Cold starts BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 14, 2013 | 05:31 PM

groho

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

Cold starts BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Holy crap its cold out west. Was up in tahoe skiing this weekend, dropped to -11 (neg) over the weekend. Knew it was gonna get cold so I brought the extension cord to plug in block heater at the hotel. Sorry, no exterior outlets...oh crap! The good news, the truck started in the morning, thank good for good batteries, but it was kickin and screaming (I would be too). After it got passed the first couple of min's, it was fine. My question, what do you cold weather guys do when you don't have access to an outlet to plug in the block heater? I don't deal with it often, but when I do its usually real cold with altitude (6K feet +).

Jan 14, 2013 | 07:55 PM

madsonp

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 2,813

Likes: 147

From: Billings, Montana

Quote:

Originally Posted by groho

Well, what us cold weather guys do is make sure we have good batteries in our rigs, and when it gets below -30, and we don't have an outlet to plug into, we pretty much just pray

Jan 14, 2013 | 10:17 PM

kawcrasher

Elder User

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 765

Likes: 1

From: Eastern Ohio

I carry a Honda UE1000 generator when heading to the BFE in the cold. Small, light and has 12 volt battery charging outlets. It's even saved my butt a few times in the summer.

Jan 14, 2013 | 10:35 PM

madsonp

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 2,813

Likes: 147

From: Billings, Montana

What I get a kick out of, is when people from Arizona come up here, and think we all drive electric cars because we all have plugs hanging out of them.

Jan 15, 2013 | 06:11 AM

JohnnyThunder

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 352

Likes: 0

From: Moose Jaw Saskatchewan

I usually only plug in when the temps get down to -30c (-22f). Even my old 94 Explorer starts fine at those temps. Leave them idle for abt 2 minutes then drive off slowly accelerating as they heat up faster driving than setting.

Jan 15, 2013 | 06:59 AM

bbender85

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 4,859

Likes: 55

From: Middleville, MI

Quote:

Originally Posted by madsonp

What I get a kick out of, is when people from Arizona come up here, and think we all drive electric cars because we all have plugs hanging out of them.

i was at mcdonalds the other day and was laughing to myself at the people sitting behind me trying to figure out why there was an extension cord hanging out of the truck parked by the window.

5w40 or 10w30 oil (which is debatable on here haha), good batteries, and an upgraded FICM are your best defense.

Jan 15, 2013 | 07:02 AM

sammy77

Postmaster

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 4,202

Likes: 1

From: Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyThunder

Same here, I rarely plug in. Only do it when I'm up north snowmobiling and the truck sits all week. It has started in -30F without an issue. Lots of Diesel Kleen and 5w-40