It's COOOOOLD!

[EZSnow]

So, its not going to be on the plus side of zero until at least sunday or monday here, and I don't need to drive my truck. It usually doesn't snow when it's this cold, so I don't imagine that A snow event is probable. My parents are out of town (FL) and my wife and I are staying with my little bro at their house. This gives me access to my dad's suburban, which I intend to take full advantage of. So, Ol' Smokey is parked on the side of the garage, plow and spreader mounted, plugged-in and ready to go. Is it gonna start on saturday?

I have fuel that is, according to the station, blended to -30, and I added Power Service (more than usual) at the last fillup, and there's still about 3/4 tank in the truck. I know it would start today, but I've never let it sit this long, especially when it's this cold. Any advice?

BTW- I'm hoping for a "shut-up and don't worry about it, you fool!"

[wyldman]

I won't quite put it that way,but I wouldn't worry about it.It's plugged in,so it won't be hard to start at all.

[urethane dino]

It is a 7.3 PS which are notorious for starting hard in the cold. But if it is plugged in and cycl the glow plugs a few times, and the batts are in good shape you should be fine.

[John Banks]

Turn your heat/cold dial to full heat, and the air-flow selector dial to defrost. While it's plugged in, you will circulate warm air through the defrost vents, which will keep the windshield from freezing up, should you get some precip. This is nice when the precip starts as rain, then changes to snow and also when it's extremely cold out and the snow won't freeze to the windshield.

Let us know how she fires up!

[EZSnow]

Originally posted by John Banks
Turn your heat/cold dial to full heat, and the air-flow selector dial to defrost. While it's plugged in, you will circulate warm air through the defrost vents, which will keep the windshield from freezing up, should you get some precip. This is nice when the precip starts as rain, then changes to snow and also when it's extremely cold out and the snow won't freeze to the windshield.

This I have seen on another truck, (6.5 TD) but not mine- ever. I wonder if it has to do with the coolant flow shut-off that's in the heater-core line.

Alright, I won't worry about it, and I'll let you guys know how she does. Also, an extension cord with a lit endplug is worth its weight in gold when it comes to wondering "is it working?"... assuming that everything truckside is A-O-K.

[snowplowjay]

I would fill it up FULL of fuel...

I always make sure that my trucks are all on FULL when extreme cold is forecasted as to prevent condensation buildup in the empty air space within the tanks.........................

Jay

[chtucker]

I would not worry a bit. The PS doesn't get tough to start unless it is -10 and then it is only grumpy for a few minutes. Mine has started at -38. Above zero it will start with glow plugs NOT working and being plugged in.

You should have no trouble with good batteries. I do run 5-30 or synthetic in if I remeber to buy it..

Howard

[ratlover]

dads 2000 PS was a PITA to start when it was 5 degrees not plugged in. Would not start! Batties started getting drained so I threw a charger on it and pluged it in and came back 2 hours latter and it started like it was july. If she's plugged and you have deecent fuel(and used a bit of additive for issurance) dont worry!

15 40 conventional gets used in it BTW

15 or so degrees its got a nasty romp and then she goes off purring like a kitten(with a belly full of marbles LOL) after a few seconds.

[CPSS]

Originally posted by ratlover
dads 2000 PS was a PITA to start when it was 5 degrees not plugged in. Would not start! Batties started getting drained so I threw a charger on it and pluged it in and came back 2 hours latter and it started like it was july. If she's plugged and you have deecent fuel(and used a bit of additive for issurance) dont worry!

15 40 conventional gets used in it BTW

15 or so degrees its got a nasty romp and then she goes off purring like a kitten(with a belly full of marbles LOL) after a few seconds.

I would say that you probably had a problem with the Glow Plug Relay, or even one or more GPs not working. All our PSD's start fine well below 0, when not plugged in. I have replaced the GPR on two of our trucks as they frequently stop working.

[jbutch83]

EZsnow,

I used to have cold start problems with my 99 F350 7.3 diesel. I had the glow plug relay replaced, but it still did not like the cold weather. I ended up changing oil to 10W-30 rotella, and since then, I have never had any problems, even down to -10. Some guys can run 15W-40 all year, but my truck does not like it. It is very happy with the 10W-30, and that is what I run in the winter.

John

[EZSnow]

Well, yesterday was the coldest morning of this snap for us, and I needed the truck, so she got called into action. I doubled-up on the glow plugs and she kicked right over- no problem! Now if we could just get some snow... ...

[atgreene]

Both of mine got new glow plugs this fall. A world of difference in starting. GP are cheap compared to wearing out a starter cranking it over. 10 degrees the other morning the 6.2 fired right-up, even though I had left the 2 way radio on for 24 hours.

It was - 1 at the house this am, it was plugged in so it started fine, but either way, everything gets plugged in. I hate to hear the motor knocking while the oil gets picked up on a cold morning, just isn't worth it for the cost of plugging them in.