[seelow]

I'm a new Powerstroke owner, and was curious as to what the lowest temperature a 99-03 7.3 will start without plugging in the block heater? I live in Colorado so it can get pretty cold here, and it hasn't been below 30* at night lately so it's been starting fine so far. I can't plug the block heater in because I just moved and my parking situation disallows an extension cord running out to my truck.

thanks for the help!

 

[bugman]

If your glow plug system is working properly then don't worry about it. I have started my truck down to a -30 without it being plugged in, it grumbles a lot but it will start. With you being in Denver I wouldn't worry about it. If it does bother you on your next oil change go to a synthetic oil. It will only cost you about double what dino does but the truck will start easier.

Jim

 

[seelow]

I'm almost due for an oil change so I'll get synthetic. Thanks for your help.

 

[bugman]

I'm almost due for an oil change so I'll get synthetic. Thanks for your help.

Just so that you know you do not need to run synthetic in your truck to start it in above 0 tempatures. I run 15/40 and see no need to run it and as I have said I have started my truck down to -30 with a proper working glow plug system and good batteries. As far as Denver I wouldn't even worry about it year round.

Jim

 

[andrewbalser]

I certainly can't speak for every 7.3 owner out there because I don't even have one, but in the coldest of cold snaps we had here in Indianapolis, we had 3 days of sustained -12 degrees with -20 wind chills. My 6.0 being the newer of the 3 trucks after sitting all day in the parking lot at work was the only one that would start among the diesels. This was compared to a 2001 7.3 and a 99.5 7.3. In all fairness, mine had just had new batteries put in.