Cranking Diesels in Cold Weather (w/o heater)

texican · #1 12/02/07, 09:19 AM

I've got a 97 Ford 7.3L diesel. It was bought in the south, and it doesn't have one of the heater blocks (120 ac) like most northern diesels do. I rarely have problems down here in Texas, as it doesn't get down to freezing that often. When it does get cold, I have to fiddle a few minutes with the glow plugs, turning the switch on and off, to get her cranked.

Last winter, I made a trip to the Philly area, and on the way home, I had a couple of interesting mornings when the temp was in the teens... it took forever to crank.

What can a fella do, when you're in the bitter cold, and there's either no heater block installed, or no ac for the heater block?

If this had happened up in elk camp in the Rockies, I'd'a probably got a camp stove and fired it up under the engine for a while.

unioncreek · #2 12/02/07, 10:36 AM

You could go buy a magnetic block heater. I've seen them used on quite a few tractors when the block heater that was install wasn't enough to warm them up.

On my Dodge it will start down to bout 0, but I usually plug it in when it gets below 30 for a couple of hours. Sure saves on the starter and batteries.

Bobg

agmantoo · #3 12/02/07, 10:40 AM

I CAREFULLY take a small propane torch and heat the intake manifold under these conditions. If you are careful the torch will not even scorch the paint on the intake (provided it is painted). Use this at your own risk!

bumpus · #4 12/02/07, 11:03 AM

.
You can buy a heated dip stick that keeps the oil warm so it does not drag down on the motor.

Do not touch the fuel pedal and if you have glow plugs turn the key on, and of when it shows to start and do NOT crank, and turn it off for a couple of seconds, and turn the key back on and when it is time to crank, only turn it over about two revolutions with out giving it any fuel with the peddle, and do not try to start it.

This will heat up the air and diesel fuel in the cylinders. Turn the key off again and wait a few seconds and turn key on, and this time give the peddle a slight pressure for a slight increase of fuel and crank to see if it will start.

if it start increast RPM above Idle a little and hold it there for a minuite until it runs freely and smother.

If it does not start do it all over again.

Heating fuel and air is the secret.

Cold fuel and cold air will not fire under compression until it gets warm.

bumpus
.

JV · #5 12/02/07, 10:02 PM

I have the same exact truck. Great vehicle. The key is not to go by the "wait to start" light. Turn the key, wait 45 seconds, and then try to start it.
It will start fine down to 0 degrees. It took me a couple of years before I learned this trick. When it is cold outside, the glow plug relay stays activated for about 45 seconds- for some reason the "wait to start" light never will stay on close to that long.

james dilley · #6 12/02/07, 10:18 PM

Try useing a throw-A-way Bar-b-que and Charcoal. Thats what we used for years in N E Ohio to start the Semi's...Works real good too!

texican · #7 12/02/07, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JV

I have the same exact truck. Great vehicle. The key is not to go by the "wait to start" light. Turn the key, wait 45 seconds, and then try to start it.
It will start fine down to 0 degrees. It took me a couple of years before I learned this trick. When it is cold outside, the glow plug relay stays activated for about 45 seconds- for some reason the "wait to start" light never will stay on close to that long.

Ahhh, didn't know about the 45 seconds... "assumed" the light was in sync with the glow plugs.

Next long winter trip, I'll carry my plumbers portable torch...

thanks guys...

truckdriverx72 · #8 12/03/07, 03:58 AM

Another thought- if you're gonna be in a cold climate, be sure to buy some fuel from that area. Winter blended fuel from up North is different than winter blend down south!!

Jackpine Savage · #9 12/03/07, 07:42 AM

Before you head north, change your oil, it makes a major difference. In the winter I run Rotella synthetic, 5w-40.

haypoint · #10 12/03/07, 01:20 PM

I'd stay with Ford's oil recomendations. If your glow plugs are functioning, you shouldn't be having that problem. Not uncommon for a few or all to go out. Easy for the dealer to check them.
Turn the key wait for the "wait to start" light to go out, swith the key off and then on again to restart the glow plug cycle. I've started my Ford 6.9 diesel in minus 30 without a block heater. No place to plug it in at work. Glow plugs are the key. Without them in top shape you'll be buying an expensive starter in short order.

