cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Diesel TV Experience in the Arctic Vortex!

TucsonJim
Explorer
Explorer
Ten days ago, we got a bad phone call here in sunny Arizona that my DW's sister was in the Ohio State University Medical Center ICU with a list of very serious health issues. So, after discussing the situation, we decided the best course of action was to drive from Arizona to Ohio in order to support the family. Her sister is still very sick and in the hospital, but is stable and no longer critical. We made the drive home, and safely arrived today.

We drove the 2013 F350 diesel TV for the trip because it has 4WD that we could use in ice and snow. Thank God we had the traction. I'm a native of Southern California and Arizona and have very little experience driving in winter weather.

When we hit Indiana, the wind was howling, and the snow started blowing across the fields and drifting onto the highway. The temperatures were in the teens, and the roads quickly became very slick. We saw many vehicles that slid off the roadway, but the Ford kept a nice solid track. By the time we got to the Ohio border, we were in white out conditions, but fortunately, we were able to find a place for the night.

Now mind you, the temperatures here in Tucson have been running around 70-80 degrees for the last six weeks. Last week in Ohio, it kept getting colder and colder. By Tuesday, it was -14F! The wind chill varied from -25 to -30. My truck does NOT have a block heater, and I was worried that the fuel would gel up and it wouldn't run. On Tuesday morning, I left the relative warmth of the hotel room and took the painful 50 yard walk to the truck. I put the key in the ignition, turned it on, and waited about 8-10 seconds for the glow plug light to extinguish. The truck fired right up and ran great. I'd treated the fuel the night before with some cetane booster and anti gel formula.

I wish it had a block heater, and there would have been a place to plug it in. It took quite a while for the temperature to rise enough to get some heat from the heater. It's okay though, I'm sure the skin grafts will heal from where my hind end was frozen to the leather seat...
2016 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4
2017 Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS
2013 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4 (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)
2014 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)
29 REPLIES 29

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Hi,

I'd find out where to look myself.

TucsonJim wrote:
I couldn't find a block heater or cord, so I asked the service manager to take a look. It wasn't installed on my truck. But he did say it was very easy to install, and he'd do it for the price of the part and waive the labor.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

TucsonJim
Explorer
Explorer
I couldn't find a block heater or cord, so I asked the service manager to take a look. It wasn't installed on my truck. But he did say it was very easy to install, and he'd do it for the price of the part and waive the labor.
2016 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4
2017 Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS
2013 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4 (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)
2014 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)

Macktee
Explorer
Explorer
Jim I also am sorry to hear about your SIL, hope all goes well.
As far as the fuel goes, any state or province that gets extreme cold will be selling winter fuel which already has the treatment in it. If you were up here in the areas that I have been working in Canada, you would definitely have needed a block heater on your engine. We had many days of minus 40 and lower. Macktee
04 Monaco Dynasty Diamond 1V ( Homer II)
2012 Ram 1500 4X4 Quad Cab towed
2013 Cargo Mate 28ft enclosed car hauler
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
2010 Club Car Golf Car

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
TusonJim, we lived through all that horrid weather here in Indiana, and the weather is STILL in the toilet, even today. Thank goodness is finally above zero, and today it actually got above 32. All that snow is now melting and it's raining, so the flooding is now starting!

About 3 weeks ago I had my diesel in for a really good tune-up at my Chevy dealer. They did everything maintenance wise, even rotated tires and washed the windshield!

When I picked up the truck from service, I asked my technician (we have become good friends over the years as he's serviced all my GM vehicles for the last 20 years), I asked him about diesel fuel and it jelling in these extreme cold temps. He told me with today's formula diesel fuel, it won't jell. I was really surprised, but I trusted him there.

Well all that snow hit, and more snow, and more snow, my diesel became my daily driver to and from work. The temps were -18 (without wind) at the house, and -14 at work in the parking lot. I never had problems with fuel jelling. Today is the first day since January 1 I drove my car again. The truck (diesel) did just fine.

Actually, when we had the truck in the shop, I asked them to disconnect the seat warmers. The driver side was broken and it heated and would not shut off. I was literally burning my (south end) ๐Ÿ˜‰ It would cost another $300 to replace the controller, and with all the other "little things" we had done, the cost was just too much at this time. My son also slammed his car into a curb and messed up his front end, we helped him pay for that little repair, so money did not afford fixing the seat heater. Personally, I don't like it. But my wife does. In the en-term while we save a few more bucks to get it fixed, my wife is using a 12 volt cigarette lighter plug in electric throw cover on her seat to heat it up. But I hate the seat heater!

mdamerell
Explorer
Explorer
Ford 6.0's came from the factor with a block heater they just did not install the power cord unless you ordered the option. Check with a Ford dealer but the block heater maybe installed and just missing the cord. When they come from the factor with the cord it is normally tied up and out of the way near the passenger side tow hook.
2012 Sundance 3100RB w/Reese Goose Box
2004 Ford F350 6.0 L PSD, CC, DRW, long bed, B&W drop ball hitch, Firestone Ride-rite air bags.

