Well I decided I've had enough of shoveling so I'm going to go up to the acerage and swap the snow brush onto my JD mower and bring it back to town. With it I can do the whole block in the time it takes me to do my side walk with a shovel.

So fired up the '03, -25C, hasn't been run for over a week and wasn't plugged in. Fired right up, was impressed.

Tried the '01, its been sitting for 2 weeks but I did put a trickle charger on it last week. Not plugged in either. Didn't even try to fire. Wasn't surprised. Plugged in and charging batteries now. I think those batteries may need to be replaced.

What about the rest of you? Having good luck in the mornings?

 

Suprisingly, my 12V has been running all along. Its got fresh Optimas and gets plugged in for at least 4 hours. I still cross my fingers when I start it because she does NOT like the cold.

 

I havent plugged my chevy in since I bought it,, allways starts.. My Dodge allways starts too... even since i got rid of the grid heaters I have started it just below 0 and it started fine...

Kevin

 

We will see how long that lasts Mr. FortMcMurray.....

 

My 07 from down south was a no go yesterday after sitting all night,traced it to bad batteries and even threw a code to boot,enough for the grid heater but not enough to engage the starter(code was cleared by brolaws Smarty).Called a favor in with one of my accounts(friend of a friend) and 2 new Napa diesel batteries(1000CC) for $107.00 a piece 72 month warranty,anyone else $170.00.I guess i can bang my head against the wall cause i thought i was being careful,changed the fuel filter,switch to synthetic 5W40,fuel conditioner etc.Starts like a charm now---even not plugged in,guess the truck is not use to these cold temps,not like living the good life in warm Nevada.DW

 

My '01 has started lots of times when it really shouldn't have. My brother's '98 is a cold-blooded beast-I think his '03 is good though. Dad's '92 starts good. Just came in from firing up my 5.9 GC-apparently the battery is not up to snuff.... had to boost it with the Dakota to get it to go.

 

My starts pretty good, cranks a little slow at first but after about 2 or 3 revs it catches and goes. My Espar has been throwing overheat codes at me and won't fire up the first time. By the time I realize it, its time to go and I'm starting my truck in -25 with no plug in, and it usually sits for 2 or 3 days. I need to test my batteries. Everytime I turn the key on when its this cold, the voltage gauge is way low and the check gauge light is on. They sat in my dually without running for 3 months or so, shouldn't be pooched yet.

 

Shane remember I am from Grande Prairie, not much difference,, lol less wind here

Kevin

 

Only started my truck once in the past week, plugged in for a hour after sitting a few days and started great it didn't even do the 1,000rpm thing right at startup. I really do not like to start it without being plugged in below -15C, it is just hard on the truck. I just borrow my dads when it's this cold, his diesel and not putting the miles on mine

 

I haven't driven my truck since this cold snap...which is in week two..I plugged it in for a couple of hours.Drove out and almost got run over by a mini van..

 

I would check the coolant with a hydrometer. I flushed my coolant this fall and switched over to some whizbang 50/50 premix from freightliner good for like 900,000 Km. Anyhow, my espar went down on overheat repeatedly on a cold start on Monday, so I pulled the cap and the rad was a slurpee.(-37 rating my backside!!! ) Plugged it in and got it in the heated garage to thaw. Got it back to snuff with some prestone and now its back to normal.

I would check the cable ends. The positive on one of my previous trucks was rotted inside and looked good from the outside. Made a big difference to upgrade it. I am thinking the same with this rig.

As long as it cranks it fires.. But its pretty lopey, like an old GM 6V92 until it gets some heat. Barks pretty hard unless I keep the throttle up.

J

 

I saw your post about that, I cracked the rad cap today when it was running (maybe ran for 4 minutes), it started puking coolant out right away. I'm hoping thats from pressure from the water pump, and not pressure from ice forming in the coolant. I will be going and picking up a jug of antifreeze tomorrow methinks. I knew I should've done a coolant flush when I did the KDP on the rig.

I think it might be the temp sensor, as it has done it when the truck was half decently warm. I shall investigate further tomorrow.

The truck does lope a bit, but not as bad as I thought. The groan from the PS bugs me more than the miss when cold. Once I start driving it clears up real quick anyway. For the size of injectors I'm running, I'm happy it runs as good as it does in the cold.

 

You guys are making me concerned.

I'm gonna have to go pop the rad cap and take a look and take a peek in the reservoir. Mine hasn't been driven since the year end get together. It's in the garage, but uninsulated and no heat so ambient temp would be the same as outside. My only saving grace would be I added straight antifreeze when I installed the Espar - no mix.

 

My little 6.7 is plugged in all the time over here where theres a windchill warning AGAIN. This truck has started awesome and ran great ever since the surgery on the emissions stuff.

J, whats that whiz bang stuff called? I am thinking its time to change the factory coolant on this rig since I am now sitting at 115,000 miles on the clock.

Still running Dino 15/40 Rotella, tried the synthetic once in the 04 and stayed with the Dino ever since.

Scotty

 

I haven't even tried the Dodge, it makes to much noise and smoke. My new V-10 work truck has come through the cold weather test with flying colors though.