Cold starting without block heater
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,339
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
Cold starting without block heater
I'm looking into buying a IDI to bring back to Iowa with me next year, but I just realized I may have a problem.
The parking lot that I'll be parking in is well away from any building, and as such there is no place to plug a block heater in. If it's the middle of winter and its ~5 degrees outside, would I be able to start the beast up completely cold?
Thanks
Jameson
The parking lot that I'll be parking in is well away from any building, and as such there is no place to plug a block heater in. If it's the middle of winter and its ~5 degrees outside, would I be able to start the beast up completely cold?
Thanks
Jameson
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 75
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I work in construction so there is never a place to plug my truck in, I have always been fine even this winter which was particularly cold. If it is really cold like not above 5 during the day I start my truck at lunch and let it idle for 10 mins or so.
Just make sure every piece of your starting system is in perfect shape before winter and you'll be fine.
Just make sure every piece of your starting system is in perfect shape before winter and you'll be fine.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
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I have never done it but my plan would to be putting a small inverter generator that is whisper quite in my metal tool box with a small inlet air holes in it ands the exhaust piped out. Extension cord to generator ands start it 4 hours before you go and never worry about no electricity, just have to carry gas and maintain the generator so it starts
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Lost In a Pit of Despair
If I cycle the glow plugs 2-3 times, would that be enough? I know the rest of the block would be cold, but I imagine after that many cycles the cylinder head and pre-ignition chamber would be pretty toasty
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
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I couldn't tell you, but I'm in lyon county iowa and on some tractors we USED to have we could use the pre heater till the batteries were done and it wouldn't start. We solved it by ratchet strapping a small 2 cycle generator with auto idle to the hoods and didn't even need extension cords to plug it in, looked a little tacky but worked, generator just idled when not plugged in all day and night.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: west plains spokane,wa
Started my PSD several mornings at -10 without plugging it in. Sounds bad but started OK. Synthetic oil really helps too.
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i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
cycling the glow plugs does nothing. get in the truck, turn the key to run. depress fuel pedal to the floor. when the wait to start light goes out, turn the key to start.
the only time my 88 did not start was when the glow plugs died at around 200,000 and 410,000 miles.
it has started rite up at 10 below with no problems. i have never plugged it in except for the 3 or 4 weeks i ran it with the bad glow plugs.
the only time my 88 did not start was when the glow plugs died at around 200,000 and 410,000 miles.
it has started rite up at 10 below with no problems. i have never plugged it in except for the 3 or 4 weeks i ran it with the bad glow plugs.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2011
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I have heard though never looked into seeing if it was true, that holding the pedal halfway down when wts and cranking helps more then flooring it. Not sure if that's an old wives tale or true but that is what I do in my IDI.
Again to op if your starting system is all good you won't need the heater for starting at the end of the day.
Again to op if your starting system is all good you won't need the heater for starting at the end of the day.
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