Anybody use an Espar/Webasto block heater? ZeroStart made a propane version. Know where a used one can be had for 200 buck more'r less? Thanks

 

i'm trying to find one now cause my pig wont start in 40* its pittiful...

 

webasto is a proven unit which has been used on over the road trucks for years & should work well.

 

You might start by fixing the glow plug system. It should easily start at 40°F. I've started mine in the low teens (unpluged) without issue, though I'd normally plug it in below freezing. Unless you frequently need to start away from an outlet and/or in really really cold weather working glow plugs and the stock block heater seem quite sufficent. Even working glow plugs without the blockheater is sufficent for any temp's my truck has seen.

 

gp system is all new gpr to 8 new gp's new batteries too (international neverstart 444e) dont mind me just getting frustraited...

 

Is this a standard IDI we are talking about? I know a lower compression engine can be harder to start cold, but the IDI's should fire right up with good glow plugs.

Also, what weight oil are you running? I imagine a really thick oil could slow things up enough to be a problem. I run 5w-40 Rotella synthetic stuff.

good luck

 

its a 99 f-350 powerstroke its got 5w-40 rotella new batteries and it was about 39 degrees out today wouldnt start had to drag it out of the snow and slush with a chain and my fathers tractor its plugged in in front of the shop now... just pitiful...

 

Oh I see. I've not owned a PSD, but I know some folks with them that also have trouble in the cooler weather, yet I know others that seem to do just fine. I'd ask about it upstairs (i.e. in the psd section of the forum).

 

There must be something wrong with your truck. Maybe a bad CPS sensor. Truck wont start at all if it goes bad. How many miles on this truck. Let us know if it starts after you have it plugged in.

 

yeah i was origonally just posting about the diesel fired coolant heater just thought i'd vent some of my fustration about my psd while i was here but yeah it starts if its plugged in has a slight misfire... for about 30 minutes but when i'm nyc in my apt and at work plugging in is not an option when i'm home in upstate ny the temps get pretty extreme not unusual for -0 temps in jan feb and like i said no start today in 40 deg temp

 

I got 8 Dualcoil plugs from ebay (had to change the harness ends to female spade clips), put a new starter in too. Starts much easier now, I fire the plugs for 25 seconds on a manual switch, the new starter spins it like a gasser and Vroom! No more crossed fingers at -20F. I also got a propane fired block heater from ebay but I have not installed it yet, likely once it warms up. Also thinking of following Zigg's homemade propane inject now that I'll have another reason to carry a gas bottle.

 

Hey I work with webasto fuel fired coolent heater's (FFC) and the the cats meow,but I i've used them on bigger engines(Cat's and Detriot's) the only thing you have to look out for is the FFC will kill your batteries if you let it run to long without the truck running!!

 

Europeans all have these things, and for the most part they don't need them. I had a 4 banger diesel mitsu van in Germany with one, I wish I had taken the webasto heater out of it when I sold it. A bit of laziness prevented me, kicking myself now. It generated 5K watts and had its own 12V coolant pump, timer, and now they come with a remote. At 20 degrees it got that 4 cyl up to operating temp within 20 minutes. They sell here for $1500 where you can get them.