My son got us tickets for the Packers game next Sunday (early Christmas present) and we may take the truck from Des Moines. Knowing what the weather may be like and that the truck would be sitting outside for a couple days, should I be worried if it's not plugged in??

My first NFL game in person and we're all big Packer fans- good seats behind the Packers bench between the 30-40 yard line!!! Can't wait!! (and after how badly they played today they will hopefully be fired up...)

 

Cold weather Starting procedure: The 6.4L PSD has a new high pressure fuel system therefore the 6.4L PSD will start at much lower temperatures than the previous 6.0L and the 7.3 PSD's. To ensure proper bearing lubrication in ambient temperatures below -10F (-23C) it is imperative that the block heater be used for 3 hours before starting a cold soaked 6.4L PSD. Light oil would also help the lubrication concern in a cold soaked 6.4L PSD. CJ-4 oil in 5W-40 weight would be a winner.

If you start the 6.4 PSD cold soaked engine below -10F (-23C), ensure you idle for at least 30 seconds before applying power to move. Job 2 trucks and Job 1 that have been re-flashed will also display "engine warming" in the message center when the temperature is below -10F (-23C) and engine is cold soaked. Obey the warning on the message display if you see it. It should go out in 30 seconds or sooner. Older job 1 Owners Manual states 15 second idle but the job 2 trucks owners manual have been changed to using 30 seconds for warm-up.

Don't be too concerned with the cold weather operation. Just use the data above and your common sense. These trucks are doing well in colder Canada. Enjoy the trip and the game. We have to be content with hockey in Canada at this time of the year.

 

in other words, if it strts, wait a minute and drive it.

 

Exactly.
The quicker (within reason) it comes up to operating temp the better for the engines longevity.
All the high mile rig trucks have been using this method forever.

 

oltrucker

I would also start the cold soaked engine, wait for 30 seconds and the warming light, if illuminated to go out, then drive. The important to remember in doing this procedure is to ensure your oil viscosity is the weight recommended for the outside temperature. You will need lubrication on cold temperature starting. Using a block heater for 3 hours if it is below -23F.

The 6.4 L PSD uses oil viscosities that have different temperature range than the 6.0 PSD. Review your owners manual for the 6.4 oil weights and temperature spread. I am waiting for the Ford Motorcraft 5W 40 CJ-4 as this oil will take you from very cold temperatures to 100F. Also remember you must use 15W-40 or 5W-40 CJ-4 oil if you are towing, snowplowing etc. In Canada some Ford dealers are putting in 10W-30 CJ-4 oil but you cannot tow with it. Motorcraft 5W-40 is suppose to be available in Canada by end of January as I will be towing next month.

 

get brid of the stupid dino oil and go for synthetic lubes. the stuff flows as soon as the engiine turns over and glings to the inside of the engine so its there when it starts again. run the heater below 23,,hell i dont run the heater at _23 and have do problems as long as the batterys are healthy. same with my harley tc-88, cranks rite over and starts at -10! my friends still using the ded dino crap cant even get their harleys to turn over. and i keep my bike outside under a tarp. my old 2 cyl JD diesel tracers spin right over and with a small wiff of starting fluid fire rite off. they wouldnt even turn over with the straight 30w. synthetic oil is the answer.

 

In late December, my 2007 6.0L started after sitting outside three days. It was -20 degrees. When I finally started it, it was about -5 degrees. I have no block heater. Still running 15W40. When it started, and it was cold blooded, it chugged real slow. The Scan Gauge said the coolant temperature was -17. That engine was coooold.