Cold Weather Operating 6.0L PSD

boogie_4wheel wrote:
I use one of those big tupperware lids (the really big ones from walmart), then trimmed it to fit in front of the radiator on my Dodge. $7, works good, and a whole lot cheaper than a winter cover.

Cheaper yet - just a piece of cardboard.

I only have to drive my 6.0 five miles on 35 mph secondaries to get to work - Within the first half of a high 20 degree F trip, I'm getting heat without a radiator cover or plugging in my block. The first mile is flat, the next 1.5 miles are down hill, another .5 mile of flats, before a 1.5 mile climb and another .5 mile of flats. Work and home are on tall ridges and there is a valley in between them creating over 250' of descent and climb. Note I'm getting heat with the truck running downhill or flat for 2.5 miles before it has to really start working to climb out of the valley. Coolant temp is about 165 degrees and transmission oil is about 130 after those five miles. This is not my daily driver and I typically make trips that are longer with the engine running 180-190 degrees.

Even after changing all the hoses, belts, thermostat and antifreeze last year my truck still takes a long time to warm up (yes it's a diesel so heat is not it's thing). I bought an after market cover Fia I believe and the stick on snaps popped off in each corner. So this year I tracked down an OEM cover at a local dealer and picked it up.

I installed it Wednesday and unlike the aftermarket it completely covers the whole cooling system and there are four flaps to control the amount of air getting to the radiator. This cover mounts to the core support and bumper brackets and is behind the grill.

Last night it was 19* so I closed all the flaps and with in 5 miles I had to pull over and open two of them as the eng temp gauge was reading 220*! Also I noted my EGT was running at 900* cruising at 55 mph! Remember if you use a cover you are also blocking air from the inter-cooler! After I opened two of the flaps the eng temp dropped back to 190* and the EGT @ 55 was back to 525*.

Have to say I don't have a problem pulling over to reopen the flaps if I can get heat within 5 miles! If you do not have a EGT gauge and are using some from of cover you had better rethink how you are going about it! Boogie that $7 homemade cover could end up costing you thousands in the end. Within five miles my trucks EGT and engine temps where hitting the max I have ever seen them @55 mph even when towing our 9800# TT!

Don

I live above the 49th, and I have my grill blocked with a winter front as soon as temps are below freezing. By their design, unless they are "working", diesels do not create much heat. It's normal. My Megacab is a cold blooded beast in really cold temps.

This is weird. My 6.0 don't take but just a few minutes to start blowing warm air and it is deleted. My Cummins on the other hand takes miles if I just start it and go.

My 6.0 service truck warms as fast as the Tundra I drive around town when at work.

My diesel F350 was a Wyoming truck that I bought in Idaho. The truck had a canvas radiator cover that snapped onto the grille and the 110vac block heater plug was sticking out of the grille when I bought it.

winter front

Or google arctic front ,the best also cover lower radiators

My 2005 PSD fakes around 10 miles to get to temp when it is cold outside and engine will usually run around 185°. I had a new oil and egr cooler installed this year. I also have my number four Uplifter switch hooked up toy high idle. Once I start the truck I let it idle for a minute and then switch the high idle on to warm up the truck. Works great and only takes twenty minutes to do this mod.

I use one of those big tupperware lids (the really big ones from walmart), then trimmed it to fit in front of the radiator on my Dodge. $7, works good, and a whole lot cheaper than a winter cover.

Blankets are popular around here but I don't run one. I believe the new Rams come with one with the winter option. And yes took the truck out today with DW and about 3 minutes after leaving she ask if the heater was broken :E Takes at least 15 minutes for a hint of heat in the cab at 20F. Longer if I'm not plugged in and don't run the EB.