Oil for this winter - Diesel Forum

gecko2424 · 10-12-2005, 09:44 AM

I live in mild OK where it gets to 0 once a year and I can plug it in, but I will be going skiing in december. Last year at 9000 feet, it was 15 below at night. I don't know if I'll have a plug available.

Questions:
1) I have fresh oil in there, do I need to swap to 10-30 for that one trip or can I make it on the thick stuff?

2) If I can't find a plug, I was thinking of a small propane space heater, like I use in a tent, to put under the oil pan. Would that work?

First mountain trip in a diesel for me.

Thanks

ozhoo · 10-12-2005, 10:01 AM

10-30 is good down to -10F. Unplugged it'll sound like a 76 Pinto when you start it up, and it'll take forever to get up to temp, but IMO you'll be fine.

Hear's a handy TSB that addresses the issue of cold starts.

O

OOPstroker · 10-12-2005, 10:18 AM

If your staying at a lodge there should be plug in's available. The only place you might be sol is in the parking lot on the hill while your skiing and you shouldn't have any trouble during the day as long as you got the right fuel or some Howe's added in.

Throw in some jumper cables though just to be safe.

I run Amsoil 5/30 and live in SD and have yet to have a starting issue, usually plugged in or in the garage though but there are times when were traveling and snowmobiling that it gets left to fend for itself.

JimmyDee · 10-12-2005, 01:00 PM

A good 5w30, 5w40 synthetic oil will sure help you a lot. Living here in Michigan I use it in the winter and it makes all the difference in the world for the cold start.
Jim

wandrews · 10-13-2005, 11:44 AM

I am in Oklahoma, too and spent last winter in Wisconsin. The 10/30 is MUCH better than the 15/40 for winter starts. I'd just switch to 10/30 before the trip and run it until your next regular oil change. The 10/30 will be fine for Oklahoma winter and as long as you get back to the 15/40 by next summer, it'll be fine.

444-4D · 10-13-2005, 12:03 PM

I have been to Colorado hunting the last part of October several times with a PSD. I've never checked the temps but it was cold. I have let my truck set for a week at 9000 ft and have never had a problem starting it. Mine isn't the only one that has been there either. None of them have ever had a problem starting. They have all had 15-40 oil in them.

FYI the small number is the cold number and the big number is the hot number. If I was going to switch to something else for those conditions I would switch to a 5-40.

gecko2424 · 10-14-2005, 01:34 PM

sounds good.

Any response to my space heater idea? My father in-law, lifetime trucker, used to build small fires under their oil pan back in the day (one of many stories) That or ether...and I'm not doing that.

444-4D · 10-14-2005, 03:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
sounds good.Any response to my space heater idea?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I think is't a bad idea. It might be an option in a jam but it's not something to make plans for.

I saw my dad build a good sized wood fire and pile the hot coals under the oil pan of a 220 Cummins in an old DCO. Are you married to my sister [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img].

04crew · 10-16-2005, 09:26 AM

40 or 50 years ago, nothing was as good as it is today. the oil didnt flow in the cold. the starters and batteries were crap too. i remember those days,,starting fluid was a must if you wanted to start those old cummins and mack diesels. dont use starter fluid, ether, in a glow plug engine. it can cause fires etc iside the intake system. i remember the old 335 cummins actually having a little furnace type burner built into the intake manifld. you pumper up fuel pressure with a hand pump and the lit the fire with a glow plug type ting and when the manifold was hot as hell, you tryed starting it. lots of white smoke out of the exhaust, ha ha. those were the good old days. my 1980 freightliner with the 600 hp kta cummins would pass anything on the road, but needed ether to start if the temp was below 35. without it, it would crank all day without starting. a little wiff of ether and she would fire right off.

stumper · 10-16-2005, 10:49 AM

I run 15-40 year round, changing to 10-40 this year. Cold starts rumble like he!! but it will start, Cycle the key a couple times so the glow plugs cycle twice before trying to start. also, all you need is a small metal pan and a few chunks of charcoal to warm a oil pan before starting if you want to warm your oil before starting. (not needed unless it won't turn over)
used to do this with big trucks, a tray with charcoal slides under easier and the heat rises straight up. just be careful not to melt any plastic parts.

JimmyDee · 10-16-2005, 11:48 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I run 15-40 year round, changing to 10-40 this year

[/ QUOTE ]
If this if for a diesel, make sure the 10-40 has a diesel rating. I'm not aware of an oil rated for diesel that is a 10w40.
Jim

Yeat · 10-16-2005, 04:43 PM

Shell Rotell [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vulnerable.gif[/img]a is.

SmokeyWren · 10-17-2005, 08:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Shell Rotell [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vulnerable.gif[/img]a is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shell Rotella T is 15w40, not 10w40. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

ikidd49 · 10-17-2005, 09:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Shell Rotell [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vulnerable.gif[/img]a is.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shell Rotella T is 15w40, not 10w40. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Smokey...my Rotella T (that I used for the first time Wed) is 5W40 and says it is synthetic.....I don't recall what the other 15W40 Rotella was called [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] as I've been using Delo. This time is just an experiment to see if it makes any difference. It does specify improved soot control whatever that really means and is CI4+ rated
Ian

mettech · 10-18-2005, 10:23 AM

Schaeffers 9000 5W-40 have been turning in outstanding (maybe the best of any oil) UOA with the 6.0L PSD. I'm going to change out my MC 15W-40 next month for the 9000.