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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:16 PM
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Advice needed...

Hey guys n gals.

I will be driving my truck to another province to get some "specialized" therapy rehab crap done for my knee.
Right now my gas f150 is out of order for the 5 hour there and back drive, and my woman is using my civic to drive back and forth to her job.

Now the advice I need is kinda regarding cold weather starting. I just called the hotel, and they do not have plug in parking there. There is no places to plug in that are near by at all. The weather up here will be around minus 20 degrees celcius, maybe abit more, maybe abit less.
Switching hotels doesnt look like much of an option right now, so im not quite sure what i should be looking at doing.

What i have done in similiar situations is cycle the glow plugs 3-4 times and it has always started. I dont have synthetic oil in right now, and JUST changed my oil, so I would like to keep that in there till at least 5000km!

Advice, hints, tips, tricks and suggestions all welcome!
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:18 PM
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Get a power inverter and warm your block off your truck batteries... Make sure your batt's are good though
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:19 PM
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OR bring a spare batt. For the sole purpose of hooking the inverter to it to heat your block
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:22 PM
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Just cycle the key a couple times, and I think you'll be fine. Having said that, I haven't been in that kind of weather since I don't even know when.....

Not trying be an ****, but why did you put dino in for the winter when you live in Canada??
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:25 PM
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You could always chain a little generator into your bed and run an extension cord to the block heater.

Another option would be renting a car to make the trip.

Just my $.02
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:37 PM
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-20*C is -4*F (for us LAZY Americans who can't convert). The lowest I've cranked my truck without a block heater is -25F, but that was with synthetic oil, not dino stuff. At -4*F (-20*C), you should be fine for cold starts without a block heater. As long as your batteries are glow plugs are in good condition, I say drive it and don't worry. It will romp pretty good when you start, but that's expected.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:38 PM
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I had though of using my invertor, just wasnt sure if it would run the batteries dry Batteries seem good but ill be honest i havent checked them out, but never have had a problem with them), I had also thought to get a generator and lock it down in the bed of the truck (which i may do yet too. Renting a car I thought of, but in the end that will be pretty costly.

The reason why I didnt run syn, is I had some dino sitting around, and with the miles i will be putting on in the next month-month and a half, I figured I would just use some dino and plug the truck in, and be good to go.

I never have a problem with dino when the truck is plugged in, and the hotel I am staying at is a fairly reputable hotel up here (ramada inn), so i didnt even think about plugging in being an issue.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:45 PM
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Good batteries and a couple of GP cycles should be fine. On the other subject, I travel a lot with a boat in tow and need to charge batteries each night. Most hotels have some sort of a outlet on the property. I have always found something to plug into an hotels that tells me no plugs availble. If they have a pool, there will be a plug somewhere. If nothing else, run it throught the door if you can get a ground floor room. Lowes has a flat wire that works great for that purpose. A 2-3' lenth and a couple of plugs will get you under most doors.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 03:51 PM
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Just bring a long enough extension cord, there's an outlet somewhere.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:02 PM
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Well, haha, A guy could bring a long extension cord, i suppose, BUT, the parking isnt the kind where you park right up to the hotel!(plus im on the 14th floor) I will try to get a link for ya guys so y'all can see what i mean! But I see what ya fellas mean, that there SHOULD be a plug in SOMEWHERE!

I sure wish i woulda thrown in synthetic now. Last year I did the same damn thing, waited too long to change to syn, and one time had to start my truck in minus 27. I did not like that, and I dont wish to treat my truck that way, if i can help it!

Hotel link
Ramada | Edmonton Alberta Hotel | Edmonton, AB T5G 3J5 | Near Kingsway Garden Mall (1 km), Royal Alberta Museum (2 km) & Telus Science Centre (2 km)
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:03 PM
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Yep, that would be my advice, bring a long extension cord and run it out the window of your room, even if your on the second floor!!!!

EDIT: OOPS, don't think it'll reach from the 14th floor, sorry, your a quicker typer than me.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by HH60FE
Yep, that would be my advice, bring a long extension cord and run it out the window of your room, even if your on the second floor!!!!

EDIT: OOPS, don't think it'll reach from the 14th floor, sorry, your a quicker typer than me.
Well anything is possible if need be right?! But yeah, running a cord from my room is probably out of the question, although if need be I would do it.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:08 PM
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Well, I must admit, I usually don't stay quite that stylish when I fish, but have on a few occasions, and I still think if you spend a few minutes looking behind shrubs, you will find outlets. A bunch of fishermen had cords stretched all over the parking lot at the Hyatt Regency we stayed at last fall.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:16 PM
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Ok, cool I will defiantely do some searching then.

Thanks to anyone who replied, I will be handing out reps, as much as i can before the rep police get me.

Feel free to say anything else that ya have in mind too!

On Edit: Joe, Nolan, and Barry, i owe ya guys some.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2008 | 04:19 PM
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Carry a couple of differant cords, I carry a 50' 14g and 100' 12g for the boat. I also carry a multi plug end for sharing the outlet.
Oh yeah, this time of year, look for Christmas lights, they are plugged in somewhere.
 
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