Hey guys, I'm in Canada, owned the truck since new, and if it's -40, I literally wear gloves to work because the Cummins is so cold...it's ridiculous to spend this kind of money on a truck and have to be cold.

So, I put in the PacBrake and activated the high idle(it's a 6speed), and that helped the warm up time like crazy, it warms up a LOT faster, probably up to temp in 15 mins in -40. I also have an Espar, which obviously does the job better, but I don't have the luxury of using it all the time.

I install a canvas tarp from the firewall over the engine, in front of the rads and tie it off under the engine, this helps a bit as well.

But I'm still running colder than I want to be, yes I've checked the thermostat.

I've heard something about dual thermostats? Anyone chime in here? The way I see the coolant system, I don't know where you'd put another one?

Also, on defrost, I know the A/C compressor runs, how much trouble would I cause by unplugging it? Would I get super fogged up?

If anyone has any other ideas to stay warmer, I'd love to hear them.
Thanks.

 

Move to Texas.... haha, although it didn't get above freezing down here the other week for over a 100 hours...

 

You don't want to unplug the a/c compressor, it actually places a load on the motor helping it warm-up faster.

Do you have a winter front?

Really nothing else you can do, takes time and energy to get 1K lbs to heat up.

I'd only let it idle for a little bit, its better for the motor to be driven than to idle.

 

It sounds like you got everything that I can think of.

I'm not sure of what type of situation where you couldn't use the Espar.

 

Hey, a fellow Canuck!!! Go to the dodge dealer and ask for p/n 82208646. Its a under hood winter front that has 4 adjustable flaps (it ain't cheap, but it works, so, I guess it is cheap). It fits snug against the inter-cooler and covers everything under there, I have no problem getting 190 degrees when its -40 driving around town. Running empty, on the highway I have to open at least 1 flap or she will overheat.

I would test that thermostat though.

 

sure yours overheats? its 50 degs here in Seattle and i keep all 4 of them closed all the time during winter. i might get to about 204, but it drops right back down to 189-190.

 

I have to run 1 open as well if its above 20ish. The motor won't overheat but the IAT's are uncomfortably hot, and I don't want to know what the underhood temps are.

With all 4 closed and around 0*F it runs perfect, and IAT's are around 75 or 80. When I hit a good hill it will climb to just over 100 on the IAT's and 200ish on the coolant.

 

Being on the cheap side until I figure out how and what I want to do, I have a piece of thick cardboard slid in in front of the radiator. Folding over the top of the piece, the hood holds it in place. It covers about 80% of the total surface area, essentially blocking out the middle of the rad. Warms up faster and even on the 56F day we had here yesterday, the coolant temp never got above 201; tranny temp was 190, IAT was 58.

 

It would be neat if the grill inserts operated like a set of mini blinds. You know, crank the handle and the blinds rotate. I guess the challenge is a lifetime of proper working actuation. You might end up with a problem like the interior AC vents where one little flap never moves wit the rest of the group.

 

If I have to leave earlier or sometime where I haven't set my timer in advance. Or if I'm low on fuel. Obviously, you can run them when the engine is running as well, which is nice.

 

I've got the grill inserts for the "winter front", plus that tarp.

About the idle, with the Jake on and high idle at 1100RPM, do you still think it's bad to idle? With that load, the EGT's are around 800degrees. I kinda think that's ok?

 

I'm certainly very interested in that! Is that the only mod you've done? How are your in-cabin temps? Do you happen to have any pics?

 

BTW, it's a 2006, so it's the 5.9L and it's a lot colder than the 6.7L.

 

When I was in Alaska a few years back I noticed the Dodge owners in the Yukon and Alaska had a metal insert over the front of their intake area and some had the canvas with flaps. I was there in June and didn't need anything on my truck as the temp was in the 50s to 70s. A number of them had battery blankets and I'm sure pan heaters. Tenn. gets cold but so far 13 is about the lowest I have to worry about. I know high idle kicks in real quick even after running for a while.

 

Here is a photo of a winter front installed, its not the best one but it will give you an idea how they fit. https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...7&d=1239227686