Winter starting

[DOOR]

Hello. First time on any forum, so please bear with me. This is my first diesel and winter is coming fast to Wisconsin. I can plug in overnight at home, but at work it'll sit outside for 9 hrs. Any suggestions for starting when it's 10 degrees or less.

It's a 2000 F-250 ext cab short box (21000 miles) 7.3 L

[bigcountrysg]

Just make sure the glowplugs, glowplug relay, and the rest of the cold start system is working properly you should not have any problems. Also make sure you got good strong batteries. Also make sure you use a good anti gel additive in your fuel. Diesel Service is pretty common and realitively easily to obtain pretty much every parts store, walmart sells it. If you can plug your truck in at work.

If it is real windy out try to point the front of the truck away from the wind. That way you do not have the cold wind blowing in on the engine. I live in Michigan.

[redstroker_2002]

i agree but i would maybe ask your work what they could do for you because you have a diesel. most would probable help you out! i would make sure your batteries are well charged and strong and let it warm up good to! also

[DOOR]

Originally Posted by bigcountrysg

Just make sure the glowplugs, glowplug relay, and the rest of the cold start system is working properly you should not have any problems. Also make sure you got good strong batteries. Also make sure you use a good anti gel additive in your fuel. Diesel Service is pretty common and realitively easily to obtain pretty much every parts store, walmart sells it. If you can plug your truck in at work.

If it is real windy out try to point the front of the truck away from the wind. That way you do not have the cold wind blowing in on the engine. I live in Michigan.

Thanks. Isn't the fuel treated when you get it? Or do you add more when it gets really cold; like 10 degrees.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by DOOR

Thanks. Isn't the fuel treated when you get it? Or do you add more when it gets really cold; like 10 degrees.

Do you really want to trust oil companies. I don't they are suppose to have additives in gas too to prevent gasline freeze up but still doesn't work all the time. Now does it. Trust me add the additive at least once every fill up. Dealing with a tank full of gel or the fuel lines all gelled up when you want to go home is no fun.

[DOOR]

Originally Posted by redstroker_2002

i agree but i would maybe ask your work what they could do for you because you have a diesel. most would probable help you out! i would make sure your batteries are well charged and strong and let it warm up good to! also

Thanks. When you let it warm up, your letting the engine oil warm and get thinner. does it also help the tranny fluid and rear end fluid, even though it's not moving?

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by DOOR

Thanks. When you let it warm up, your letting the engine oil warm and get thinner. does it also help the tranny fluid and rear end fluid, even though it's not moving?

Your trans fluid will warm up too. But not as much. Your rear end will not warm up until you start driving the truck.

[NCHornet]

A proper operating GP system will start your truck down to 20 below, although plugging it in will make it much easier and you will have heat right away. I would check my GP system now as it is easier to change parts now then when you can't feel your fingers!! A good timer set for three hours before you leave will come in handy, anything more than 3 hours and you are wasting $$, these things draw 1,000 watts = 10 100 watt light bulbs all on at once.
Here is how to check your GP system, if you need a GPR buy the Stancor 586-902 rather than a OEM replacement. PM me with any ?

How to check Glow Plug System

To check the Glow Plug Relay (GPR)
· Be sure the engine is cold, so that the PCM will tell the GPR to turn on. If the engine is hot, you won’t have as much time to check.
· Locate the GPR – Its behind the fuel filter on top of the engine, a little bit toward the passenger side of the valley. There may be two relays there. If so, the rear one is the GPR. It will have two fairly large wires (yellow and brown) connected to one of the large posts.
· With your multitmeter set to DC volts, and 15 V range (if not autoranging), clip the positive (red) lead to the output terminal (with yellow and brown wires connected), and the negative (black) lead to a good ground point (like the battery ground terminal or someplace metal directly on the engine block.)
· Turn the key to ON (do not start)
· If your GPR is good, it should click, and you’ll see 11 volts or so on your meter, then, depending on temperature, it will click off up to 2 minutes later. You should do this a couple of times to make sure it consistently makes the connection.
· If you don’t get voltage with this test, confirm by retesting as follows.
· Remove the two small wires from the smaller two of the four GPR terminals.
· With jumper wires, apply voltage from the battery across the two small terminals. If your voltmeter now reads voltage on the output terminal, your GPR is OK, and your problem is in the PCM circuit that tells the GPR to activate.

If your GPR is bad you can use the factory replacement for around $75, Napa's GP110 is close to this price maybe $10 cheaper. But you can get a GPR 109 from Napa for around $22.00 This is the same exact relay as the GP110 except the mounting holes are rotated 180 degrees, which is no big deal as the wires stretch just fine.
Now if you are tired of replacing your GPR and want a H.D. alternative may I suggest the Stancor 586-902. This is a large relay and it can truly handle the large AMP draw our trucks call for at start up. Gopher Electronics has these for under $40. I know several folks that live way up North (Alaska, Canada) where they know about serious cold starts and they all swear by the Stancor. I am very happy with mine, I believe I have pics of mine installed in my webshots.

To check Glow Plugs.
· Remove the electrical connector on the inboard side of valve cover at the gasket. Press down on the top of the connector latch and pry gently with a screwdriver. Photo of disconnecting one and another Photo of it loose.
· There will be 9 pins on the valve cover gasket where you removed the connector. The two pins furthest forward and the two pins furthest back are for your glow plugs.
· With your multimeter set to resistance (ohms) and low range (single digits) if not autoranging, clip the negative (black) lead to a good ground point.
· Probe each of the 4 outer pins individually with the positive (red) lead, noting the resistance. Good glow plugs will have a resistance between 0.6 and 2 ohms. If you get infinite resistance on any glow plug, that one is either bad or the connector under the valve cover has come loose.
Take Care
Kevin