I will be moving to the cold country. What are some do's and don't for a diesel?

 

Since your Location says Arizona, what are you calling cold country? Since yours appears to be a 2005, you do anything but maybe plug it in if it gets below 0 F. The owners manual will cover most things. You may want to change to 5w40 diesel rated oil too. The trucks will start down to about -20 F without being plugged in.

 

You will want to cycle your grid heater twice on cold mornings. You will want to pay attention to what fuel stores are using blended fuel for gelling and which aren't. It's ok to run #2 but you will have to add an anti gel additive to it. I always plug my truck in once it gets below 30 degress. I have a timer and it's much easier on everything that way. The coldest I have started this truck is -33. It started but didn't like it too much. I run Rotella T 15-40 year round. I always have run it in my trucks, tractors, big trucks, equipment, etc. It has never let me down.

This all depends on what you call cold country. I live in MT where we see below 0 quite a bit in the winter.

 

Cold country...Moving to or from AZ?

 

As Staarma said, use a timer. Get a 10 amp timer not one designed for Christmas lights. They're ~ $10. Once it gets into the 30's at night, I set mine to come on 2 hours before I'm leaving for work. When it gets colder, I'll set it to come on 3-4 hours prior depending on the temp.

Get a winter front, too. Great way to speed up warm up time, especially if you hit the highway on your commute. I bought the Mopar one, used on Ebay. Regular price is ~ $125 for it, but there are others. Do a search on here for other winter front suggestions.

 

why do you cycle the grid heaters twice? is it not starting?
if you have to do it twice to get it running then you have a problem..... the code for heater grid problems is p0382....
i start mine all winter without cycling twice or plugging it in.
the cold temps at my house at 7200 feet elevation are -25
(i have had po382 for three years and it still starts with original batteries)

 

Cycling the grid heaters just warms up the intake for the motor. It does start better when it is colder. I just put on my winter front when temperatures stay below 50 degrees. I also start plugging in the truck when morning temps are to be in the 30's. A cold engine will tend to accumulate diesel in the crank oil, how much depends on how long you drive it after warm up. Here in upper Illinois start plugging it in now (with a timer) and winter front will be probably before Thanksgiving. I use my truck as a daily driver and mahe about a 7 mile drive to work. I got the information from this web site and has worked for me. The truck has heat first thing in the morning and will get to 200 degrees by the time I get to work. My oil samples will show some fuel in the winter but just a normal trace. FYI .

 

Im just below Alaska and all I do is plug mine in over night when it well below freezing, Ive only had to do the normal start sequence and a way she goes, no glow plugs, works great.

 

I only cycle twice when it's well below zero outside. It starts much nicer is all, one revolution versus two. I'm still on original batteries too.

 

Where are you heading too? That will help answer some questions. For instance, Anchorage Alaska the coldest snaps will get to -20 for a couple weeks, but in Fairbanks, 350 miles North they can see -40 or even -50 for weeks on end (-60 being the record). This will make your requirements different. For -20, the standard block heater is fine. You can run 15W40, but some will perfer 5W40. If you forget to plug in, it'll start, but be grumpy for the first couple minutes. For -40, battery blankets, trans/oil heaters, and a block heater are a must. Also, good idea to switch to 5W40 oil. At those temps you must plug in or leave the truck running or you will never get it started....

 

or you could set the truck on fire and snuggle up to survive

 

I like to park mine in my heated garage makes starting no problem. I also put cardboard in front of my rad, pretty much the whole thing when it cold here. If going on the highway far I would not want to block the whole rad. We have -30c for a couple weeks at a time around here.

 

Thanks for all the input. This will help. By the way I will be moving to Klamath Falls Oregon. Being an Arizona native for 45 years I can say moving to the cold country. Thanks again

 

If you don't mind me asking why are you moving to K Falls? It doesn't get too cold over there. I used to go over there every day for work. The summers are great and the winters aren't bad. I think the coldest I have ever seen it over there is about 10 below. Only for a few days though. Generally the winters above 0.