One cold start vs. several warm?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
One cold start vs. several warm?
A co-worker had an 2000 F-350 7.3L with a remote starter/ timer. He could set the timer to repeatedly start, run the engine and then shut it down throughout the night keeping it warm.
Here's the question: when the heater is not an option what is better or worse? One (or more attempted) starts from cold iron on a 10 or 20 degree morning or starting and stopping a warm engine during the night?
Reg
Here's the question: when the heater is not an option what is better or worse? One (or more attempted) starts from cold iron on a 10 or 20 degree morning or starting and stopping a warm engine during the night?
Reg
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: East Hampton, NY
At 10-20 degrees F, I think that starting and stopping all night is overkill. While it would prolly start cold at those temps, it would go a heck of alot easier with the block heater plugged in for a couple hours. Then it will start quite happily, and heat will be blowing out the vents w/in a couple miles.
Maybe if it were -20F then the remote starter would be handy, but thats for folks in Alaska, N. Dakota, Minnesota and the like.
My two bits.
-Shawn
Maybe if it were -20F then the remote starter would be handy, but thats for folks in Alaska, N. Dakota, Minnesota and the like.
My two bits.
-Shawn
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
SMB,
You didn't read part of the conditions of my question. The heater is NOT an option.
There are many times when there's no outlet available. For instance many like myself work nights and park in lots. Or when traveling. At a day long event. And so on.
I have read some of the posts where the person has to turn the key multiple times before a cold engine starts. Or when it does it runs very roughly after starting because it is cold. The forum response has been that that is bad for a diesel.
Reg
You didn't read part of the conditions of my question. The heater is NOT an option.
There are many times when there's no outlet available. For instance many like myself work nights and park in lots. Or when traveling. At a day long event. And so on.
I have read some of the posts where the person has to turn the key multiple times before a cold engine starts. Or when it does it runs very roughly after starting because it is cold. The forum response has been that that is bad for a diesel.
Reg
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Seaford, DE
im kinda in the same boat. im putting a remote start /timed start on my psd for that reason. my truck is going to end up sitting on a mountain for a whole weekend while we wheel, and i need to make sure it starts when i get back hehehe.
DP
DP
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: East Hampton, NY
Lo siento Reg. Sometimes you don't see whats in front of your face (ask my wife).
Still if there are no problems w/ the truck, good batteries, it will start at those temps. But thats not the question either.
Whats better? Well, if you can get syn, or 10-30 dino oil, I think the one cold start is better. How long would the truck idle for? Idling in the cold for extended periods is not good for the motor either (see threads on wet stacking). But you can get around that with an aux idle controller. I also thought that starting and stopping frequently was not so good, but is that just urban legend? The ups trucks round here have the 7.3L motor, and they are starting and stopping all day. I guess you have to consider how often you are in the situation you describe. If its really frequent, than maybe the remote start is the way to go. If its only a week or so out of the year, then maybe its not really necessary.
Dunno, my truck sits in a parking lot in VT 7:30 am to 5pm or so at those temps on weekends and I don't sweat starting it (running 15W-40), and I do obsess about taking care of the truck. Sometimes it loaps for a couple seconds, but I've read on this forum that that's just the nature of the beast in the cold and caused no harm.
Good luck whatever you choose to do.
-Shawn
Still if there are no problems w/ the truck, good batteries, it will start at those temps. But thats not the question either.
Whats better? Well, if you can get syn, or 10-30 dino oil, I think the one cold start is better. How long would the truck idle for? Idling in the cold for extended periods is not good for the motor either (see threads on wet stacking). But you can get around that with an aux idle controller. I also thought that starting and stopping frequently was not so good, but is that just urban legend? The ups trucks round here have the 7.3L motor, and they are starting and stopping all day. I guess you have to consider how often you are in the situation you describe. If its really frequent, than maybe the remote start is the way to go. If its only a week or so out of the year, then maybe its not really necessary.
Dunno, my truck sits in a parking lot in VT 7:30 am to 5pm or so at those temps on weekends and I don't sweat starting it (running 15W-40), and I do obsess about taking care of the truck. Sometimes it loaps for a couple seconds, but I've read on this forum that that's just the nature of the beast in the cold and caused no harm.
Good luck whatever you choose to do.
-Shawn
