One relatively balmy day at the end of a long mild period last winter, my son rolled in from Montana with his Cummins Dodge, filling up about 50 miles away. Apparently it was summer blend fuel, because when it dove to 35 below overnight, we couldn't get it to run until we put a pan of wood coals under the fuel tank area for about an hour. Big clue is the fuel pressure gauge wouldn't come off the peg. Threw in the couple of gallons of kerosene we had on the farm, and a double shot of fuel additive and got it to run. Ran to town and topped it off with lantern fuel.

Next tank of fuel at the local station was properly blended for the weather.

 

Much easier next time to just pull either one of the two small leads off of each of the grid heater relays almost under the battery.
No bolts or screws, they just pull off and will 100% disable the grid heaters.

 

Okay so this morning it did the same thing. i was just about empty so i went an filled up. i hoping it was just bad fuel also put on a new fuel filter and added diesel supplement. Is there anyway my plug isnt working when i plug it in would it make this big of a diffrence? im in upstate new york right now its in the low 30s at night

 

I don't plug mine in until it gets close to 0, so assuming all else, that isn't your problem.

Have you checked that the fuel solenoid arm is making full travel? Reach down there and run it through it's travel manually, it should take not much force, and should feel very smooth, then when you release it, it should snap back. Almost sounds like the rod ends have gotten rusty and isn't allowing full travel.

 

okay here the deal now with it once i get it going in the morning and it warms up it will start right up no problem. but once it sits either all day or over night it dosnt wanna start

 

Have we established that your grid heaters are working as they should?

 

No the heaters in the intake an glow plugs?

 

cwebb, prior to trying to start it, pump the black rubber priming button until you hear it start to hiss. If it then fires right up, it indicates you are losing prime, air leak somewhere.

It should start almost to zero with only compression.

 

Would you please translate this.

 

I got typing before thinking

But i have primed it before starting it hisses on first pump.
I went through an bled the whole fuel system and it seems to be running better. Will find out in am if it will start with out ethyer

 

Good, we aren't dealing with a loss of prime situation.

Next, make sure your fuel shutoff lever ( attached to the fuel shutoff solenoid ) is very free in its movement, not gritty, or with a catch partway. You can reach down and run it up and down with just a finger.

Just for grins as well, do you give it just a bit of throttle when you try and start it?

 

Think i may have solved my issue here past two mornings fires right up. Yes i give her a little bit of throttle. But pulled an drained my fuel filter bled my fuel system and it runs like a top now. Guessing i had some air or water in the system thanks you everybody for the responses.