Winter and deisel use

[catkins]

Ok - Couple of questions for you long time diesel users here. I just traded up to a diesel - Cummins engine.
I am uniformed and need some help before temps drop and winter arrives!
1. Coach comes with an engine heater. How cold before I should plug it in? (Can't do when bookdocking!)

2. Do you ever add an additive to keep diesel from gelling in cold weather? How cold does it have to get before it is a problem? I have been doing some reading but see no definitive answer - some say winter blends work and need nothing else. Some say below 25 add an additive. Makes me nervous - what do you do? (Note I will be wintering in AZ boondocking on the desert and not running much. Some nights do drop below freezing..............I want to be proactive!Heading from Florida through Texas and New Mexico in mid-November and know weather can get cold through there.) HELP!

Seeking wisdom from you folks. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[roundown8366]

My cummins manual for an ISL400 shows around 10°f and lower an oil and coolant heater is suggested. Below -10°f is required.

Cold weather starting: the manual: follow normal starting procedures. The wait-to-start lamp will stay on longer.

This is straight from owners manual for ISC, ISC, ISL.

I have started my 400 with the sliverleaf reading 6° with no problem, oil pressure up within 3 to 4 seconds.

[mrkoje]

Golden_HVAC wrote:


Usually the engines will start at 20F without the block plugged in, and will run normally after about 30 second warm up. At 0F or -10, then the block heater is more required, however winter blend has a bunch of unleaded gas in it, so it runs fairly well - even at 0F.

Fred.

Pretty sure winter diesel doesn't have gasoline mixed in. I know it has kerosene mixed in.

[catkins]

You guys are the best! Thanks for the info and the great article. Eases my mind a lot....... fear of what you do not know! Still lots to learn so I will likely be back with other questions.

[RayChez]

DSDP Don wrote:
As I stated earlier, there was a temp that they recommend you should use your block heater to warm the engine. I did a search and found an article with some good info. It discusses temps, grid heaters and idling in the cold.

A question that often comes up is why does my volt meter drop to nothing and then come back several times when starting the engine. This article discusses the affects of the grid heater on battery voltage.

It's a good article for a newbie:

Cold Weather starting.

Great link Don. I agree completely with your article. Even the big puff of black smoke when it fired up. It happened to me in Pecos, N.M where the temperature had dropped to about zero. I did not plug in to shore power and let the coach just set for about a week at low temp. It wanted to start, but would run for a few seconds and then die. Until it fired up with a big puff of black smoke. I thought at first I had blown the engine up when it fired up. LOL! Since then I plug in when temperatures get that cold if there is shore power available. I have never added anything in the fuel tank, but your article about Karosene makes a lot of sense.

[CA_Traveler]

Doubtful you'll need to do anything in AZ snowbird areas vs the colder mountain areas.

I've never had a problem down to 20 degrees.

[2oldman]

DSDP Don wrote:
It's a good article for a newbie:Cold Weather starting.

That's a good read.

When my Cummins 8.3 battery voltage dropped to 11.3 before cranking the engine, I freaked. Then I learned about intake heaters, and how much she hates cold weather!

[DSDP_Don]

As I stated earlier, there was a temp that they recommend you should use your block heater to warm the engine. I did a search and found an article with some good info. It discusses temps, grid heaters and idling in the cold.

A question that often comes up is why does my volt meter drop to nothing and then come back several times when starting the engine. This article discusses the affects of the grid heater on battery voltage.

It's a good article for a newbie:

Cold Weather starting.

