Hate to do it but another cold start thread
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 2
From: Eads, TN
I want the truck to be around for a long time. It has very low miles for an 01 and would like to see 10 years or so out of it. should be around 200,000 and some change at that point and still going strong with routine maintenance. but I do have a timer and will program it for a few hours every morning when in the teens then. I will be carpooling, it may not be drove for 5 days every other week. should I take it for a drive in the middle of that 5 day period?
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
It has been bitter cold here in Western MD the past few days. Mid 20s to low 30s during the day, teens at night and 25-40 mph wind. You're probably fairly close to me. It seems like you may have some weak batteries and/or alternator on your hands. You say your voltage dropped to 9 while cranking? It obviously still started, but could've contributed to the slow nature of the start. I had a similar situation with my Excursion last year. Had to plug it in every night for it to start, otherwise it acted as if the batteries were too weak, and sometimes it would be completely dead. I ended up with a new alternator & problem solved. This was with 2 brand new Interstates installed prior to the problem arising. I think your GP's are working just fine. Are you getting a lot of white smoke?
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
I agree. It's not going to hurt the truck but it will give you a higher bill and that heating element is going to have 4-5x more hours on it thus affecting its life expectancy.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I used to leave mine plugged in overnight... until it crapped out. These things have a life span, based on hours of use. It's possible the PO had it plugged in all winter long for ten years and I got the leftovers, or maybe that's not the case. I use a timer now.
White smoke while plugged in? Synthetic oil seriously helps. If the truck sometimes doesn't start, do it sooner, rather than later. If it's just smoky, but starts fine... feel free to try to save a few bucks by staying with the dead dinos until you drive 4000 miles more. Just remember to coordinate your oil changes to synthetic near the cold and flu season. I use synth all year - changing back and forth would effect my tuning, plus synth has better shear resistance.
White smoke while plugged in? Synthetic oil seriously helps. If the truck sometimes doesn't start, do it sooner, rather than later. If it's just smoky, but starts fine... feel free to try to save a few bucks by staying with the dead dinos until you drive 4000 miles more. Just remember to coordinate your oil changes to synthetic near the cold and flu season. I use synth all year - changing back and forth would effect my tuning, plus synth has better shear resistance.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, MD
Nope. I wouldn't say its putting off a a lot of white smoke. I might pick up one of those voltage meters that plugs into the cigarette lighters so I can keep an eye on the voltage. It did appear to drop to about 9.5v for a second. Do you think an auto zone/ advanced auto etc can adequately run the diagnostic to see if the batteries and alternator are functioning properly? And if I do need batteries how do you guys feel about the die hard platinum. They looked pretty nice with a high CCA but they didn't specify at what temperature. A lot of people liked them on the forums
It's hard to say whether you can trust one of those stores to adequately test the batteries or alternator. Do you have a shop in your area dedicated to alternators/starters only? Here in Hagerstown we have a company called Alternator Starter Rebuilders that we use to handle all our needs.
I have a very different situation, we have a fleet of these trucks and when my problem came to a head (lost all electronics on the interstate) I simply switched the alternator with a known good one and problem solved. Then picked up a new one from ASR.
I actually just bought 2 new DieHard Platinums about 2 months ago. They crank stronger then any I've ever had, and seem very nice but if I had to do it again I'd probably go back to Interstate. The Platinums are just too expensive, I think I paid almost $400. I bought solely based on recommendations from FTE.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
I wouldn't think so. Lots of construction vehicles do it during the work day. I think I read somewhere that every hour of idling is equivalent to 25 miles of driving in regards to service intervals. I'm sure someone else with more knowledge then me could verify that or possibly give you more accurate numbers.
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 5
From: Plumsteadville PA
Really? That low? I thought around 10.5 and above otherwise the computer stuff won't function properly in the starting process. Obviously there are exceptions because mine did get down into the 9's for a moment and it did still eventually start.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
Likes: 25
From: Damon (South East Texas)
Extended idling causes "wet stacking". When the EGTs drop too low fuel droplets form on the cylinder walls and dilute the lubrication qualities of the oil. Raising the idle speed to keep the EGTs at 300* and up will reduce/prevent wet stacking. Usually, 1100-1200 rpms is sufficient to maintain this temperature, but also depends on your ambient temperature.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 1
i went thru this cold starting problem about 2-3 years ago
and, after having the glow plugs replaced
finally solved the problem with a new GPR!!
it was 10F the other day
and i forgot to glug in the block heater
but, it did start, it groaned a little, but did start!!
i did have to cycle it twice for it to catch.
i always wait for the start engine lite to go out
and then wait for the little 'click' for the GFR to kick off
before i start and this usually works great.
With the new GPR and plugging in the heater block
(i plug it in after work in the evening and leave it on till morning!!
have done this for 10 years)
it usually start right up.
if it gets below zero
i park it in the back garage which usually maintains ~ 30F
and plug it in,
manly so i don't have to clean the frost off the windshield
oh, i use diesel additive if gets below freezing too
thanks
dave
and, after having the glow plugs replaced
finally solved the problem with a new GPR!!
it was 10F the other day
and i forgot to glug in the block heater
but, it did start, it groaned a little, but did start!!
i did have to cycle it twice for it to catch.
i always wait for the start engine lite to go out
and then wait for the little 'click' for the GFR to kick off
before i start and this usually works great.
With the new GPR and plugging in the heater block
(i plug it in after work in the evening and leave it on till morning!!
have done this for 10 years)
it usually start right up.
if it gets below zero
i park it in the back garage which usually maintains ~ 30F
and plug it in,
manly so i don't have to clean the frost off the windshield
oh, i use diesel additive if gets below freezing too
thanks
dave
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I like to plug in on cold mornings because the heater and defroster kick in much faster. I crank and drive - I don't wait for warmup and the first part of my drive is very gentle on the engine (all downhill for the first part from work and from home).
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, MD
Hey kefrko, did you ever get anything figured out?
I always let my truck warm up until the water temp needle starts to move, at least. We've done this with every diesel truck we've ever had, dozens of them. Our injection system is oil powered. I know my blood circulates poorly when it's 15* outside, so why wouldn't it be the same with our oil? I know I'm probably a little off, but makes me and my buns feel better when I hop in the truck on those cold mornings...
I always let my truck warm up until the water temp needle starts to move, at least. We've done this with every diesel truck we've ever had, dozens of them. Our injection system is oil powered. I know my blood circulates poorly when it's 15* outside, so why wouldn't it be the same with our oil? I know I'm probably a little off, but makes me and my buns feel better when I hop in the truck on those cold mornings...