Preparing to drive from Texas to Durango, CO .. temps supposed to range from -15 to 25.. I’m running motorcraft 10w30 right now. Truck is deleted/tuned. Any suggestions? Also will the heater even work for the glow plugs at -15??

 

Insert key and drive. Your only concern is fuel gelling so you might want to use an additive for that.

 

10W30 has a range down to 0 degrees

5W40 has a range to almost -20 degrees

since we are talking about cold flow rate....this is a progressive thing meaning...its not perfect a 1 degree than is terrible at 0,

you didnt say if you were towing....that would put you in 5W40 anyway.

 

It wouldn't hurt to plug it in when it gets below 0. For says it"s not necessary until -10 however you will get heat in the cabin sooner if you do.

 

Run your fuel tank down pretty low before getting there. Then top off 50-75 miles before your destination ( with a good winter anti gel additive) so you get a good amount of winter blend fuel in your tank and get it circulated throughout the fuel system before shutting it down. (Colorado should have blended fuel for winter usage) Good luck.

 

Run an anti gel and take a set of fuel filters with you.

I run Ford's anti gel.

I would switch to other oils as suggested if you are near oil change time.

Plugging in is a good idea, not needed but if you plan an early morning start when it is pretty crisp outside then I would, or use that remote start and stay warm.

 

Test & plus up those batteries with some good old fashioned amp hours wouldn't be a bad plan either.

 

My 2011 spent a few nights parked outside at -25° F
As I was eating breakfast, I would hit the remote start and hear my truck start right up.
The 6.7L glowplugs go from ambient temps to 1200° in 2 seconds. If you've got battery juice the truck will start.
Sythetic oil flows better at negative temps than Dino oil. So if you are considering an oil change, I suggest you use a synthetic oil.
Throw a blanket or sleeping bag in truck, Sometimes it takes a while to warm up the cab in those temps. And it's always a good idea to have extra warmth, in case you get stuck
Other than that you Texas boys should have fun skiing.

 

I'm from Southern California, so I don't know much about cold, except when it gets down to 50 degrees. So there I was in Montana by the west Yellowstone entrance just before new years in my 2006 Ram with the Cummins. We went to leave in the morning, and my overhead said it was -40 degrees F....which I learned is also C! Truck wouldn't start. Of course, I wasn't knowing enough to plug it in at the hotel. Fuel gelled. Guys in the cafe said to get a red bottle of 911 and put it in the tank. I had a spare filter with me, so I went to remove the filter, and I spilled some diesel on my latex glove covered hands. I swore at the time that I literally froze my fingers off. That cold diesel was so, so painful. I eventually replaced the filter with some diesel and some of the 911 (trying to get it to the CP3). I was able to plug in the truck through this exercise, but maybe not long enough. Unfortunately, I eventually killed my batteries. I had my Honda EU2000 in the back of the truck I was going to use to charge the batteries, but the oil in the crankcase was so cold and thick, I couldn't pull start it, even after 30 minutes of it sitting on the hotel room heater. By that time, I was able to easily jump start it (I had cables) and continue on, but what an adventure!

I also learned that the grease on the latch of my SnugTop camper shell had thickened up so much that the latch didn't work. I broke a few plastic items in the back of the truck that had become so brittle in the cold. All in all, it was an interesting learning experience. I eventually got the feeling back in my fingers after a little bit.

So...other than learning from my mistakes, and in addition to the things I mentioned I'd suggest also carrying an extension cord and jumper cables.

 

I only worked in that my whole life until I retired and moved to AZ @ age 67. Started working when I was big enough to swing a pitchfork to feed hay to the cows. Then after finishing high school I promptly went to work in the oil fields of ND, MT, and WY! Fun, ain’t it !

 

I don't mind the cold air - cold diesel is surely different!
To me, it seems that -40 is the same as 20.
I'm now wishing I raised my kids (twins, now 9) in a similar environment to what you grew up in.

 

A little story here, just for fun. A few years ago the wife and I did an Alaska cruise/inland tour, etc. Anyway, we got into Fairbanks and the tour guide took us all around town and to one tourist attraction after another. At one of them, in the middle of the building there was a room with the door closed and a nice looking young lady by the door saying one could go into the room which was refrigerated down to -40 F or C.....take your pick! A person could go inside and see what -40 in Alaska felt like. So I asked her if they had a good fan going in the room and she promptly asked what the fan would be for. I said to generate a 40 MPH wind so she would know what - 40 in North Dakota felt like!