[charlie_good_ti]

I will add if a used rv you purchased make sure you have a new fuel filter installed.Old plugged filter with bacteria an other stuff will be more likely to be your problem if any on the trip you mentioned.Do carry a spare is a good idea too. If your Cummins has two filters i would let a experienced person change them for you.You dont want any dirt getting in none of them but especally the final one(one before the injection pump)

[Ivylog]

OP, it would help if you put this "FYI - my 2014 Tiffin Red" in your SIG. Your Cummins has a grid heater on the intake so once the "wait to start" light goes out it should start in any temp. Going E to W or W to E you do not need to add anything to your fuel. Going S to N and shutting it off could be a problem, but if you fill up with local winter fuel before shutting it off you will be fine.
Even when boondocking I can heat my engine off of my AquaHot, but unless it's below freezing I do not. You are worrying about this too much when in southern states.

[TucsonJim]

I'm from AZ, and my diesel truck doesn't have a block heater. Due to an ill relative last year, I had to head north in January and was exposed to the arctic vortex. Temperatures plunged to 15 below a couple nights. I added some diesel fuel anti gel that I picked up in a local parts store. I never had any problem starting or running the diesel engine after it had sat in the cold weather for 10-12 hours.

The additive I used is listed in this link, and it is supposed to work down to -40 when used IAW directions.

Diesel Fuel Supplement

In Arizona, I often see temps in the 20s and don't have any issue getting it started. I don't normally use additive in Arizona.

[alkillion]

I dont think there is one correct answer. I use Biobor MD for water and gelling in every tank, and Biobor JF for bacteria/fungi when I'm not driving for a while.
I turn on the engine heater in the evening when its going to freeze and I'm going to drive in the morning.
Good Luck!

[DSDP_Don]

"catkins"....You're going to get answers all over the place and here's another one. First, the engine heater isn't necessarily for single digit weather. It helps in lower temps to keep the coolant and oil warm so that your engine doesn't start with thick oil and not lubricate as fast as it should.

This was discussed before and I think there was an actual recommended temp by Cummins to turn the heater on. I believe it's somewhere around 25 degrees. You can still use your engine block heater when boon docking. Obviously, it only needs to be used on the day your leaving. Start your generator and plug in the block heater when you get up and while having breakfast and getting ready to go. About two hours should help. If I have hook ups, I plug it in the night before.

I know Az can get cold, but as one poster stated, you probably won't see sustained cold unless you're in an area like Flagstaff. If you're really concerned, add the anti-gell and don't worry about it. Keep in mind, once your engine is running, it will heat the fuel on it's own. Diesels always pump more fuel to the engine than they use and then return the warmed excess fuel back to the tank.

Good luck with your new diesel. You were smart to come here and ask. I'm on the west coast and luckily don't have to deal with the fuel or winterizing issues.

[Golden_HVAC]

Hi,

\While a emergency generator will run it's block heater all year long (yes keep that engine at 100F or so in July) so that it will start in 10 seconds or less, it is not required on diesel RV's.

If it is below about 30F, AND you want to leave in about 6 hours, then you should plug in the block heater for a few hours. Until the night before you are leaving, then leave it unplugged. Now if it is 0F, you might need to plug it in 2-3 days before leaving. But don't leave it plugged in for days on end.

AS for the fuel, yes as said above, use up the summer fuel before winter arrives, IF you will be running it in the winter. If you feel the need for winter fuel, and don't have it, then get the additives, and drive around the block and get it mixed in well!

Usually the engines will start at 20F without the block plugged in, and will run normally after about 30 second warm up. At 0F or -10, then the block heater is more required, however winter blend has a bunch of unleaded gas in it, so it runs fairly well - even at 0F.

Fred.

[mdamerell]

Rule of thumb with a semi, we plug them in when temps stay below freezing and idle them when temps are below 10 deg F.

Unless temps stay below freezing I would not worry about it. I've always just run the winter blend and never had an issue in 19 years.

One time I did not have a plug-in so I left my big truck unplugged for 2 weeks with single digit temps. Gave it a shot of engine starter fluid (on the air filter) and it started. Took a while for the idle to smooth out but once the engine came back up to temp every thing was back to normal.

Now if we are talking a pickup diesel with glow plugs just give them a minute to do their job and it will normally start. If I lived in MN, I'd plug it in.