hey all,

last year the truck started like a champ and i was the one helping my buddy with his powerstroke. this year he's got a gas engine and i'm the one getting the help! this morning it's -30 at the cabin and my wife's taking me to work... again. the batteries seem strong cause it'll turn it over real good but just won't fire (should i be puttin' the peddle down too?!). i'm here at work and looking over posts, but it's hit and miss. where, in your opinion, would you begin your trouble shooting?... i'm running 911, so i don't think it's that (plus sourdough fuel rates their diesel for -40), replaced the LP last summer (OEM) and it was plugged in on a timer four hours before i tried to start it (and i know they all work- battery pads, block, oil/tranny pan)...

thanks for any hints and ideas...

 

If you could specify the year of your truck it would help in the troubleshooting.. There are certain problems specific to each model..

 

ah junk... heh heh... you're right. i've got an '01 ho cummins 4by with the 6 spd tranny. other than that... ?

thanks,

 

You're not running it all the time, right? You mean you dumped some in? It is good if it does gel, but not meant to be run all the time, regular PS or Howes is meant to be run in every tank. Not sure if that's what you meant, but that said, that shouldn't cause it to not start.

I started mine this morning as well, also in Fairbanks, even plugged in all night it was a rough start(with the pads/heaters I have). Maybe the 4 hours was just not enough in this kind of temperature overnight?

 

When it's minus freakin 30 I leave mine plugged in all night. I think you almost have to, at the very least it's alot easier on it.

 

Have you pulled your fuel filter and looked at it? That is where I would start. It will at least give you a good idea if your fuel is having issues. Any smoke when are turning it over? Were you in fact running 911 or white power service? leak in your filter housing bleeder? try bumping your starter to activate your lift pump a couple of times and listen for it to make sure it is activating.

Not sure who it is on the site but he always says start with the small stuff. Make sure to check back in and post your results, lots of very big brains on this site.

Don't forget to put your truck in your sig.

 

Good idea to run fuel additive all the time with the new ULSD as I have read reports that the fuel will wax off and cloud causing major fuel problems and cannot be easily thawed out with conventional additives.

I would pull your fuel filter (not fun the cold) and see what it looks like in there.

Scott,
I have found that when you get down into the -30's, 4 hours is not enough to keep the heat in the block. At that temp I unplug the timer and go straight to the wall. And use a heavy cord too,a light cord at 50' will cut your wattage at the heater by at least 15% and you need every watt of the 750 the heater can provide.

Or go with an Espar....

 

I think you thought I was having trouble starting, I am also recommending that blaineinak plug it in all night

That's what I have been doing, running it all night. Cord is rated to 1250W.

 

Blaine, I've read that kerosene will free a gelling issue, maybe try dumping some of that into the tank after you check your fuel filter.

So Alpha13 when did you get to FBanks? Find any houses yet? I'm also curious about your heaters....did you get 'em there? and do you have one on the tranny too?
We're on our way back up in June, and I want to buy what I need before we drive up to avoid the higher shipping costs. I was stationed in Anchorage before, and was fine with just the factory block heater then, but I know that's not the case there.
One weekend we were riding in Petersville and the truck sat in the Kroto Cr. lot all weekend seeing mid -40's at night....unplugged. Well she wouldn't even turn over once we got the sleds loaded up....ended up getting a tow down the road to a friends garage, and stuck a bullet heater in front of it, plugged in the block and threw a batt. charger on for an hour and that did the trick.

Good luck Blaine!!!

 

We drove up and arrived Jan 16, may have found a house, getting ready to make an offer. I added a oilpan heater from http://www.padheaters.com/description.html, the 250W. And two battery warmers. I have a NV4500 so no tranny heater. But just after the -30, and hearind the cold snap will be back, possible -50's again, I am more seriously entertaining an espar!

Blaineinak, I second just replacing the fuel filter.

 

Yeah you definitely do not want to run 911 all the time. It is only to ungel filter. You need to start using the white Power Service bottle.

 

ok, good word on the 911. i'm pretty religious about using howes in the tank and have been using the 911 since our cold snap in the beginning of jan. pretty hard on the diesels- i left it plugged in all the time- straight to the wall. didn't think though, that the cord would draw down the juice to the heaters.
the truck fired right up this morning after being plugged in since... oh, yesterday (!) when i drove of in our other vehicle. been looking into why it seems that this year is different than last when it ran like a champ.
scott- you got different heater pads- how much different than runnin' down to napa? also, you second the air filter (got one sitting in the truck) any tricks? i've read about getting air in the system.

thanks guys. the diesel started... itza good day...

 

Just to chime in, 4 hours of being plugged in is not long enough. The block is a 1040 pound chunk of steel, with 6 gallons of antifreeze and 10 quarts of oil. The heater is 750 watts and doing the math, that is just not enough time to get it warm. I have a 250 watt oil pan pad heater too. Boy that makes ALL the difference in the world.

 

White PS = winter, Silver PS = summer. I plug my truck in right after I get home. It's easier on the block heater. It just has to maintain its heat that way and not try and reach its heat. Might just tap the throttle once right after you hit the ignition. I wouldn't press down too much. I'd check the fuel heater to see if it's working and the intake heater/ relays.

 

Glad you got it running, it may have just needed more time plugged in, but changing the fuel filter can't hurt. I am not sure about the pads at napa, I had to order mine online, no one in Oklahoma sold them, I bet as long as wattage is the same, they're good.

On that note, yesterday my PS would not stop groaning, probably for a good 25 minutes, may need to flush and change it again...dang the cold. But really I like, feeling your nose hairs freeze is an odd feeling.