Coldest you've started without plugging in?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 710
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Coldest you've started without plugging in?
Did a bunch of maintenance on the old girl this summer, including new GPs, valve cover gaskets, GPR, and GPR LED mod.. Since I've owned the truck (2010) I always had to plug it in for an hour or so for it to start below freezing. Today was the first real "cold" day (WI/IL boarder) at 22* and I was delighted that the truck started without plugging in! I let it cycle the GPR fully, and it wasn't happy for a few seconds after it fired, but it started. 
Whats the coldest you've started your 7.3 without some 120v love?
Whats the coldest you've started your 7.3 without some 120v love?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,704
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From: SE Florida
-35°F. Yes, that's below zero.
It was a 1998 7.3L van, in 1998. I was on a cold weather development trip in Yellowknife, NWT, CA. A bunch of us took the van out for the evening. When we came back to the hotel about 11pm all of the outlets (and there were a lot of outlets) were taken. At 7:30 the next morning I let glow plugs cycle, and then it started. To say it was unhappy was a major understatement, but it ran.
It was a 1998 7.3L van, in 1998. I was on a cold weather development trip in Yellowknife, NWT, CA. A bunch of us took the van out for the evening. When we came back to the hotel about 11pm all of the outlets (and there were a lot of outlets) were taken. At 7:30 the next morning I let glow plugs cycle, and then it started. To say it was unhappy was a major understatement, but it ran.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I would say it was about 25 degrees first thing in the morning, but we live in GA so that is not common. Most often in the winter the morning temperatures are in the 40's.
The only time I have had the truck plugged in was when I was working on it last winter and was checking to make sure the heater worked.
The only time I have had the truck plugged in was when I was working on it last winter and was checking to make sure the heater worked.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
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-35°F. Yes, that's below zero.
It was a 1998 7.3L van, in 1998. I was on a cold weather development trip in Yellowknife, NWT, CA. A bunch of us took the van out for the evening. When we came back to the hotel about 11pm all of the outlets (and there were a lot of outlets) were taken. At 7:30 the next morning I let glow plugs cycle, and then it started. To say it was unhappy was a major understatement, but it ran.
It was a 1998 7.3L van, in 1998. I was on a cold weather development trip in Yellowknife, NWT, CA. A bunch of us took the van out for the evening. When we came back to the hotel about 11pm all of the outlets (and there were a lot of outlets) were taken. At 7:30 the next morning I let glow plugs cycle, and then it started. To say it was unhappy was a major understatement, but it ran.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
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wow, my WTS light only stays on maybe 20 seconds when its really cold out, no way it would ever start below 32* just going off that. The GPR LED showed me how much longer the GPR stays energized after the WTS goes off, made a huge difference. I used to cycle the key 5 or 6 times to get it started even at 35* just using thew WTS.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Melbourne, Ky
I've started my 97 (when I owned it) at temps below 0 without any AC help. Normally, I plug them into a timer to turn the power on a couple hours before I leave in the morning. It makes the warm-up time much smaller, and I can defrost the windshield in less time.
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Cargo Master
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-37 at my house UNPLUGGED on new years of 2015 when our water and well head froze from the wind, I have always counted to 10 after the WTS goes off, never had an issue, glow plugs are 6 years old and around 115k miles. I had to go buy a few jugs of water that morning.
It was 8 the other morning after sitting for an entire week, after going below say 25 degrees it sounds all the same. The majority of the time they both get plugged in for a 2 hour timer from 0300-0500
-20to -40 for 2 months straight in Tioga ND, PLUGGED
It was 8 the other morning after sitting for an entire week, after going below say 25 degrees it sounds all the same. The majority of the time they both get plugged in for a 2 hour timer from 0300-0500
-20to -40 for 2 months straight in Tioga ND, PLUGGED
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
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From: Bend Oregon
-25F. WTS Light only. No multiple
cycles. The only time I have waited completely through the GP cycle
to start my truck was when my batteries were shot and I didn't have enough amperage to crank and run the Glowplugs. Quick trip to Costco fixed that issue.
cycles. The only time I have waited completely through the GP cycle
to start my truck was when my batteries were shot and I didn't have enough amperage to crank and run the Glowplugs. Quick trip to Costco fixed that issue.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Vancouver
The obvious disadvantage to starting w/o heater is research over the years that shows most engine wear happens when the engine is cold. So for those who baby their vehicle, plugging in on a timer for even 1 hour before starting, makes a lot of sense. That said, it is amazing that HUEI engines will start at such a low temp!
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Elder User
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wow, very surprised to see people able to start on just WTS lights in sub-zero temps. I normally have mine plugged on a timer to kick on an hour before I leave, wasn't expecting sub-30 temps. It is nice to have it warm in the cab faster.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Michigan Upper Peninsula
For me -14 deg F. Lots of smoke out of the exhaust and loud banging injectors.
When it's plugged in though, it sure starts different. After 15 minutes or so running with it still plugged in, she's ready to go with the windshield clear. Only problem with that is I've driven away with the cord still plugged in more than once.
When it's plugged in though, it sure starts different. After 15 minutes or so running with it still plugged in, she's ready to go with the windshield clear. Only problem with that is I've driven away with the cord still plugged in more than once.
!