First winter with 6.0 PSD

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 28, 2010 | 01:48 PM

swamp donk

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 89

Likes: 0

First winter with 6.0 PSD

Just had a quick question, this will be my first winter with a diesel and i was just wondering when is a good time to start plugging it in to keep the block warm.I live inTN and the temp at night is in the upper 40's. Is now a good time to start plugging it in?

Sep 28, 2010 | 02:04 PM

bismic

Fleet Owner

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 27,929

Likes: 3,651

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp donk

If everything is working right, you really don't need to plug it in until about 10 *F IIRC.

Sep 28, 2010 | 02:28 PM

Sarge261

Logistics Pro

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 4,460

Likes: 14

From: The Land Of Time

We see temps almost 30 below at times. The only time I plug mine in is when the temp is forcasted to be below 0. It will start with no problems as long as everything is operating normally like Mark said.

Sarge

Sep 28, 2010 | 02:56 PM

gearloose1

Post Fiend

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 6,127

Likes: 6

With 15W40 dino oil, I have reliably started it without being plugged in at -20C or about -4F.

-40C is probably a different matter.

Sep 28, 2010 | 03:07 PM

swamp donk

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 89

Likes: 0

ok thanks for the help I wasant sure. it has never got to be 0 or below since I have lived here. usually see single digits around 8 degrees or so but not usually until the end of dec. beginning of Jan so I should be ok for a while. thanks again.

Sep 28, 2010 | 04:44 PM

02GrayPowerStroke

Posting Guru

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 1,803

Likes: 0

From: Amarillo, TX

I plug mine it when its gets below freezing. Or so. The only reason is the heater heats up quicker when its plugged in. But thats just me. Other than that it starts fine even when its in the single digits with out it plugged in.

Sep 28, 2010 | 06:26 PM

Krump's brother

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 107

Likes: 0

From: Southwestern NH

I run 5W-40 synthetic in the winter and never plug in.

I'm in New Hampshire, where I regularly ice fish in late January on lakes that have two feet of ice on them. That's cold.

Trending Topics

1985 F250 4.9 i6 Fuel Pump Replace

81

1k
7.3 or/vs 6.7

70

3.4k
Axle flip. Yay or nay?

23

559
Fords V8 gas competition

19

642
BWST's F350 maintenance/upgrade thread

2.1k

160.2k

Sep 28, 2010 | 09:09 PM

jetpilot1

Freshman User

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

From: Fort McMurray/Alberta

cold weather diesel

The block heater is needed when it gets really cold, but the key to winter starting is to use 5W-40 synthetic in the winter. In your part of the world, if you do just that, you won't have any starting issues. This engine won't cold start well (or at all) if you have the summer viscosity oil in cold temperatures.

My 6.0 stays outside all year and we regularly get -40 or worse stretches for weeks at a time during the winter. She starts every time. When it gets really cold, I'll give her a few hours of block heater plug in before start, and I have a diesel heater that I use most mornings also, but the key is still the synthetic 5W-40. Remember the majority of the oil sits in the pan and never gets the benefit of pre warming. If you use 15W when its really cold, you may get a start, but then you will have poor oil pressure while the poor girl tries to suck that thick goo and push it through the engine - a recipe for accelerated wear.