Cold Weather Diesel

C

Captains Cat

New member
I know they make a special fuel for diesel engines that will allow easier starting in cold weather. We cannot get that here in our part of VA.

Is there an additive we can use to help cold weather starting? From what I read, it is possible to do this but using it may clog fuel filters eventually. Maybe if I only use it during the winter, it won't hurt too much.
 
There are additives which reduce diesel's pour point and filter plug point.

I've been using Stanadyne Performance Formula, which is said to do this. My experience is that starting when it's cold (my truck sits outside in Utah) is easier, less smoky, and the engine runs smoother and quieter when still cold. In 16 Utah winters I've never had a hard time starting.

Works well in summer too - no clogging of filters or any other bad effects. I use it in the truck's Cummins and the boat's Volvo diesel. It's harder to see any evidence with the boat, but it seems to me the truck runs smoother, less smoky, and gets a touch better mileage. Supposed to lube and protect the injection pump too. 155K miles on the truck engine, 5,553 hours on the boat, no trouble with the internals of either engine.

Buying it in gallons, the cost is minimal. If in fact it improves mileage by 4-5% (which is had to measure accurately, but i have done comparisons with the truck which seem to confirm this) it pays for itself.
 
Thanks Richard. I've been using that product in that vehicle (Excursion 7.3L Diesel) for about a year. 8 oz. every fillup. Sometimes the fillups are more than 30 gallons though (it holds 47), maybe I just need to use two bottles.

Could be there's something else affecting it too

Charlie
 
HI Charlie,

Depending on the location - some stations use blended diesel (#1 and #2) during the winter months. Ask at the station. When we recently had to go north to Nebraska (and -15º weather), we bought blended fuel (most places) or mixed in some #1 diesel.

Stanadyne would be a back up. Moving south is generally helpful, but all bets are off this winter. :crook

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Just watched a 10 minute video on how to replace the 8 glo plugs. Hope we don't have to do that, I don't want to try it and I'm sure it would be very expensive to have our mechanic do it.

Maybe I'll just have to wait for spring and drive the gas powered jeep in the winter.:roll:

Charlie
 
No, it does not. I'm sure one would help but thick oil doesn't seem to be the problem. If we were in Maine for any length of time on the winter, I'd have one.

OTOH, once it's hot, no problem in starting. Glow plugs or block heater, the latter is a lot cheaper!

Charlie
 
Captains Cat":3e2vsew3 said:
I know they make a special fuel for diesel engines that will allow easier starting in cold weather. We cannot get that here in our part of VA.

Is there an additive we can use to help cold weather starting? From what I read, it is possible to do this but using it may clog fuel filters eventually. Maybe if I only use it during the winter, it won't hurt too much.
Click to expand...


Here in the Great Land we use #1 Diesel (stove/heating oil)
when temps are below 32deg. Power service in the white bottle is what I use to keep a fleet of 150 diesel vehicles from gelling before the #2 (summer fuel) is burned up.
Thank you for taking our weather :wink:
 
I just replaced the glow plugs on my older 6.5 L Chev. diesel. It went from difficult starting at 40+ deg. F, to instant start at -10 deg. F. The replacement glow plugs are better than the original.
 
I've run a diesel pickup here in the very cold winters of Wyoming for the last 30 years. In the winter I purchase the 50/50 mix of number 1 & 2 diesel fuel with an additive of Stanadyne for the last 10 years & before that Power Service. Both work well, but believe the Stanadyne better for the motor from past comparisons I've read. With either additive, the winter mix of fuel & a block heater, I've never had starting problems that were not due to bad glow plugs or the solenoid that activates them even with temperatures down to -40 F. My old 1984 ford with the 6.9 L. Diesel motor was a real pain to replace solenoid or plugs, especially with the after market banks turbo in the way. I've heard with many of the newer diesels the glow plugs are not hard to replace. I had that ford for 24 years the last time the glow plugs went out & not thinking it worth their replacing was able to start it for another two years without them working even in the winter as long as the coolant heater which heated & circulated the coolant fluid had been plugged in for at least an hour prior to starting.

Charlie, most likely your starting problem is glow plug related
& not all that expensive to resolve.

Jay
 
Not sure about the 2000 7.3's, but on mine (1997) GPR's fail frequently. Two went bad for me within the first few years I owned the truck.

There are aftermarket GPR's that are far beefier - replaced mine with one 10+ years back, and it's held up ever since. Read the forums for makes/models that might retrofit if yours is bad.

Also - while the video helps confirm a GPR is bad, my truck always threw a code when it croaked as well. Don't recall what the code was, but the check shown in the video was necessary as the code could be thrown for reasons other than a faulty GPR.
 
Back in the old days we used to add methanol about a quart to 75 gallons as I remember. www.powerservice.com is supposed to be the number one selling diesel additive. If you really want to get it running give the air intake a couple spritzes of ether starting fluid while the engine is cranking over. No too much or it will bend you connecting rods. Scary stuff. It will be warmer this weekend. Get the fuel filters changed if it's been a while might have some frozen moisture in there. Or you could have it towed to the Florida Keys. Warm here :lol:
D.D.
 
I once participated in the use of ether to start a gas engine, and luckily was the one at the key. There was a tremendous explosion, and my friend staggered back from under the hood of the 62 Chevy. The oil pan was nearly blown off, oil everywhere, and the pan was hanging by just a few bolts at one end with the other end on the ground. Be careful with ether!!!
 
Dave, your post about starter fluid reminded me that with the glow plugs not working on the old ford I could & did start most of the time only using the starter fluid when really cold it needed the combination of starter fluid & coolant heater plugged in to 110 v. I was careful using the starter fluid, and the motor was still working after at least a hundred starts when I finally sold the truck.

Jay
 
Back
Top