't tell you a whole lot, but you should be sure to find the fuel bypass valves and resets that they mention. Better to crawl around the truck in warm SoCal than when it is 15F.

2. Be prepared to let her warm up some, 1 to 2 minutes minimum. On cold days, on my X, I can't just fire her up and go. The pedal feels dead for a while like even if I floor it, her RPMs only come up a bit. Don't be in a hurry, let her get stuff moving.

3. Make sure you have drained the water off your fuel filter recently. Better safe than sorry.

4. Be ready to hear some noises you usually don't. In cold temps you will hear a noticable 'Wooosh' sound, which I believe happens when the Exhaust Back Pressure Valve (EBPV) closes.

5. Be ready for you fuel mileage to drop also. Not guaranteed, but if it does, don't be alarmed.

6. Always keep your heater going in the front and the rear. If you shut them off, the windows will likely start to fog, and it takes a while to get them to clear back up. So always keep it on Low as a minimum and play with the temp settings to keep it comfortable. Also putting the rear controls to the panel with the vents pointed at the windows helps alot.

7. Make sure your door seals are cleaned, and ideally freshly siliconed. If you get any precip at all and your door seals are dirty, there is a good chance your doors will open real hard or possibly freeze shut. It is hard on the seals so it is better to try and prevent it with clean seals.

8. Fuel anti-gel, like everyone else has already suggested.

That is all I can think of off the top of my head. Enjoy your trip. I love my X in the cold. Enough room to take off your coat, and room to put it somewhere when you are done!

...danny

[Larry M]

[ QUOTE ]
Great!! Where would I get these Anti-Gel Treatments? Living in Southern California, I bet they are not readily available. Is there an online source?

THANKS!

[/ QUOTE ]

Look at Walmart for the Power Service in the White Bottle that looks like <font color="red"> THIS</font>. The 96 oz "jug" runs around $10 at my local Walmart.


Larry, keeper of the <font color="blue">"little secrets" </font> CLICK HERE [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[boatpuller]

There's good advice on this thread, so here's some so-so advice:

Some hotels do have outdoor electrical outlets, but the front desk people may not know of them. Ask for someone in maintaince to answer the question, as there may be a single outlet wired on a telephone or electric pole, or a sign pole somewhere on the grounds.

Carry a FLAT extention cord, not a round one (and make sure it is made for outdoor use, and not lightweight). If you have to run it under your door and plug it in your room, you'll see the importance of a flat cord. Because I don't want someone to trip on the cord and get hurt, I carry a couple of weights (bricks might work) to hold the cord tight and flat when it goes across a sidewalk. A good wide tape that sticks to cold, wet, dirty sidewalks to hold the cord down would be a good idea, but I know of none. Also, ornage cones to warn of the trip-hazard might be a good idea. (Dang, being afraid of liability is exhausting).

Some cycle their glow plugs twice before starting when it's not pluged it.

Your truck will smoke more on cold starts than you are used to.

Don't wait until you are in the cold area to put anti-gel in the fuel, and you'll need to drive it a little to fully mix it through your entire fuel system.

I try to not run the tank low, as some think that allows more condensation and therefore water into the tank. But more importantly, if you get stuck somewhere, having 20+ gallons of fuel to run the engine for warmth and lights and radio, etc. is a great idea.

ONLY buy your fuel at truck stops or stations that move a lot of diesel. If that is not an option, just buy enough to get you to a station than does volume diesel.

[MotionMan]

Plug it in, plug it in. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] I have a $5 timmer and set it to run for 3 hours before startup. Thats all you need. I say plug it in for sure, it makes the engine soooo happy and you get heat in a hurry. Be nice and warm her up. Watch the long idle for wet stacking where the fuel does not burn because the idle is not high enough ( ours will increase automaticly) it can hydro lock the motor with too much fuel.

[jdholder]

GREAT INFORMATION!!! I appreciate everybodys willingness to share their knowledge!

Picked up some Power Service at Walmart yesterday. Have my flat extension cord. Now just need to get a timer. I was going to keep it plugged in all night, but sounds like I just need to do it a few hours before my planned departure.

Again - THANKS!

[MotionMan]

It is a 1500 watt heater so it is like running your hair dryer all night...could be $$$$$$. I find 3 hours is perfect. Now if it is in the wind you may want some more time.

[CHPMustang]

For the Power Service additive use the white bottle during the winter and the grey for the warmer months(we use the same stuff)

For the timer I picked up the Intermatic TN-311C at Home Depot for between $10-20 (I forget exactly how much) for extension cord a 50'length of 12/3 will be more than capable of handling the 1,000 watt 9-10 amp block heater.

Have a safe trip to the winter wonderland [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Bill

[Dentman]

If I might add one thing. Locate the plug for your block heater before you get to the point where you need it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Sometimes they are the dickens to find. I can't remember exactly where mine was but I remember laying on my back looking for it.

Now that I think about it, I think I ended up taking off the plastic panel on top of the radiator (between the radiator and the grill) and reaching down and pushing it out that way. All I remember for sure is that it was cold and my fingers were getting numb and I was cussing that little zip tie that was keeping the thing just out of reach.

If you've already located said rediculously well hidden little plug then disreguard all of this and have a great trip. You'll not find a better road trip machine. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[Bruce1954]

Yep Just started putting the power service stuff in also

About 3 cups per tank if I KNOW I HAVE blended Diesel

Never had a problem

I use the Intermatic T-101 mounted in the corner of the garage
This is over kill but I have melted those "Applience Rated" ones on Electric heaters of not much more wattage so I went with this permanent solution--&gt;

Heavy Duty Timer

I may get one of those plug in types also for traveling, I just start cold and let if warm up.

BTW even an hour helps a good bit But I Agree 2.5-3 hours is about right, any longer and you just do not gain much. I keep mine set at 5:00-8:00 AM


Bruce

[Zaphod]

[ QUOTE ]
If I might add one thing. Locate the plug for your block heater before you get to the point where you need it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Sometimes they are the dickens to find. I can't remember exactly where mine was but I remember laying on my back looking for it.

Now that I think about it, I think I ended up taking off the plastic panel on top of the radiator (between the radiator and the grill) and reaching down and pushing it out that way. All I remember for sure is that it was cold and my fingers were getting numb and I was cussing that little zip tie that was keeping the thing just out of reach.

If you've already located said rediculously well hidden little plug then disreguard all of this and have a great trip. You'll not find a better road trip machine. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe someone helplful would repost the instructions for that little plug since we're all looking.

BTW (to add something useful), X10 stuff is cheap. The "appliance module" is rated at 15A. I have one on my desk and it's model number is AM466.

The cool thing about X10 is that you can get all kinds of controllers --- ones that you can phone, ones with keypads and timers ... even ones for your computer. The computer interface I bought was only $23.

Once you have a controller, you can put all kinds of things on it.

<ul type="square">[*]I have my Christmas lights on them... means i don't have to go out and find the plug. [*]I have my house coach lights on X10 so that the alarm system can "blink" them to indicate status --- I need this since the garage door is alarmed and I use a remote to arm and disarm the house --- and I want to know it worked.[*]I have several torch lamps whose switch has ceased to function. Since I have a surplus of appliance modules, I use them to turn those lights on/off.[*]The one on my desk is set aside for my truck.[/list]
... Anyways... just something to consider.