I just got the word that I will be recruiting out of Ankeny, Iowa for three years. Im looking for info on taking care of my truck in a cold climate. The winter avg is around 15* F. I have the high idle enabled to help with the warm up. Do I need to alter my fluid changes or add an anti-gel to my fuel? TIA

 

Oh come on it's not that cold up here .

I would say get a cold weather front and chord for the block heater. From Genos they have the wigidgit block heater plug (here is one for 03-09) http://www.genosgarage.com/prodinfo.asp?number=WD-BHP . I install the winter front when the temperatures stay below 50 degrees F. (usually after Thanksgiving) and take it off when temperatures get above 50's again (March). As far a fuel I have never used an additive or anti-gel yet, I stay away from the Bio-snot (biodiesel) stuff tho.

FYI Spring takes forever to start up here , we might see mid 60's today.....yippie.

 

Winter?
I did switch to a lighter full synthetic oil this past winter. What I noticed was it cost more and...it also allowed the truck to start better...turned over easier.
I traveled all over the above two states and rarely had the opportunity to plug in the block heater...no issues for two winters.
These new diesels are much better in the winter. With what has been suggested [lotto tickets too], you will be fine.

Scotty

 

Thanks for the advice. Im certainly gonna get a block heater.

 

i think you already have a block heater

 

You know what I meant.

 

Block heater, synthetic oil, and a Mopar winter front.. Should be good, assuming you have you OE fuel canister/heater and grid heater.

 

I still have my grid heater and have the 09+ fuel canister. Guess I need to buy a winter front.

 

You should be fine with all that.

Make sure you get good fuel, throw some sort of diesel rescue in the tool box or back seat (Amsoil Diesel Recovery worked great the one time I needed it). Don't idle it, and you'll be fine. These things don't really care if its cold out. The biggest mistake people make is idling too much, so in the morning just start it and go once you have oil psi.

For block heaters I found that 90 minutes is a good amount of time, you gets lots of return for your $$, any more than 90 minutes and the return starts to diminish. The winter front will really help here as the heat doesn't escape thru the radiator.

If you do have to idle for any length of time just kick the fast idle up, and engage the EB.

As far as the EB they are a great tool, I try not to use mine until the engine has run for a few minutes to let the rings warm up so that your not pushing all that exhaust into the oil, but otherwise they are amazing in terms of warming an engine.

 

Awesome. Thanks a bunch for the info guys.

 

I tend to plug mine in when the temp gets to 20F or below. I have no touble starting to that temp. I run Shell Rotella 15-40 year round, and as long as I pug it in, It starts and runs well even at -40F. I run w/cardboard in front of the radiator, saves $$ on the cold weather front...lol.

I use PowerService fuel additive, and love it, it cleans the injectors, and adds anti-gel, plus cetane boost.

Just my .02...

 

This past winter in Kansas was pretty bad. I was worried about the same thing when I got here (I came here from Southern California) and I was going to do all of the above. I went to the Dodge dealership here and they said that I didn't need to do anything. It got as cold as 10*F. The only thing I did was activate the high rpm idle and warmed it up before heading on the road. That was it. The truck is still running like a champ. Just my $0.02.

 

It can get to -45C here and -30C often in January. I run 5w-40 Synthetic oil year round, plug in the block heater at -20 and colder and run a winter front. The fuel companies change to winter fuel here in late October, if they don't in your area run some winter conditioner with each fill. I have never had a problem. Just do your regular maintenance and all will be well.