What kind of fluid would you change to in the PS? Mine has been groaning alot too.

 

Isn't there a cold weather kind? Or maybe just synthetic one? Not sure, I need to do some research...

 

Good luck with that. I fought the same problem with both my 2nd gen and never found a solution that worked all the time. There are several fluids that are supposed to be better, but I can't recall right now what they are. You might want to call Gene's Chrysler and talk to the service reps (Susan was great if she's still there) to see what they recommend.

Once your nose hairs freeze, your eyelashes aren't far behind. Don't worry too much though. Once it hits -30, it doesn't feel much colder no matter what the actual temp is. If you've got the overhead trip computer, don't freak out when it displays gibberish, it only reads down to -40.

 

When I lived in North Pole I bought a programmable timer. I'd set it to turn on four hours after I got home and run for an hour, off for 30 minutes, run for an hour, off for 30 minutes, etc, and then run for a full two hours before I'd go fire it up to leave for work. I think it ended up cutting about 7hrs total from my energy use, and I always had a warm truck that started with little fuss. Four hours of heating after a 12hr cold-soak at -30 just doesn't leave any room for even small mechanical problems, especially with a 2nd gen.

 

finally gave up the ghost... replaced the vp44 and put in a fass ddrp in place of the oem lp... seems to all work really well together. in retrospect, the cold weather was only 'helping me' see the slow death of a vp44. junk. well, put me on the ever-growing list of bloody knuckled cummins owners (#5 & 6 anyone?!?! - make me wanna puke!)
anyone looking at this should really watch dieseldan change out a vp on youtube. good stuff right there...

thanks for all the input guys...