Cold start Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

There is still summer and winter fuel. Winter fuel gels at -40.

schlep1967 wrote:
The big difference is the fuel. Diesel is much more refined now than it used to be. It just doesn't gel like it used too.

And untreated straight #2 (summer fuel) will start to gel at about 20 degrees F.

I owned a 2007 lbz Duramax, last winter one of the coldest on record here in Wisconsin. That truck never gave me an issue starting. Coldest I remember is -23F..sitting for 10hrs. Cycled the glow plugs and it fired right over. Like was posted before, good batteries are key along with good glow plugs.

I've run a diesel farm tractor for over 20 years for mowing and snow removal and have discovered that many times success is all in the battery. I had a problem once when I tried using summer blend in the winter (duh) but other times my tractor might fail to start if it had not been started recently (not a fully charged battery). My tractor and my diesel truck both have told me that strong batteries really really helps, more so then in a gasser where compressions are lower and oils might not be as thick.

I have also discovered that weaker batteries in the 2005 F350 truck can cause the FICM control module to fail (in the winter or summer).

My recommendation is to keep your batteries fresh and keep the connections clean.

Edited: I'm glad to hear that the 6.7 is performing well for you Brooks379. 6.0 owners tend to look ahead in that way.

ChooChooMan74 wrote:

Lessmore wrote:
My son had a 2008 Colorado from 2008 till 2014. His job was usually in 10 + hour shifts. No plug available. His truck was always outside. It gets really cold here....-25 to -35 not uncommon. Winters go for at least 5 1/2 months.

The Chevy always started.

I think the Colorado diesel is coming out next year...unless you guys up north had a diesel version back in 2008???

Nope. We usually have the same stuff those stateside get.

My son had the Colorado with the off road, Z-71 package. He had the 5 cylinder gasser. I liked the engine...3.7 liters, 242 hp. Reliable and durable, also fairly sophisticated....DOHC.

I note you have a Jeep Liberty. My son traded his Colorado in on a '14 Jeep Patriot with the Trail Rated package. So far he's very happy with it.

He has the Mopar 2.4 liter, DOHC 4 cylinder engine in his Jeep.

Lessmore wrote:
My son had a 2008 Colorado from 2008 till 2014. His job was usually in 10 + hour shifts. No plug available. His truck was always outside. It gets really cold here....-25 to -35 not uncommon. Winters go for at least 5 1/2 months.

The Chevy always started.

I think the Colorado diesel is coming out next year...unless you guys up north had a diesel version back in 2008???

Hi,

There is still summer and winter fuel. Winter fuel gels at -40.

schlep1967 wrote:
The big difference is the fuel. Diesel is much more refined now than it used to be. It just doesn't gel like it used too.

My son had a 2008 Colorado from 2008 till 2014. His job was usually in 10 + hour shifts. No plug available. His truck was always outside. It gets really cold here....-25 to -35 not uncommon. Winters go for at least 5 1/2 months.

The Chevy always started.

The big difference is the fuel. Diesel is much more refined now than it used to be. It just doesn't gel like it used too.

I have not been running diesels all my life like you have, but I was convinced a couple years after we bought our VW Jetta TDI back in 2001. Went to visit the folks in northern Ohio at Christmas, and knowing the tales about starting diesels in cold weather, I held my breath the first morning when it was -33°F. Turned the key to light up the glow plugs, had to wait about 30 seconds 'till the light went out, and it fired right up on the second revolution like always.

That TDI has no block heater. Neither does our 2012 BMW X5 35d, and while I have not had any opportunity to start it that cold, I suspect there'll be no issue. These modern diesels are no longer noisy, smelly, dirty, or slow.

(That BMW does 0-60 in 6.9 seconds and is the quietest car I've ever owned.)