Bull_Rider
Explorer
Explorer
travelnutz wrote:
Helps to turn on the headlights for a couple minutes before cranking the engine also in extreme cold on both gas and diesel engines. Gets the battery fluid moving and even warms the battery/batteries a little.


Well, that's a new one for me. I've never heard this advice. I thought at first you were just joshing, but maybe not. Thanks for sharing.
If you receive help from other members, don't forget to update your topic with the results.

pasusan
Explorer
Explorer
Great story - I just want to recommend that you quickly wash that truck and pay lots of attention to the underneath!

Susan & Ben [2004 Roadtrek 170]
href="https://sites.google.com/view/pasusan-trips/home" target="_blank">Trip Pics

travelnutz
Explorer II
Explorer II
Had leather seats for many years in our Cadillacs etc and they suck in winter heated or not and suck even worse in summer as they are hot and stick to your legs. Only buy vehicles with premium cloth now even though it's often special order! Perfect 12 months a year in any temp or climate! Some manufacturers won't let you substitute so they lose the sale guaranteed!
A superb CC LB 4X4, GM HD Diesel, airbags, Rancho's, lots more
Lance Legend TC 11' 4", loaded including 3400 PP generator and my deluxe 2' X 7' rear porch
29 ft Carriage Carri-lite 5'er - a specially built gem
A like new '07 Sunline Solaris 26' TT

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Explorer
TucsonJim wrote:
Oh, we have heated seats, but at those temps, it still takes a while.


Do you know for sure your truck doesn't have an engine heater?

We ordered our 05 duramax in Tempe Az so I didn't think it would have the electric engine heater but it does and if you did not know where to look it would seem it wasn't on the truck.

chevman sitting in Casa Grande az
chevman
2019 rockwood 34 ft fifth wheel sold
2005 3500 2wd duramax CC dually
prodigy



KSH 55 inbed fuel tank

scanguage II
TD-EOC
Induction Overhaul Kit
TST tire monitors
FMCA # F479110

travelnutz
Explorer II
Explorer II
Have never plugged in any of the 3 GM diesel trucks we've owned. Not even when in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or in Ontario, Canada on the extremely cold winter nights when snowmobiling up there. Always started right up but when it's -20F or -30F it sure turns over slower for a second or two before it fires up. No biggie but it's obvious. The oil must get very thick even if it is 15-40 diesel engine oil. The batteries don't have as much amperage either and that's part of the difference. Helps to turn on the headlights for a couple minutes before cranking the engine also in extreme cold on both gas and diesel engines. Gets the battery fluid moving and even warms the battery/batteries a little.
A superb CC LB 4X4, GM HD Diesel, airbags, Rancho's, lots more
Lance Legend TC 11' 4", loaded including 3400 PP generator and my deluxe 2' X 7' rear porch
29 ft Carriage Carri-lite 5'er - a specially built gem
A like new '07 Sunline Solaris 26' TT

TucsonJim
Explorer
Explorer
Oh, we have heated seats, but at those temps, it still takes a while.
2016 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4
2017 Grand Design Reflection 297RSTS
2013 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel SRW 4x4 (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)
2014 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS (Destroyed by fire - 8/29/16)

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Hi,

Sometimes it is good to allow the glow plugs to cycle twice.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

crickeydog
Explorer
Explorer
Reading your post I recalled several of our winter trips over the years and I must say, I hope we never have to make such a trip like yours again. Thankfully, engine block heaters, heated steering wheels, and heated seats make such a trip more tolerable.

FWIW: We bought our first truck with heated seats in 1998 and I thought the idea at the time was a little silly not to mention expensive back then. But...we've never owned a vehicle since that didn't have heated seats.

Glad you made the trip safely.


Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)
USAF RETIRED 02/1992
DOD RETIRED 04/2014

D/W US GOV/DOJ/DEA RETIRED 10/2010

PULL DOG:
2006 GMC 3500 CC DRW D/A LBZ 4X4 SLT

2004 HOLIDAY RAMBLER PRESIDENTIAL 30' SCD 5'ER

naturist
Nomad
Nomad
I'm so sorry to hear of your wife's sister's medical issues. I am sure she'll get the best of care at OSU Medical Center. And I'm glad to hear your diesel truck fired up next morning in the frigid weather. But I'm not surprised by that.

We bought a VW Jetta diesel in 2001, and a year or so later spent Christmas at my parents about 60 miles north of Columbus. As I had been advised by wiser heads, we drove up on a full tank of southern diesel fuel, and filled up with winterized fuel and added some fuel anti-gel before shutting down for the night. Next morning it was -33, and the while the Jetta's glow plugs took longer to warm up than I was used to, it fired right up just like I was used to down south. And it has no block heater at all.

I'll wish your sister-in-law healing, and the family, peace. And tell you that your truck starting up like that was no fluke.

downtheroad
Explorer
Explorer
Good story and I'm glad it worked out for you...
Maybe next truck...heated seats. Great for those cold mornings before the heater kicks in.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."

Arctic Fox 25Y
GMC Duramax
Blue Ox SwayPro