I work 12 hour shifts, noon to midnight. Truck sits outside in the foothills here in Denver and it'll be getting darn cold/windy soon.

My concern is my truck sits for 12 hours, then will be fired up to make the 50 mile drive home without being plugged in (no outlets in sight).

My question is if anyone knows of any portable type battery that I can keep the truck plugged into to keep it somewhat warm before I crank it over at midnight when sitting in sub-freezing weather.

 

Keeseter:

I had/have concerns about this too. There is a GREAT response to one of my original threads from a guy in Alaska. I can't find it now as the search function is down again and I'm not able to pull up my old posts for some reason right now. It would make for a good sticky now that winter's here. Anyway, he has many ideas for overcoming the cold start problem when a power outlet isn't available. One solution comes from a company, I think, called Webasco (or something like that).

Here in Denver, though, other folks have posted having no problems starting in our climate. They do suggest using winter blend or an antigelling agent like Power Service white bottle.

I am a bit worried about this winter as well. I park in the MaryJane lot and stay in WinterPark frequently and it has gotten close to -40 quite a few times in the 21 years that I have lived there either full or part time.

I just got a remote start installed and it has a timer that will start the truck every 3 hours, run it for 12 to 30 minutes and then shut itself off so I think for now, until I gel up at least, I will use the timer and antigel +/- the winter blend diesel and hope for the best. Unfortunately, the garage at our place in WP is not big enough for the truck.

When the search function is back up, try a search for "cold start" or look back though my old posts when that function is working.

You never know, that very helpful guy from Alaska may chime in here before too long as well.

 

I don't intend to go the remote-start route . . . I am curious as to where I'll find Winterblend, however.

thanks for the info!

 

Try this: http://www.webasto.com/products/en/3115_3422.html They look like a great idea. I have no idea how much they cost.

I didn't think much of remote starts either but mine came with my security system and didn't think that I'd use it much, but I have everyday since purchase. My biggest concern was that a running truck would be a magnet for thieves, and it may be, but my running truck will go nowhere without the key in it. If the brake pedal is depressed or if any alarm sensors go off, the truck quits and the starter gets disabled.

Anyway, I don't think I'll own another diesel without one. Just my 2 pesos.

 

Most truckstops in the cold states carry winter blend for the big rigs and in N/W Montana most all of the normal staions pump winter fuel starting about now.

 

Where I work no plugs are around...this is my first winter with the 6.0 but my 7.3 never gave me a problem. Drop the wieght in your oil for Jan and it will crank right up. Now don't get upset, I have used 5w-30 in the past just for the colder Jan month.

 

I live in the plains of Co, south and east of Denver and have not had any problems yet with mine starting. Last winter the temp was about zero and it still fired right up without being plugged in. I would agree drop the weight of the oil, and don't worry about it too much.

Bob

 

I called the nearest Webasto dealer near me (180 miles) and they said it is dealer install only, no kidding, a day for the install and priced around 1200 -1500 depending on the model and vehicle.

I may look further into this, nice concept made for smaller for car and trucks that has been available for semi-trucks.

 

Keeseter:

Here's the link that I was looking for: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=245577

Check out the response by Twin Tritons - extremely informative for cold weather diesels!!!

 

Thanks! Will do!!

 

I live in the Antelope Valley, Calif. During the winter the temp can drop in the low teens. On average the temperature is in the mid-thirties to low-fourties. Being new to PS motors and I'm talking about a new 04 PS engine, after the motor is started in the moring how long should it idle before driving the truck?

All comments are appreciated.

Regards,

Chuck

 

Most engines diesel or gas should have a warm up period. People tend to forget and just drive. I usually get in my truck and key the ignition, set my belt, start the truck, by then the plugs have cycled. A minute is fine on normal days. With temperatures reaching -0 degrees, I always judge more time and let the temps start coming up, putting the trans in gear to bring some temps to the converter before leaving.

A cold start is where most of your wear begins. Plugging in a night helps, but not all situations will a plug be handy. Now going -40 degrees and below is not a daily occurance we see here, but some people from Alaska can answer that question.

 

Ditto on what Max just said.

The single best thing for the truck when the temps drop is to keep it plugged in when you can. Keep fuel conditioner in the tank (this will help both with the fuel cloud point and less wear on injectors, will start easier) and drop to a lighter weight, synthetic oil. If you really want to help to prevent cold start wear, you might look into a pre-luber and Oilguard setup (the oilguard won't do much for cold start, but more for wear in general)

 

What about putting a small generator in the bed with an appropriate sized extension cord. Start the generator about 3 hours before you get off work.

 

Max, not to be argumentative but why do you hear from all the so called "experts" that you do not have to warm up the newer vehicles, that all it does is waste fuel. Also what about wet stacking? I will have to look again but I think the manual also says no warm up needed. On my big trucks there was no choice, you had to build air and do other chores so warm up happened.
I have always let my personal vehicles warm up until this one because I was told specifically you don't need to. A minute or so and GO.... Am I wrong???