Weather
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 29
From: Bismarck, ND
It regularly makes -30F to -40F here most winters. That's regular air temp, not this fake "wind chill" B.S. that was invented to make people feel better about "being cold". Sometimes that's also the high for the day. We don't make a thing of it. It's called "Tuesday" in ND. So we're kind of chuckling at all the fuss being made by our neighbors to the east right now. We wish them well, to be sure, and I hope they're all tucked in and safe, but meanwhile, we'll just be truckin' on.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 4,349
From: SW VA
It regularly makes -30F to -40F here most winters. That's regular air temp, not this fake "wind chill" B.S. that was invented to make people feel better about "being cold". Sometimes that's also the high for the day. We don't make a thing of it. It's called "Tuesday" in ND. So we're kind of chuckling at all the fuss being made by our neighbors to the east right now. We wish them well, to be sure, and I hope they're all tucked in and safe, but meanwhile, we'll just be truckin' on.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 452
Likes: 17
From: Corpus Christi TX
Hard to imagine what -60* feels like. Here in S TX if it gets under +60* it starts to get a little too cool and we freak out if it gets under +30*. I think I would die if I had to try to live and work in temps as cold as what yall are saying here.
Normal uniform here is flip flops, shorts, t shirt and eye protection with more sun protection if out fly fishing the lower laguna madre. I don't think I could survive in temps that cold. Forget my truck.
Normal uniform here is flip flops, shorts, t shirt and eye protection with more sun protection if out fly fishing the lower laguna madre. I don't think I could survive in temps that cold. Forget my truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,136
Likes: 7,942
From: Texas
It regularly makes -30F to -40F here most winters. That's regular air temp, not this fake "wind chill" B.S. that was invented to make people feel better about "being cold". Sometimes that's also the high for the day. We don't make a thing of it. It's called "Tuesday" in ND. So we're kind of chuckling at all the fuss being made by our neighbors to the east right now. We wish them well, to be sure, and I hope they're all tucked in and safe, but meanwhile, we'll just be truckin' on.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
My truck sits outside all the time. The only time it sees the inside of a garage, is when it goes in for an oil change or a tire rotation. It does have a factory block heater. I've seen it. I've never plugged it in. Don't need it. The only issue I've ever had is a year ago when my factory OEM battery died on me (it was -30 F that day iirc - and again, that was true air temp, not this "wind chill" fantasy b.s.). I replaced it with an AGM battery and haven't had another problem.
I have not had one. single. issue. with my truck other than the OEM battery crapping itself in winter ( a year ago). But, it's also one of the reasons I bought a gasser truck. To have fewer issues in the cold. If I lived in a southern state, I wouldn't have been concerned about it.
Just move to ND and find out!!
The livestock still MUST be fed and watered, life still goes on.
The rigs still keep drilling for oil, life still goes on.
The trucks still keep hauling. Life goes on
The mines still keep producing coal. Life goes on.
The news media could freeze up and no one would notice!
But.............when I retired there WAS a reason I propmtly moved to AZ!!! And you will NOT hear me complain about the heat......dry or otherwise! LOL
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 305
Likes: 1
Master Trooper Glen Fifield
@ISPLowell2I-65 is quickly becoming a parking lot with broken down semis. Common problem seems to be fuel filters freezing and fuel gelled. Please reconsider travel today. It’s extremely dangerous for everyone. Calls for service are numerous #DeepFreeze #ArcticBlast
@ISPLowell2I-65 is quickly becoming a parking lot with broken down semis. Common problem seems to be fuel filters freezing and fuel gelled. Please reconsider travel today. It’s extremely dangerous for everyone. Calls for service are numerous #DeepFreeze #ArcticBlast
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,938
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
I've done this on my Bobcat more than once. Fortunately it's always come unplugged and not yanked out the block heater cord.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,938
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
They sure can. I drive box truck for a USPS contractor part time. All International straight trucks. We've had a couple of almost new trucks that started right up in below zero weather because they were plugged in at night. But there have been times that the fuel heaters didn't work and they gelled up while under way at highway speeds. The fuel had been treated with white bottle Power Servics, which I don't really have much faith in at those temps. The usual solution is to change the fuel filter and get some Power Service 911 red bottle stuff going through the system.
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 201
Likes: 7
I'm an Idiot
Going forward, I have a low-tech solution...post it note on steering wheel.
Than it hit me..Why don' they have magnetic connectors and contact setup for these block heater plugs? I've come up with a great idea right?. ..Nope..someone on kickstarter beat me to it.
First gen..
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...l-plug-evolved
v2
https://www.voltsafe.com/
Not sure this would hold up in our salt-ridden NE Ohio winters...and post-it Note hell of lot cheaper
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
-23F actual air temp this morning at my office.
There is a refreshing lack of mosquitos and wasps outside.
If your truck didn't start, you need to focus on your maintenance.
There is a refreshing lack of mosquitos and wasps outside.
If your truck didn't start, you need to focus on your maintenance.
New User
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
-40 on the truck this morning and the truck sits outside and fired right up. i do plug it in as well. even my gassers up here i plug in if i can. much easier on the vehicle. -62 windchill value this morning but really anything below -30 is cold and dont feel a difference. when you lived withi it your whole life its just another winter day, the media is horrible, not the only place in the world it gets chilly. to say it never gets this cold is ridiculous. we see it every year. i do start the diesel a couple times a day when i am at work though just to keep it moving easier. alot of cars were not liking the cold and getting jumped last night and this morning.
