I am planning to buy a 2003 Excursion 7.3l next year. I will also be moving to Fairbanks, AK. (for school) What should i do to it so i can start it in the extreme temperatures there?

 

Alaskan X will have ALL your answers.

I'm sure he will chime in here on this.

 

I used to live where you're going.

Must haves: Block Heater, oil pan heater, battery blankets. Most shops install all these things for anywhere from $300-500. You need a winter front which can be had from a canvas/tarp shop (the black bra looking thing that covers your grille). I also had a transmission pan heater though most people don't.

Also change the ratio of your anti-freeze to 60/40 or even 70/30 (whatever is recommended on the bottle for down to -50 degrees F).

Your power steering hoses hang into the lower left opening of your grille and are unprotected. They will survive a couple winters and eventually leak. I didn't replace mine but I took them to an aircraft repair shop and had them press aircraft grade hydraulic hose into the original fittings. Worked like a charm.

A REALLY nice thing to have is a remote start.

Welcome to Alaska,
Stew

 

best advise you can get!!!


second, sorry for having to move there :-p

 

Alright thanks for the advice! Alaska ex- it seems you don't like fairbanks?!?!

 

naw its a fine place, just uber coooooold in the winter and small compared to anchorage. also the roads are set-up weird..huge clover leafs and very small turn lanes. i have been a few times, last summer i went up an hung out for a few days. was a great road trip! good place to visit not so much fun to live but thats my humble opinion.




goodluck with school! def invest in oil pan / trans pan and battery heaters. everything mentioned will make winter much more livable.