For 2014/2015 Eco-diesel Owners
Looks like FCA/Ram is stepping up and will be giving out FREE Front Winter Covers for trucks in cold weather areas 30* or less. CLICK LINK Don
Forum Discussion
ktmrfs wrote:hvac wrote:
Took delivery of our Ed in Maryland and no front cover. We live in Michigan. From what I have read guys are going w/o cover and plug fine??
Upfront shakedown tow was an incredible experience. So relaxed, no screaming downshifts on long grades. The air suspension is a huge advantage. All around night and day in performance from our 2008 F150. AVG just under 17mpg and she only has 1500 miles. Big trip starts in December and end in April. Time will tell how she holds up.
don't know about your rig, but our duramax has been in temps well below 0F, several times sitting outside unplugges for several days near -30F and never needed the block heater or front cover. IMHO the only use I had for the block heater was to get heat to the cab quicker. Starting at -30F w/o the block heater was not an issue. once glow plug light was off, a few seconds cranking and it fired up every time.
And w/o the cover, it did take longer to warm up but that's about it. Once warmed up it was fine in town or on the highway.
IMHO the WORST situation we run into is firing it up cold coming back from skiing and then going downhill for 10-15 miles. no load=LONG warmup on a diesel. I put it in tow/haul to get some more load on the engine and keep it in a lower gear, that helps some.
that's one case where the cover might have helped.
Bingo! Been there done that. Even in -30/-40 weather newer diesels will heat up ok as long as there's some load on them.
I've froze my arse coming down from the Eisenhower tunnel westbound many times pulling the sled trailer. Started remembering to crank the cab heat on the way up so I wasn't cold by Silverthorne.
A cover is nice and will help heat quicker. And yes the newer rigs will start at frigid temps but I plug in once it's lower than the teens usually to help the cold starts.
