Keeping Diesel Engine Warm

[Picinisco]

My dodge dually Cummins engine is very hard to start when cold. At home or camping with hookups I can plug in the block heater but what can be done when boondocking.

[Picinisco]

What is the normal RPM of the engine that the starter achieves at startup.

[Grit_dog]

May have been mentioned already.......battery cables, grounds and connections.
Even in sunny AZ, corrosion or other compromising things can happen to battery cables. Rams as I’m sure others as well are sensitive to having proper voltage and current supply.
Yes starter could be it, but I like diagnosing from simple to complicated. Not the other way around.
Engine lights and other nuances he OP mentioned lead to this being a real possibility.

And by “slow” start, you mean cranked slow, not cranked longer than needed, but fast enough?

[Huntindog]

6 pages of suggestions... First off, your K&N may have been fine... They are not the most user friendly product. Proper maintainence with one is crucial. Too much oil, and it ends up where it shouldn't. Too little, and it passes dust.
Do it right, and it is not a problem... But.... Many people should not use them.

Back to your issue.... Do the cheap easy thing first.

Try to jump start it.... Use good thick cables

If it fires right up, then it is likely the batteries, not the starter.

[Picinisco]

srt20 wrote:
I didnt read this whole thing, but have you pulled the starter yet? Brushes are probably worn.

I am leaning in that direction.

[srt20]

I didnt read this whole thing, but have you pulled the starter yet? Brushes are probably worn.

I wouldnt plug in my 05 CTD unless it was colder than -25*F, thats below zero. Only diesel that ever failed to start for me was my old 2000 and it was -35*F and not plugged in. I had to plug it in for 2 hrs and jump it. But it had 15w-40 oil in it. All my diesels got 5w-40 after that. It ran in 3cyl mode for 45 mins, and sounded like the rods were trying to evacuate from the block.

[Picinisco]

spoon059 wrote:
You've already answered your own question. Change your dead battery and it'll likely work fine.

Changed the bad battery yesterday. Then check engine light came on. Returned code showing MAP fault. Didnt plug heater in last night. Engine light on this morning and had same slow turnover this morning. Cleaned the MAP sensor and ran the truck for about 10 miles. Engine light went out. Will try again in the morning without the block heater. Since MAP sensor sends info to the computer to allow it to determine airflow thus determining amount of fuel to deliver, hoping normal starting will ensue.

Turnover during starting is hovering near 200 rpm. My understanding is the engine needs to be at 200 or above to start.

[spoon059]

Picinisco wrote:
If you look at the first post, this was the question. I have a block heater, but what do others use when boondocking.

Picinisco wrote:
Battery driver side 650CCA reads 690CCA and 3.5 ohms. Passanger side 650CCA reads 190CCA and 13.5 ohms.

You've already answered your own question. Change your dead battery and it'll likely work fine.

Short of that, what suggestions do you want? If you lack electricity to keep plugged in, you are limited in options. Either only park where it is 85 degrees year round, build a fire under your engine to keep it warm, find a way to funnel solar energy (either sunlight for heat or sunlight and converter to plug in) or change your dead battery.

[fj12ryder]

I have a 2001 Cummins, and I just went out to start it yesterday to drive it to the inspection place. It's about 30° and the truck has been sitting since the end of October, with no battery tender of any sort. It turned over slow, but started after turning over maybe twice.

I didn't leave the key on to heat the intake heater because I wanted to see if it would start as good as it usually does. IMO you have other issues besides an iffy battery. Mine are cheapo batteries that I think are 650cca, definitely not more than that. And they are about 2 years old and were only about $90 each.

Yours is a newer truck, but I don't think your batteries are the main problem. My bet is still on the fuel system, i.e. injectors, lift pump, etc.

[Grit_dog]

^The answer to your first question spawned the 6 pages of why your truck isn’t running right.
The answer is you don’t need to do anything down to well below zero if the truck is operating properly. It’ll light off without a hiccup.

Or plug it in if it ain’t running right or makes you feel better, if you have a generator.

[Picinisco]

ppine wrote:
Never owned a Cummins engine, but they always seem to have block heaters on them. Living in Wyoming we learned what works. Number one diesel, synthetic oil, plug in at night. Keep your batteries up. I love diesels.

If you look at the first post, this was the question. I have a block heater, but what do others use when boondocking.

[ppine]

Never owned a Cummins engine, but they always seem to have block heaters on them. Living in Wyoming we learned what works. Number one diesel, synthetic oil, plug in at night. Keep your batteries up. I love diesels.

[Grit_dog]

ppine wrote:
Air filter should not be a problem at all.
The first thin I would check after the battery and starter, would be glow plugs. Any diesel should start easily down to around 25 degrees.

Any Ford should start easily down to around 25 degrees. Any Cummins should start easily down to about -25 deg!

[Picinisco]

memtb wrote:
Depending upon the age of the “good” battery.....you really should replace in pairs! I know it hurts the wallet a bit....I just (6 weeks ago) replaced six (6) in our 5th. wheel. All were old ....but only one “truly” bad.

Both batteries are 13 months old. And the replacement at walmart is $49. So I'm not concerned about the older battery killing the new one at that price. I will replace both before next winter with Interstate 800CCA from Costco.

[memtb]

Depending upon the age of the “good” battery.....you really should replace in pairs! I know it hurts the wallet a bit....I just (6 weeks ago) replaced six (6) in our 5th. wheel. All were old ....but only one “truly” bad.