Diesel guys

[Edahall]

I use AC60g glow plugs and a push button setup so I can extend the glow plug times when it is very cold. I've ran these glow plugs for about 45 seconds for starting when it's under 0 degrees.

[Rubble]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's just not all that technical. If your glow plugs are working right your truck will start in the cold with whatever oil you have and w/o plugging it in. Once you get into single digits the big issue is fuel gelling and there's nothing you can really do about that. That's the only time I use a fuel conditioner and I keep my tank full. The heater can help,but does nothing for the fuel in the tank and lines.

There is something you can do about fuel gelling,buy winter fuel!!!Any trucker will tell you that,I ran 48 states & 10 provinces for about 8 years in a semi, the only time I ever had fuel gelling issues was when I had summer fuel from the southern states and didn't have a chance to buy winter fuel.It's got to be pretty cold for good winter fuel to gel,anybody running north will probably say that.As far as oil,take a jug of 30w,15-40 & 0-30 at -40C and try to pour each one out,there is a difference......There is a thread on this on the red power forum.
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[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Rubble

There is something you can do about fuel gelling,buy winter fuel!!!Any trucker will tell you that,I ran 48 states & 10 provinces for about 8 years in a semi, the only time I ever had fuel gelling issues was when I had summer fuel from the southern states and didn't have a chance to buy winter fuel.It's got to be pretty cold for good winter fuel to gel,anybody running north will probably say that.As far as oil,take a jug of 30w,15-40 & 0-30 at -40C and try to pour each one out,there is a difference......There is a thread on this on the red power forum.
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I have to agree with ya on that one. Gelling fuel isn't an issue unless you have bio-diesel or summer fuel...

The 1990's OEM GM Stanadyne intake mounted fuel filter was a nice addition to both of my older trucks. No more leaks and the intake valley is toasty in the winter.

[Rubble]

Far as the block heater discussion,if you can make it easier on that poor cold engine by warming it up a bit to aid in startup,why not?? The instructors told us when I took my diesel mechanics training that the hardest thing on an engine was startup....
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[special-K]

Originally Posted by Rubble

There is something you can do about fuel gelling,buy winter fuel!!!Any trucker will tell you that,I ran 48 states & 10 provinces for about 8 years in a semi, the only time I ever had fuel gelling issues was when I had summer fuel from the southern states and didn't have a chance to buy winter fuel.It's got to be pretty cold for good winter fuel to gel,anybody running north will probably say that.As far as oil,take a jug of 30w,15-40 & 0-30 at -40C and try to pour each one out,there is a difference......There is a thread on this on the red power forum.
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I guess you buy whatever they are selling at the pump,which is supposed to be winter blend. I'm not an over the road trucker,I drive in a 50 mile radius and all the fuel is the same here. I live in a southern state that sometimes gets "Alberta Clippers" that drop temps down like up north. Maybe our winter blend is not good enough for that. Because when these arctic blasts come in you see semis dead on the road and guys like me have to wait till it warms up to run my truck. There's nothing you can do. I guess it's different where it stays that cold,but when a guy fills up with what's available that's what he's stuck with and I've dealt with gelled fuel in diesels.
I know what pour weight,the 1st number,is. 15-40 is fine for the Mid-Atlantic region all year round. That's what we run here and diesels start just fine,as long as their glow plug system is up to snuff. My neighbor has a N/A 7.3 F350 that seems to have no glow working. He cranks and cranks and cranks (raw fuel into his crankcase ),then it kicks,then kicks a little more,and a little more,then fires for second,then a couple more,and finally starts. I'm sure he's running 15w-40 and that isn't keeping his cold as heck motor from turning fast enough. I'm just telling Rusty what weight oil he's running is not the cause of his starting issues. He can address that separately if he wants to. But,to get his truck to start he needs to get his glow plugs working right.