AK - cold weather fluid recommendations - Diesel Forum

bentoth · 07-10-2009, 02:06 AM

I know its not quite winter yet, but I've recently purchased a '92 Ford F350 5 speed and live in AK. It's from the lower 48 and has regular green coolant.

I'd like to find out what type of motor oil and coolant would be best to preserve the life and performance of the truck.

I've heard that CAT coolant (red, texaco extended life, etc) mixed 50/50 will last and that using a 5W-50 synthetic would help, too. I live in the interior and this last winter we hit -50F.

Any ideas or recommendations?

-Thanks

cdnsarguy · 07-10-2009, 03:09 AM

Standard green with SCAs is fine, but check with your local suppliers for correct products for our engine.

Hot Summer...Cool Diesel

6.9-7.3 Engine oil requirements.

32F to 100F+........30wt

0F to 100F+..........15W-40

32F to way below freezing ........10W-30

With the new oils...... 0W-40 is a good choice too in extreme cold

Ensure the block heater is working and the batteries are in top condition...... there are many members in AK so your not alone up there.

boomvan · 07-10-2009, 03:41 PM

I'm in Fairbanks...

15w40 is the standard, but its not really the oil viscosity you have to worry about. Being an IDI, its not going to start unless its plugged in when its -40 out, which is all the time in the winter. If its not plugged in, the combustion chambers are just too cold to start, and 0w40 isn't going to help that. Make sure you have a big oil pan heater, block heater (if not two), transmission pan heater, battery heater or charger, and even a coolant circulation heater if you want... I have all of the above and have no problem starting at -50 after being plugged in for 2 hours or so...
And of course make sure your glow plug and fuel system is in proper order. Let me know if you need any more info or even help with installation.. i work on these all the time..
-Tim

bentoth · 07-11-2009, 01:42 AM

Thanks for the advice, I might just look you up before it gets cold again. We're down by Denali, so it's not necessarily as cold as Fairbanks, but cold enough.

For the pan heaters, do you just use the stick on kind? I run equipment in the cold and they seem to do fine for that. Also, we use "espar" electric fired-diesel burning glycol heaters before cranking over our big yellow machines. Does anyone use these in their pickups?

mm · 07-11-2009, 12:15 PM

2 block heaters? Where does the second one fit? other side of block?