The 93 also starts better in the cold with the KSB unhooked.....I guess because i have the timing advanced.

 

Ok dumb question but its just something ive never picked up probably because im in the south..............but what does plugging in your truck do?

 

block heater is a heating element in the side of your block. it keeps your block and all your juices warm so it fires right up when its cold out

 

Although I honestly don't think the grid-heaters do anything whatsoever other than drain the batteries, my assumption as to why some would state that cycling the heaters more than once is detrimental is due to their location in the intake.

With the engine not cranking, thus no air circulating past the hot elements, I could see that it could be possible to overheat and thus burn them out.

If one desires to cycle them more than once, I would recommend some cranking in between.


I end up in some cold places a long way from home and I have had the heaters of every truck on the place dis-connected from day one with no starting problems that I have noticed.

 

My 90 had a waterjacket aftercooler, meaning... No heater grids. I had a either start system on the truck, and never had any problem with starting in temps as low as-20f. At home I would plug my truck in at night because it would crank faster if I did. But at work, I would just give it a shot of either.
In winter, my job is to get all the D.P.W. trucks started for the operators. The newer trucks have grid systems, and they suck compared to either systems. Grids just pull down the batteries when you need them the most.

 

If you disconnect the toaster is it ok tu use ether in our trucks? Just curious.

 

Here this is one of the best pluggin heater other than the espar heater or any other Diesel burning unit
http://www.wolverineheater.com

I wouldn't worry to much about the white smoke As long as the truck Doesn't Smoke once the truck is warm . I try to avoid using Ether At all costs


Once you are running you may find you are Not coming up to temp there is tricks to that too.

 

I've done it once - with grid heaters disconnected - and the engine cranked instantly. I have seen an old Perkins 4-cylinder with no heaters get started that way every morning. What do y'all think?

 

-12c isn't that cold for a well running ctd. It should fire up no problem sitting in that weather. It would be easier on it though if you plug it in. #1 thing to make sure of is a tight fuel system. No leaks allowed! Use a good anti gel as well.

If the temps head lower, a synthetic oil helps quite a bit as does an oil pan heater and something to keep the battery(ies) warm.

 

thanks for all the answers and running with no fan? I dunno if thats such a good idea but I may try it and once again thanks for all the answers it sure does help to have a site for fellow diesel demons to gather

 

YES.

Many of the ether horror stories are the result of some idiot having ahold of the can and over-doing it.

All it takes is the slightest breath of ether to get the job done.

It works best if someone is cranking the engine while it is sprayed; just a pshhht, not half-the-can.

It also works best if it can be introduced just ahead of the actual intake, instead of having to go through the breather, turbo, and I/C before getting into the cylinders.

One of the first modifications that I do to all my engines is to install a home-made "ETHER PORT" of my own making, either in the intake cross-over, or intake inlet, whichever the case may be.

 

If it's cold (read around *10F or colder) and gonna stay that way running without a fan is a piece of cake. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge. I'll go for several months without a fan once the weather gets right.

 

Its -22C here today, my 91 was plugged in and when i flipped the key the grid heaters didnt even have to come on, thats how warm the block heater makes the engine.

I run synthetic 5-30 so it starts easy.

Other thing you will want is a winterfront. Cardboard infront of the rad works fine, I could not get engine temp up without it.

 

My 93 original owners manual specifically says DO NOT cycle grid heaters more than once between cranking cycles. Just a thought

 

NICE....