While driving home yesterday morning (I worked an unexpected night shift), I passed a large new car/truck dealership. We have had a couple of days with freezing rain and everything was coated in a layer of crust (now several inches of snow!) including all of the new vehicles. The highway starts at the same level as the dealer lot, but rises pretty sharply so you are looking down at the new cars/trucks. Anyways, the sales staff and some mechanics are starting all of the vehicles to warm them up enough to melt the ice off. What caught my attention was the service truck parked in front of the new diesel pickups ("2005 -- Just In!") with the hood popped, cables running out to a new truck also with the hood popped, and several people standing around the vehicle like Secret Service officers, looking distinctly too inconspicuous. While I waited for traffic to sort out the much too complicated 4-way stop signs at the intersection, I watched these people JUMP STARTING brand new diesel pickups in 33 degree weather, and were trying not to let anybody see it! Glad I don't have that trouble! I started my truck in -15 degree weather the other day after the truck sat for 2 days unplugged! Other than the protesting noises from the Power Steering, everything was normal!! The large volume of blue/white smoke coming from that line of trucks was disturbing. I have not seen anything like that before from a diesel pickup in 30+ degree weather.

 

So, I'll bet this was a 'Blue Oval' dealer?

Or was it a 'Bowtie' dealer?

 

I've started all for of my Cummins' in as low as 15*F. Noisy but very little smoke and no problems. My '95 saw 5*F. It grumbled a bit with 15w-40 dino but smoothed out and did ok.

 

I purposely avoided a brand other than it is not a Dodge dealership. My point isn't to bash the manufacturer, though cold weather starting issues were one reason I chose the CTD in the first place. My main reason for starting this thread is that I found it so hilarious that the dealer had to resort to jumping brand new trucks in such weather, AND had the sales and mechanic staff try and hide what is going on! These people were standing with their backs to the trucks, looking out at the highway, sales lot, and the sky. Usually, people look at the vehicle with the hood popped (they weren't all the way up -- just cracked enough to clear the jumper cable handles) or at each other while in conversation. Not this crew! I fully expected them to frisk anyone who came near, saying something like, "nothing further to see here, sir. Move it along."

 

Well if that's the case, you're invited over to my place for dinner and a show. Mine smokes blue in anything less than 45F weather. Granted, it's got some wicked injectors, but it loves to smoke! I started it up the other day after it cooled off for 5 hours in -5F weather and my buddy said he thought I started a pulling tractor instead, just by the noises it was making. Got to love that power!

brandon.

 

I have relatives left in Ohio -- Some day I will take you up on the invite! I like your truck! The stacks look killer, and my sons love the burnout video!