Winter Operation - Page 7 - Diesel Forum

jwvonl · 01-20-2008, 11:42 PM

Many thanx to cool cannuck & jlhansen. My 03 goes into warranty never land next month, your posts on testing the starting system will be priceless when I go on my own. Until I came to your posts the little "secrets" about the glow plugs and starting system drove me nuts. I just got to know a pretty decent Ford Teck who lives in town. Still, I have spent many years doing 99% of my own repairs. With the info you share I will be able to continue the fun!
Thanks again!!

matkinson659 · 01-11-2009, 10:53 PM

Quick Question.
I don't understand where people get it from, but I live in wisconsin and many people around me seem to think that running your block heater damages your engine or something. where does that come from?
It only helps, wether it's 30 F or -30 F.

**klhansen** · 01-11-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matkinson659

Quick Question.
I don't understand where people get it from, but I live in wisconsin and many people around me seem to think that running your block heater damages your engine or something. where does that come from?
It only helps, wether it's 30 F or -30 F.

I'm with you. I can't see where it hurts the engine at all. 1000 watts versus what burning the fuel in the engine puts out is really insignificant. Heck, I even leave mine plugged in after starting while I do stuff like scrape the ice off windows. I even tried to drive off with it plugged in the other day.

matkinson659 · 01-11-2009, 11:48 PM

My brother did that with his old 6.5 chevy. We had to put a new plug on th truck. Now he has an 04 four door dually. he has gone from a truck that would not start unless plugged in, to a truck he doesn't have to plug in. Im still wary of his new truck though, he had a huge puddle of anti-freeze under it the other day, and he took it in to get looked at. they pressurized the system for 2 days and sdidn't find anything.

**PeterL** · 01-15-2009, 02:54 PM

Years ago, in the cities in Saskatchewan, many of the parking lots had plugin for each slot, so folks could plug their car in during the day while they work.

I dunno if its still like that.

My father had a trick, he had installed a small electric room heater, under the dash of his car, and then plugged it in also, in addition to the block heater. He had a separate circuit out to the car to carry the load.

Then when he got up to go to work, the car would start easily and the windshield was melted and clear.

matkinson659 · 01-17-2009, 07:45 PM

well my brother seems to think he read somewhere that on the newer trucks
(his 04 Powerstroke) you're not supposed to plug them in until it's colder than -20 F

TowDaddy · 02-04-2009, 07:43 PM

I am having an issue with my 01 F250. I have never had any issues in the past with it cranking in cold weather down to -18 until today.

The truck cranks fine in the morning after it has been on the block heater. The last few days we have had high temps in the teens and after sitting in the parking lot all day, it has been really difficult to start. I had to cycle it 6-10 times to get it to crank. Today, it failed to start. It sounds like the batteries are fine and that it is not getting fuel.

The last two tanks of diesel were purchased at the local Shell station rather than at my usual Marathon station. I do run the White bottle DFS in the wintertime.

So..................

Is it batteries? - I am overdue for new ones.

Is it possible I got a bad tank of fuel?

Is it something else like the Glow Plugs.

Thanks for any help.

Daveysmustangs · 02-06-2009, 08:46 AM

I have a 2000 F350, when it starts up in the cold the exaust will suck in for a bit, then blow out, anyone have any ideas what that could be?

matkinson659 · 02-07-2009, 08:21 AM

I'm not sure bout that. I know my brothers old chevy was the same way. we found out that the glow plug tower, which cycles the glow plugs was bad.
Check the batteries and glow plugs. Maybe ask around to find out about what runs the glow plugs. It is called a glow plug tower on my brothers chevy, it might be called something else on a ford.

Buckshot341 · 02-10-2009, 12:11 PM

what weight oil are you running? could also be your gpr going out, or bad gp;s

xfordtdm · 02-21-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnowotny

Thanks for the informative post cool_canuck. As far as batteries go, is there a recommended type of battery that works best for cold temperatures? is it worth paying extra for deep cycle batteries perhaps?

Thanks

Interstate batteries are the best. They will run you 50 dollars more (each). I will not put anything else in my vehicles.

My friend swears by his Optimas. They are pricey also.

**F250Truckin** · 01-25-2011, 04:59 AM

Great post. Thanks Cool_Canuk. I live in Minnesota and we get all that cold air that leaks down from Canada. I'm not new to diesels, just Power Strokes and the information is priceless to me.

Here is a tip. If you have to work on the engine in the cold, plug in the block heater and wait a few hours and your fingers will be grateful for the warm engine.

**F250Truckin** · 02-04-2011, 08:21 PM

Cool_Canuk you are the man.

I was unaware that the glow plugs continued to heat after the light went out in the cab. My truck sat for a week some of which was -17 F. Using the information you provided, I did not plug the truck in. At 4 F, I turned the key, went into the barn and got some things I wanted in the truck and finally hit the starter. It rolled over very slowly and I thought OH OH this will never going to work. Then it fired and died. I hit the started again and she fired and never missed a beat. Drove around all afternoon without a problem.

I know the batteries are old and the cable ends corroded so the slow roll over. However, that is pretty good proof that the injectors, glow plugs, HPOP and fuel system are in pretty good shape. I'll need to get the problems fixed so I don't ruin an obviously good started but I'm sure happy about the rest.

heyaren · 12-05-2011, 11:11 PM

Nice write up! I just bought a F250 and this taught me alot.

Cool_Canuck · 12-06-2011, 08:45 AM

I glad people are still finding this information useful. I haven't been around much as of late. I sold the trusty 01' and replaced it with 2011. Now I'm here trying to learn all I can about it. That 7.3 was one of the best engines ever and that truck never left me on the side of the road in the seven years I owned it.

cnowotny - Deep Cycle batteries are not designed for starting engines. Use a battery that is and get the one with the largest Cold Cranking Amperes you can find. Be prepared to replace them every five years.