Diesels in cold weather

[missouri_dave]

Not wanting to reignite the diesel vs gas wars but I would like to know for those that live in colder parts of the country, how does the diesel do in winter? I'm from the gulf coast and needless to say, winter isn't much of an issue here but how about somewhere north from Maine to the pacific northwest and perhaps up into Canada, any issues with the diesel jelling?

[ktmrfs]

I've had my 04 chevy LLY duramax sit outside for several days with night temps near -40F/C and daytime below -20F. No way to plug in the block heater. When I got ready to leave it Started right up in the morning at -40F. but took forever to warm up even with high idle.

I just cycled the ignition to have two shots on getting the glow plugs hot before cranking it over.

Now my 2015 Duramax, haven't tried it at -40F yet, but they turn the turbo blades for max backpressure and runs the idle speed up to around 900rpm until up to operating temps when temp is below around freezing. warms up in a few minutes at 15F or so.

the 2015 warms up so quick I have yet to use the block heater. on the 04, I always used the block heater below freezing to help with warmup if I was near a power outlet.

[memtb]

Probably one the most important things is blended fuel for the colder months ( generally transitioned by early Nov. around here), but not always. We were hunting right at Thanksgiving, bought fuel at a truck stop...one day later, the temps fell to -20 F and we promptly jelled-up. Made for a pretty miserable experience ( my first Diesel and about 3 months ownership), when your boondocking miles from anyone! Bring along some Diesel winter additives and you'll be fine. I've started my old '97 Cummins at around -23 F, without being plugged in. She started off a little rough, but was "purring" pretty quickly. Oh.... and we run synthetic oil in the crankcase!

[mich800]

Shifty_85 wrote:
I live in Michigan and my 2000 f250 sits outside. I have a timer on the block heater so it comes on 2 hours before I start my truck. **block heaters draw a lot of electricity at least older ones do** I would turn the key toward till the wait to start light is out it would fire right up and have heat almost immediately.

Older powerstrokes 2009 and older with 7.3 6.0 and 6.4 are harder to start because they use oil to fire the injectors so not pluged in they can be cranky but they normally start.

The 6.4 does not have oil fired injectors. I have had no issues starting my 2008 at temps well under zero. And that is without plugging in the heaters.

[IdaD]

I’ve had no issues starting unplugged down to about -15. The grid heater in the Cummins works really well. Truck actually comes up to temp pretty quick too and I’ve never used the radiator blanket.

Colder climates get winter blend diesel so gelling isn’t an issue.

[wilber1]

mike-s wrote:

ScottG wrote:
The only winter related problem I ever had was with a very old diesel and driving down the freeway in near zero temps. The eng didn't make enough heat to heat the cab. I was freezing to death!

Gas engines can have the same problem, which anyone who's drive an air-cooled VW knows.

True but the gas heater would keep the inside warm. Unfortunately it wasn't connected to the defrosters. Keeping ice off the windshield was the biggest problem with my old VW van in Alberta winters.

[azrving]

Nephew in Colorado plugs his 2013 in all winter long.

[SidecarFlip]

When I used to drive mine in the winter (first winter I had it, I drove it all winter, now it sleeps all winter in a heated garage, I plugged it in when I got home from work and plugged it in at work and I ran a winterfront (and still do) to keep the heat in the engine compartment. I drive it in the winter ocassionally but only when the roads are dry and not snow covered.

Mine starts good, cold weather or hot weather but I run 5-40 Rotella so it cranks easier.

[Lynnmor]

I snowmobile in Maine and use a 6.7 Ford diesel. Two in our group had older Fords with the 7.3 engines. I always use the remote start in cold weather and let the truck decide the glow plug delay. We all attempted to leave for home at the same time in 7 below temperatures. Mine started like is was July with no block heater. A 7.3 started but complained a lot with a block heater. The 7.3 with no block heater called road service.

The point is that diesels have come a long way in the last 7 or 8 years.

[Edd505]

I have owned a class 8 and multi diesel P/U's. Anti jell in weather 32 or less. Block heater plugged in when shut down in 32 or less. Let the glow plugs do their job & start. Bad batteries will kill the diesel faster than gas, they need power for glow plugs & to turn over the high compression engines. You find diesels have at least two high amp batteries.

[mike-s]

ScottG wrote:
The only winter related problem I ever had was with a very old diesel and driving down the freeway in near zero temps. The eng didn't make enough heat to heat the cab. I was freezing to death!

Gas engines can have the same problem, which anyone who's drive an air-cooled VW knows.

[ScottG]

No problems with gelling.
When it gets colder, fuel companys change the blend to keep gelling from happening.

The only winter related problem I ever had was with a very old diesel and driving down the freeway in near zero temps. The eng didn't make enough heat to heat the cab. I was freezing to death!
Newer diesels made in the last 30 years dont have that problem .

[DutchmenSport]

I've owned diesels for many years now and never had a problem with fuel jelling in Indiana winters, where sometimes, it got down to 20 below zero (F) and that was the true temperature, not wind chill. My truck did not have problems.

When temps get to zero, I'll plug in the block heater, but that does not help with the diesel fuel.

There are two types of diesel fuel, the Summer Blend and the Winter Blend. In the Northern States, the fuel companies begin mixing the diesel fuel with the winter formula, and as long as you use your fuel in the season it was bought, it's never a problem jelling.

Home heating fuel uses diesel also. I understand from my mother's fuel oil man, the difference in the winter blend for home heating is the fact they add kerosene to the fuel oil (diesel) to keep it from jelling

She has an outside oil tank at her house and it's never jelled up.

So, as long as you are using the fuel you purchase in the Northern states, you will NOT have jelling problems with diesel.

[mike-s]

When it's cold, you turn the key to "on" for a few seconds to let the glow plugs heat, then start. Then let the engine idle for a minute while putting on your seatbelt, checking the mirrors, etc. A few ounces of cetane boost with a fillup in really cold weather. It's not an issue.

[Shifty_85]

Dbl post

[Shifty_85]

I live in Michigan and my 2000 f250 sits outside. I have a timer on the block heater so it comes on 2 hours before I start my truck. **block heaters draw a lot of electricity at least older ones do** I would turn the key toward till the wait to start light is out it would fire right up and have heat almost immediately.

Older powerstrokes 2009 and older with 7.3 6.0 and 6.4 are harder to start because they use oil to fire the injectors so not pluged in they can be cranky but they normally start.