how cold before plugin
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34
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From: macomb, mi
how cold before plugin
i was just wondering how cold it gets before you guys plug it in. kinda new to diesels.
my buddy has a 90 dodge cummins and says he never plugs in.
just want to be safe.
my buddy has a 90 dodge cummins and says he never plugs in.
just want to be safe.
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
how cold before plugin
i plug mine in if it gets below 30 degrees. but i dont have to. it has gotten as cold at 12 in central illinois and it started fine. i just do it because its blowing warm air before i get out of the drive way.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,773
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From: Bonney Lake, WA
how cold before plugin
I don't plug mine in at all, but I live in Seattle, where it's a little milder climate. I've tried it when it's dropped down into the teens, which is rare, but it'll start right up at 15, so I usually don't bother. I just let the glowplugs cycle twice, and let 'er rip.
Quadzilla
'95 F-350XLT Crew Cab SRW 4X4 PSD, 35X12.50X16.5's, Limited slip 4.10's, Hypermax downpipe, gutted EBPV, "Catless" in Seattle, "Renegade" 4" exhaust system, CTFD sticker, Air bags on all four corners, TYMAR intake, shimmed fpr, Diablo Delta chip, Fumoto valve, Autometer pyrometer, Sonnax valve, Tricumulator springs, Tru-Cool, HX mod, Magnefine tranny filter,
4R100 pan, Red Line synthetic in transfer case and both diffs, reverse shackle kit, big 'ol grin on driver's face.
And a wish list that gets longer every day.
(Thank God for a wife that likes big trucks.)
Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/quadzilla100
Quadzilla
'95 F-350XLT Crew Cab SRW 4X4 PSD, 35X12.50X16.5's, Limited slip 4.10's, Hypermax downpipe, gutted EBPV, "Catless" in Seattle, "Renegade" 4" exhaust system, CTFD sticker, Air bags on all four corners, TYMAR intake, shimmed fpr, Diablo Delta chip, Fumoto valve, Autometer pyrometer, Sonnax valve, Tricumulator springs, Tru-Cool, HX mod, Magnefine tranny filter,
4R100 pan, Red Line synthetic in transfer case and both diffs, reverse shackle kit, big 'ol grin on driver's face.
And a wish list that gets longer every day.
(Thank God for a wife that likes big trucks.)
Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/quadzilla100
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
how cold before plugin
>i just do it because its blowing warm air
>before i get out of the drive way.
That's the best reason to plug 'em in. We had a stretch of cold weather here in '99 where it didn't get above 15 during the day, and dropped to -8 to -15 during the night. This was for one solid week. Went out and turned the key in a PSD that had sat for the whole week, never plugged in. Started on the first turn of the key!
>before i get out of the drive way.
That's the best reason to plug 'em in. We had a stretch of cold weather here in '99 where it didn't get above 15 during the day, and dropped to -8 to -15 during the night. This was for one solid week. Went out and turned the key in a PSD that had sat for the whole week, never plugged in. Started on the first turn of the key!
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34
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From: macomb, mi
how cold before plugin
today just happened to be the coldest day this week. all week it's been around 20-25. today it's 14. i wanted to drive it. i did try the 2 twists for the glowplugs, seemed like it helped a bit. she still sounded like a coffee can of rocks but smoothed out after about a minute and purred like a kitten.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 295
Likes: 3
From: Fort Wayne, IN. USA
how cold before plugin
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-17-03 AT 02:37 PM (EST)]Now that I finally got my block heater replaed, I plug mine any time that it's below 40. It just makes starts easier, plus you get heat a lot faster by using the block heater. I don't have to plug it in, but it makes it nicer. The only concern is on the very early 6.9 blocks as the material on the side of the blocks were thin and had a nasty habit of cracking.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 295
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From: Fort Wayne, IN. USA
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 46
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From: Midland MI USA
how cold before plugin
I know it's nice to get heat before you leave the driveway, but I never plug mine in and I still have heat in less than a mile. I'm new to diesels but I'm quite impressed with the heater in my '99. 2 minutes and it's blowing heat. Another 2 minutes and I have to turn it down because my feet are getting too hot. It's been between 10 and 15 degrees here for a few weeks and my PSD doesn't care at all.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 3
From: CT
how cold before plugin
I plug mine in when it gets blow 35 deg.
