I've been thinking about this concept for a while now. How hard would it be to rig up a grid heater like the ISB Cummins has?

So my first question is... why hasn't anyone ever rigged up a grid heating for easier starting in the cold months?

Secondly, how difficult would this task be?

I know that the factory gp's are enough to get the engine started even in frigged temperatures, but a grid heater would certainly clear up the smoke on engines that have bigger nozzles, etc on a cold startup.

 

I think it would be much easier to get an intake heater from the SD's to work than a grid heater. The SD's use a screw in coil in the y-pipe. The grid heater would be pretty hard to retrofit into our trucks since I think the Dodge heaters fit in a rectangular flange at the intake plenum.

 

That would be correct TJ. Do you think it would be worthwhile?

...not that I have spare ISB parts lying around...

 

I thought about this a while back when I first saw the air heater in the 5.9L. But in Florida it dosnt get that cold and I have stock sticks so it probly wouldnt be of much benefit to me. How good does the SD one work?

 

X2
The only thing it really helps with is controlling smoke at cold start/run.

Bill

 

Ahh oh well. It was just an idea thats been rolling back in fourth in my head. Thanks for the input guys.

 

If you did lots of winter idling or very cold running I think this would have merit for sure. For performance we take great steps to keep heat out of the intake but during cold winters we need the heat in the intake to help for this low load situations. I could see putting a bung in for the SD AIH and running it in the winter and deleting it for unrestricted air flow in the summer.

It would be tricky to get automatic control of it though. A manual switch would be easy.

 

the sd intake heater doesnt even run unless the temps are........crap, i dont want to throw a number out without the book, but its ridiculously low temps. the guys way up north may have it cycle but the mid and southern guys wont normally see it ever activate. i cant really see you having a huge difference using the air heater vs the glowplugs. the sd heater element isnt that big and even on a switch to turn it on when you want it i cant see it being a huge difference. but i guess if you are in sub zero temps all winter then ever bit helps.

 

Quick off topic question fellas. Why do our trucks start so much harder in the cold than SD's? I noticed when I would have to plug my truck in my dad would just leave his SD alone and it would still fire right up in the morn

 

you have 170 some thousand on yours........ and i have always felt that the splitshot motors start easier. you may also have weak or wore out glowplugs in your truck. mine will start fine without plugging in at all. check your batteries and cables too, if they are weak and corroded internally you wont crank as fast.....fast cranks are much easier starting.

 

Ever been to MN/ND in the middle of winter?

 

been to montana and canada so no to your question, but yes to the region...lol thats why i said the guys in the north may benefit from it but the mid and southern guys would not.

 

Yep I drove my truck to MO last Christmas. It was CRAZY cold out there. But I just rolled over 188 and I think I'm due for glow plugs. But I still have fixed my cables that I told you about yet Joe. Maybe thats the issue