So how cold will a psd start w/o being plugged in

[Stan96]

There sayin this is the coldest weather in two years, 8 degree's here this am, not too bad, just wondering, what's the coldest you've ever started without being plugged in? I've done 1 or 2 degrees a couple years ago, but it sounded like the engine was coming to an end.

[DaveH.]

It is around 25 degrees here and the truck has been sitting for 2 weeks, it started up on second try and ran just fine.

The truck hasnt been plugged in at all.

[bugman]

I have started mine on glow plugs alone at a -40 here in Colorado. I will quite often start it in the minus temperatures after letting it sit for a couple of weeks and actually tomorrow morning I'll fire it up after letting it sit for 3 weeks and we will be below 0 when I do it.

[Stan96]

yea, -40 is pretty cold, i was readin about batteries, somewhere i read that a 100% charged battery will freeze around -77 and a 75% charged battery will freeze at -35 At 50%, 10F. At 25%, 5F. At 0% (totally discharged), 20F.


not sure how true tho. at any rate, i'd be happy with starting at -5 or 10 around here..

[frugalyankee]

Guess I baby mine too much. lol. I plug it in any time its going under 30 deg. I have it on a timer so it turns on an hour before I leave in the morning. I'd rather spend a few cents on electricity than wear out a $250 starter motor. I did forget to plug it in one night, temp at 20 degs and it started on second preheat. Once started int he morning it can sit all day and start right up without any preheat 10 hours later. Guess the truck is like its owner, likes a little help getting going in the morning but then good for the rest of the day. lol.

[PSDan000]

for me it depends how long it sits. typically i can let it sit 12 hrs in single digit temps and get it started. 24 hours in the same kind of temps and i start having issues. if its under 20* i will typically leave it plugged in if its going to sit for 12 or more hours

[sdan27]

I started mine this morning it was about 2 deg F. With 5w-40 oil and a SD starter it starts perfect, first time without being plugged in with no chugging or anything.

[Snowtow]

Mine started with no problems a couple winters ago at -21°.

[delta7503]

Mine will start unplugged down to about 15 it's a really hard/smokey start though so I plug it in below 30