Since I don't have a timer, I leave it on all night long. I usually get home from work around 9:30 at night, and as soon as I get home, I plug her in, to be ready for me at 6:45 the next morning. My truck takes a LONG time for heat to come out. (at least 12-17 minutes when not pluged in, and at least 6-8 minutes when pluged in)
Just a little story for ya-
A few days ago it was around 5 degrese out, I went to start my truck (I did NOT plug it it the night before, I know, stupid me
) anyway, I went to start it, and I would not start !! It took a good 4 turns for it to finally turn over. Then another 20 minutes to warm up. During the first 3 minuts of start, the engine made a wierd high pitched nosie, I've never heard it make before. I don't want to know what it was, thats why I'm plugging it in from now on
Since I don't have a timer, I leave it on all night long. I usually get home from work around 9:30 at night, and as soon as I get home, I plug her in, to be ready for me at 6:45 the next morning. My truck takes a LONG time for heat to come out. (at least 12-17 minutes when not pluged in, and at least 6-8 minutes when pluged in)
Just a little story for ya-
A few days ago it was around 5 degrese out, I went to start my truck (I did NOT plug it it the night before, I know, stupid me
) anyway, I went to start it, and I would not start !! It took a good 4 turns for it to finally turn over. Then another 20 minutes to warm up. During the first 3 minuts of start, the engine made a wierd high pitched nosie, I've never heard it make before. I don't want to know what it was, thats why I'm plugging it in from now on
Last edited by mbnv992; Jan 19, 2003 at 11:31 PM.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
how cold before plugin
wewll I have let mine sit for a weekend at -22C and it starte fine... but generaly plug it in when it starts to get cold...cold enough for a coat... but pug it in at work all day every day...they are paying for the hydro...LOL
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Lake
how cold before plugin
I never plug in my PSD but then if it get down to 60* we close schools down here in san diego county 
I have had it in 5* weather and it started fine just a little long to warm up. I had #2 fuel with winter additive.
Nate
I have had it in 5* weather and it started fine just a little long to warm up. I had #2 fuel with winter additive.
Nate
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 46
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From: Midland MI USA
how cold before plugin
mbnv992, how is your thermostat? Sounds like it might be stuck open a little? Seems like a long time to warm up.
Or maybe mine is stuck closed? Anybody out there know what a typical time is to warm up and start blowing heat on a 20 degree day?
Or maybe mine is stuck closed? Anybody out there know what a typical time is to warm up and start blowing heat on a 20 degree day?
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 97
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From: Southeast
how cold before plugin
Sounds like you got a lot of different opinions. This is my first winter with my 02 PSD. I plug it in when its going to below 35 as it gives heat quicker. Just got back from skiing in West VA where the weather never got above 25 the entire week. Since I was staying in a condo and had no plug access, I bought an inverter and took along a spare marine starting battery. The evening before we were supposed to leave for home, I plugged the stuff together - it ran for about 10 hours. In the morning, the temp was 5 degrees. I turned the key and as soon as the glow plug light went out I hit it. The engine cranked for about 15 seconds and then caught. I had heat in about 5 minutes. Not sure yet how much current the block heater draws, but it cannot be much as the battery was sitting at 12.4 volts.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
how cold before plugin
Up until recently, I never plugged my heater in. I don't know if it is due to some really gelly fuel or just the cool temps ( anywhere from 0 to minus7 lately) but Saturday my 350 just wound till it got tired. No fire at all. I plugged it in for a couple of hours and when it did light, smoke and racket. Well, it settled down. I plugged it in yesterday and after 3 hrs it cranked after about 1/2 revolution, and warm when I left the driveway.
I may get to like this.
I may get to like this.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
how cold before plugin
i think that high pitched noise you heard when you first started it was the power steering pump, when i gets so cold the fluid thickens and causes the pump to emit this whining noise, i could be wrong but this is what i narrowed it down to on my truck