Jim S. · #11 12/03/07, 04:11 PM

:1pig: Easy answer: never go north! :1pig:

WIPPdriver · #12 12/03/07, 10:20 PM

Texican,

This is what we used to do in the oilfield. On old mechanical fuel injection pumps had a manual kill cable. We used to keep the kill cable pulled to stop the fuel from entering the cylinders and crank the engine for about 20 seconds and then push the kill cable in and viola. The engine fired right up.

Now I know the powerstroke is electronic, so what you can do is pull the Maxi fuse 22 and crank the engine and then put the fused and it should start. Diesel engines need the cylinders to get about 800 degrees before the diesel ignites.

Hope this helps,

Marlin

Esteban29304 · #13 12/04/07, 07:19 AM

Change the oil, as stated above, to Rotella, & maybe a lighter weight if needed. Be sure that all air, fuel filters are replaced as suggested by Ford. Our diesel fuel has been " dirty " for many years. So, run some good diesel fuel additive thru the system for a couple of tanks. As stated above, leave the switch on longer when in cold weather for glow plugs to do their work. Make sure they are good, too. If all else fails,, the magnetic oil pan heater & extension cord, or inline water heater. Even a thick blanket laid over the hood after you shut it off helps to insulate. I have never had much luck with the dipstick heaters. They don't seem to heat well enough considering the large amount of motor oil a diesel has. They do work pretty good with the VW 4 cylinder diesels, though.

sammyd · #14 12/04/07, 08:07 AM

THrow a couple of 100W light bulbs in the engine compartment overnight. (plugged in and turned on of course).

michiganfarmer · #15 12/06/07, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

When it does get cold, I have to fiddle a few minutes with the glow plugs, turning the switch on and off, to get her cranked.

.

you have to crank yours? mine has a starter.

michiganfarmer · #16 12/06/07, 09:24 AM

I have a 97 for diesel. As long as the batteries are good, and I start it daily, it starts fine with the glow plugs.

michiganfarmer · #17 12/06/07, 09:29 AM

A heat lamp focused up toward the oil pan, and blankets, or something to keep the wind off the engine.

There are electric pad type heaters that can be glued to the oil pan. THere are stick type heaters that can be shoved down your dipstick tube into the oil. There are electric water heater/pumps that can be plumbed right into your heater hose that will heat the colant, and circulate it to keep the engine warm.

michiganfarmer · #18 12/06/07, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haypoint

I'd stay with Ford's oil recomendations. If your glow plugs are functioning, you shouldn't be having that problem. Not uncommon for a few or all to go out. Easy for the dealer to check them.
Turn the key wait for the "wait to start" light to go out, swith the key off and then on again to restart the glow plug cycle. I've started my Ford 6.9 diesel in minus 30 without a block heater. No place to plug it in at work. Glow plugs are the key. Without them in top shape you'll be buying an expensive starter in short order.

the 6.9 is a completely different animal.

haypoint · #19 12/07/07, 02:39 AM

Well maybe it wasn't 6.9 diesel, it was the only diesel Ford had in their pickup trucks in 1986. I believe it was made by International. The diesel in my 1997 was basicly the same engine, made by International, but with longer stroke and a turbo. I know that Ford has another diesel in their more recent trucks that is "a completely different animal", but that International V8 glow plugged diesel from the early 1980's to the new century are simular. The only trouble I had with my 1997 was bad fuel. It would jell up when the temps got way down, jelled fuel plugged the fuel filter. If I was going to put a light under the hood, I'd try to keep the fuel filter warm.

Bay Mare · #20 12/07/07, 07:23 AM

Texican,

One of the things we did with our 97 and 00 fords was to cycle the glow plugs 2 or 3 times if the temps. were below freezing. This actually gave them more cyl. temp and usually they fired right off. But good batteries are a must. Keeping the oil clean in these engines is a must as the injectors are oil pressure driven. There is a high pressure external oil pump that activates the injectors.

Truck Safely,
Tony W.