tacoma

so. My 89 12v was plugged in, in its former life. In it's current one, it is going to be away from plugs, so no way to warm it up in the cold eastern mornings I'll be subjecting it to.

My questions:
1. is the intake heater grid an effective cold weather (like, maybe down to 10 below for a couple mornings that I'll be in WY, otherwise 0* at most), and if so, could I wire it to be switched, stand-alone?

2. Are the later fuel heaters retrofittable to my ancient motor??? hahah

The guy I got all this from is sending me a CAT ether injection setup, which might help.

I guess I should ask if this thing is going to start, I don't mind a bit of warmup time if that's what it takes, but I dont' want to wreck things or have a truck that won't start either.

Lots of questions! it's my first diesel, be gentle LOL

Thanks in advance.

Tacoma

A-Poc

I had a buddy who bought a used 89 diesel with about 100 000miles on it. Turned out the bottom of all six exhaust ports, on the head, were sheered off(bottom exhaust bolt and all). We believe it was an old farm truck and had been given a good shot of ether to get her going on a nice Canadian cold morning. The head had also been welded before.

Moral of that story... I don't like or recommend ether for the faint at heart.

Mike

tacoma

duly noted!!!

infidel

If you have good batteries and cycle the grid heaters at least twice it will start but won't like it.

fschiola

I don't think I would want to be able to switch the heaters on manually, if you left them on too long they could melt. As advised above cycle twice then start.

Lil Dog

Bah!!!

I had an 89 no where near plugs in -35°F weather without too much problem. Sure its a little bit rough starting, but for me it started 1st time everytime. I was at the airport in Calgary at -25°F next to a new Mercedes sedan with a diesel. He cranked that thing until it died, I fired up and boosted him!!!

Get the timing set, run good fuel conditioner, have a good battery (or batteries if you see the way to install 2 instead of just 1) and have fresh fuel.

The 89's do have fuel heaters just like the rest of them too.

G1625S

1 good battery is all that's needed. I've started as low as -10f unplugged. She was a little lumpy, but it did NOT take a second try. As Infidel said, it will start, it just won't like it. Just say ''no'' to ether on an engine with grid heaters!

infidel

What I meant by it won't like it:
Old timer trucker once told me that he figured every cold start under 32F took about 10k miles off the engine's life. Don't know how correct his numbers are but tend to agree with him.

kelownadiesel

Ive started my 97 in -40 C with 3-5 grid heater cycles without the block heater,chugs to life but starts nonetheless.If you wanna run ether,you are supposed to remove the intake heaters.Im my experience with the northern Canadian winters my truck is subjected to,I would get new deep cycle batteries every year or 2.Seems a little much but good insurance.Also most of the guys I work with run 0W40 in the winter I think.I never have though.We have northern fuel out in the oilfield here so antigel isnt really needed but some guys run it anyway.Most big trucks are left running all night when its real cold though.A high idle is my next investment though,and I've neglected it.Also make sure the block heater works all night,cause when I first brought my truck up there it would short out half way through the night

tacoma

I don't have any heaters at all on this engine right now... so it's either retrofit newer stuff or adapt the CAT ether deal, which I really wouldn't prefer.

The reason for thinking of switched grid heaters is mostly so I dont' have as much wiring to mess around with for the short term. This is somewhat of a hasty install right now.

Lil Dog

I forgot to mention I was running synthetic engine oil 0W40 as Kelowna illuded to. That is key, 15W40 is concrete much below -10°F. That is what takes years off your engine, dry cranks and hard running cold diesel.

The grid heaters could be easily switched using a spring loaded push button or toggle. Just hold the button for 20 - 30 seconds and it should fire, then keep "cycling" them yourself every 30 or so seconds if it is really running rough. If you can find in the wrecking yard a set of relays and the heaters, just grab them and get a switch to wire to the relays.. Should be a snap..

cumminsdriver635

Yeah. I wouldnt run ether myself. It can damage the piston rings, and that is why they say motors can get addicted to it. It will lose compression because of the ring damage, and its downhill from there. My truck always starts decent. Sometimes ill have to crank it twice to get her to stay running, but she fires every time. I like to keep it plugged in just because it runs so much smoother in the mornings, but i dont always do it.

Eric