When is it too cold?

somebodyelse5 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 08:33 PM

When is it too cold to start my truck? I dont want to hurt anything.
I have no way to plug it in.
Temps have been around 5-15 in the mornings.

i cycle the glow plugs a few times, and let her warm up for at least 15 minutes before driving any where, and am nice to the throttle until shes completely warm.

When she starts, she sounds like a tractor, nasty idle and blows some white smoke that makes its way to a little bit of coal once it gets a little warm.

Basically what i am asking is this, is there a point where i will cause damage by starting my truck when it is really cold? Idle just sounds so nasty, and i just want something to ease my nerves.

e99f2506sp · #2 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 08:44 PM

I'd be running 5w40 oil (I do) and other than that youre doing just what you should. Its gonna be loud til she warms up, but just let her idle and run in high idle for 15 min or so and you should be fine.

somebodyelse5 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 08:52 PM

next oil change i might switch it up, im getting a nice temp combo...105+ in the summer and in the 0-15 range in the winter up at school. hadnt thought to switch up the oil!

e99f2506sp · #4 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 08:56 PM

My temp fluctuations are the exact same here in KS. I run valvoline premium blue extreme 5w40 synthetic year round with no problems....well except its kind of expesive. But its not as expensive as hurting something internal in the engine.

Makes her quieter warming, up and she warms up faster too

The engine has to work to move that 15w40 around a lot harder than it does 5w40 since 15w isn't made for temps much below 30-40...

countryraised · #5 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 10:25 PM

when you cycle the glow plugs, don't do it by the light on the dash, they will stay on much longer. I watch my voltage on the dash, you will see the gauge come up after the plugs have turned off, then start the truck, or in extreme cold cycle the key again.

**SuperCrutyPS** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-30-2010, 10:31 PM

If you're seeing those low of temps, you also might wanna go by Walmart and pick up some Diesel Kleen (White Bottle). It has some anti-gel stuff in it - Keeps the fuel liquid.

Zaairman · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010, 06:36 AM

5w40 = win. Cold starts are soooo much nicer.

***NCHornet*** · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010, 07:00 AM

The lighter oil will really help the truck kick over on a cold morning. I would also carry some anti gel with you and when you fill up you may want to ask the station manager to what temps the fuel has been treated. A properly working GP system should start the truck without being plugged in down to 20 below. The question is , is your gp system working properly? I would follow the write up at the top of this section and check your gp's and the gpr. The Stancor relay really helped my truck on the cold mornings. Cycling the key does no good at all. You are much better off to let them heat up. They will stay energized up to 2 min depending on temps. The light on the dash has no bearing on how long they stay energized. Try waiting 30-45 seconds and see if it doesn't start easier.