your winterizing routine!
Thread Starter
|
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
your winterizing routine!
Well i went out to check somethings, even though our winters are mild, el nina is supposed to make a party this winter, should be fun.
coolant, check
electrical, check
fuel filter, check
oil change, check
air filter, check
batteries, check
cables, check
battery terminals, ummm ****
they were overnight seemingly trashed. wtf? i went to lordco and bought four new ones and installed. Oh my god, what a difference! charging is solid as ever, ignition is instant, it was fading a bit and sometimes sounding sluggish. ALL GONE!! so check your rig before it is problem and you are on your back in the snow wondering what is wrong! cheers fellas!
coolant, check
electrical, check
fuel filter, check
oil change, check
air filter, check
batteries, check
cables, check
battery terminals, ummm ****
they were overnight seemingly trashed. wtf? i went to lordco and bought four new ones and installed. Oh my god, what a difference! charging is solid as ever, ignition is instant, it was fading a bit and sometimes sounding sluggish. ALL GONE!! so check your rig before it is problem and you are on your back in the snow wondering what is wrong! cheers fellas!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
hehe, Lordco is my favorite too.
My winter check?
*looks outside*
Yup, the truck's still there.
*goes back in*
I suspect I might have one weaker glow plug that I have to look at, but it still is running within the first full turn on coldstart.
Crawl under and check for any bare patches in the undercoating and make note of where the oil in the body is leaching out.
I greased the front end today, and I can already notice an improvement in the tracking.
Also have to take off the fan hehe.
I tend to look for changes and listen to the truck everytime I use it and make changes regardless of the season. I finally got around to replacing the throttle cable after it jambed on me AGAIN when coming home one night.
My winter check?
*looks outside*
Yup, the truck's still there.
*goes back in*
I suspect I might have one weaker glow plug that I have to look at, but it still is running within the first full turn on coldstart.
Crawl under and check for any bare patches in the undercoating and make note of where the oil in the body is leaching out.
I greased the front end today, and I can already notice an improvement in the tracking.
Also have to take off the fan hehe.
I tend to look for changes and listen to the truck everytime I use it and make changes regardless of the season. I finally got around to replacing the throttle cable after it jambed on me AGAIN when coming home one night.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 950
Likes: 2
From: West Bend
That's awesome! I like it. This is the winter for my truck to renew friends faith in diesels around me. They all say it'll never start. 30°F in the morning and not even close to making me think it's near needing to be plugged in. With working GP's, new injectors, and new IP with working high idle and internal advance she starts like a dream. I figure I should be go to 0°F or so before I have to plug it in. 
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,802
Likes: 1
coolant - no puddles under truck, so it must be still in here
electrical - I flip switches, engine runs, must be good then
fuel filters - you kiddin me, that primary is over $30!!!
oil change - not due any time soon
air filter - fairly clean
batteries - 3 or 4 years old, will pull through this winter too
cables - firmly attached on bothy ends
battery terminals - bolted down good, and spray-painted
In all honesty tho, I noticed that lately my truck's being a bit slow to start, plugs are good and stay on for like 15 seconds, so it's either starter or batteries, likely the batteries... But I got a block heater and electric hookup at any house I may visit, and while I'm on the road I simply never shut down, I may be taking a 2-hour nap and she'll still be idling
electrical - I flip switches, engine runs, must be good then
fuel filters - you kiddin me, that primary is over $30!!!
oil change - not due any time soon
air filter - fairly clean
batteries - 3 or 4 years old, will pull through this winter too
cables - firmly attached on bothy ends
battery terminals - bolted down good, and spray-painted
In all honesty tho, I noticed that lately my truck's being a bit slow to start, plugs are good and stay on for like 15 seconds, so it's either starter or batteries, likely the batteries... But I got a block heater and electric hookup at any house I may visit, and while I'm on the road I simply never shut down, I may be taking a 2-hour nap and she'll still be idling
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i thought you broke out the t shirts with sleeves to wear in the winter??
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
I just switched oil to a 10w-30 synthetic from dyno oil. I am gonna change the oil and filter again this weekend and go to 5w-30 for the rest of the winter. I flushed and refilled the coolant system with Fleet Guard (70% mix). I had new ip, injectors and return line kit installed over the summer as well as all new GP system (GP's, contoller). I live in MI now and I do not want to be on my back in this kind of cold.
My truck was bought in MS and therefore has no block heater on it. I have been worried as to what to do about that. I am pretty sure my truck would start without one even if it was 10 degrees outside but i was worried about oil not circulating and causing engine damage because of that. I bought one of these the other day at carquest:
Kat's 1153 MAGNETIC BLOCK HEATER 200 watts: eBay Motors (item 250578651132 end time Nov-07-10 16:55:42 PST)
It is magnetic and I just stick it on my oil pan when I get home at night. It has been in the low 30's every night this week here in MI. My truck has been starting like it was a warm summer day with this little gadget. Surprising how well this thing works.
My truck was bought in MS and therefore has no block heater on it. I have been worried as to what to do about that. I am pretty sure my truck would start without one even if it was 10 degrees outside but i was worried about oil not circulating and causing engine damage because of that. I bought one of these the other day at carquest:
Kat's 1153 MAGNETIC BLOCK HEATER 200 watts: eBay Motors (item 250578651132 end time Nov-07-10 16:55:42 PST)
It is magnetic and I just stick it on my oil pan when I get home at night. It has been in the low 30's every night this week here in MI. My truck has been starting like it was a warm summer day with this little gadget. Surprising how well this thing works.
Trending Topics
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
to winterize my trucks, i take the street tires off and put aggressive tread mud and snow tires on.
then i fill the windshield washer fluid bottles with non freezing fluid, and put the snow plows on.
then i fill the windshield washer fluid bottles with non freezing fluid, and put the snow plows on.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
This is gonna be a long winter......
No 4x4 for having fun and not getting stuck......
No more diesels to go outside 2 hours before leaving to plug it in, or let warm up for 15+ minutes. lol
No 4x4 for having fun and not getting stuck......
No more diesels to go outside 2 hours before leaving to plug it in, or let warm up for 15+ minutes. lol
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 2
From: Michigan
you get used to the no 4x4 thing after a while lol