Problems with Diesels in cold climate

[Jassman]

I'm suprised everyone has so much trouble. I've been driving diesels as my daily drivers for 6 years now and I've never put anything in my fuel. This morning it was -11 and the truck started just like normal and drove fine. Have I just been lucky?

no, all of mine have been the same way from all three manufacture's. Granted it might get down to 23-25 degrees, like this morning...but even in WI a few weeks ago when it was 4 below and a bad wind... My 08 Ford 6.4 started 3 days in a row without a problem. It took maybe 5-7 sec's longer for the glow plugs to warm up.

[Carguy]

I have to believe its the fuel in different parts of the country. Had another tow in today. It really hasn't been that cold here. 10 degrees or so at night. I'm going to learn how to cut fuel with kerosene.

[JFM]

Gelled my 02 powerstroke 2 times last year both times when driving. I started to use Amsoil diesel cold flow and no problems yet. Knock on wood

[Clustergear]

I have to believe its the fuel in different parts of the country. Had another tow in today. It really hasn't been that cold here. 10 degrees or so at night. I'm going to learn how to cut fuel with kerosene.

I am sure you know Nicky Cutro give him a call he buys Howell's Lub by the case. I use it in my diesel tractor and he uses it in all his trucks and tractors. No problems in the cold . When we were racing running back and forth from Fla. every time time we stopped for fuel we dumped it in tank in all weather summer and winter and never had fuel problems. Its like 1oz per 5 gals fuel. If you talk to him tell him Big Dick from Big Dick's Sterndrive Service told to you to call.

[rjcardinal]

The Ford 6.0 does have issues with the passenger side glowplug harness. You'll get hard starting and rough running when cold. It's not a great design and deteriorates after a couple years.

Chris,

Can you elaborate on this glowplug harness issue? I have a '05 and a '06 F-250 with the 6.0 in them. The '05 has cold start issues. The '06 does not. It rarely gets colder than the upper 20's here but anything below 40 degrees the '05 starts hard and runs like crap for the first 15 minutes. It has never failed to start. We just let it fast idle for 15 minutes in the morning then its alright. Does this sound like the harness issue? Whats the fix? Replace the harness?

I have 2 Internationals with the 444e, a Ford F-650 with the Cat motor, three Isuzu cab overs, the two F-250's with the 6.0, and two E-350's with the 7.4 and they all start fine except for the 05 F-250 6.0. I would love to get this one right before it fails to start on the yard.

Thanks,

Ron

[Chris]

Chris,

Can you elaborate on this glowplug harness issue? I have a '05 and a '06 F-250 with the 6.0 in them. The '05 has cold start issues. The '06 does not. It rarely gets colder than the upper 20's here but anything below 40 degrees the '05 starts hard and runs like crap for the first 15 minutes. It has never failed to start. We just let it fast idle for 15 minutes in the morning then its alright. Does this sound like the harness issue? Whats the fix? Replace the harness?

I have 2 Internationals with the 444e, a Ford F-650 with the Cat motor, three Isuzu cab overs, the two F-250's with the 6.0, and two E-350's with the 7.4 and they all start fine except for the 05 F-250 6.0. I would love to get this one right before it fails to start on the yard.

Thanks,

Ron

The passenger side glowplug harness fails from heat exposure related to poor design. But my guess is you have coked injectors. You can try the Ford inductive heat flash. It's a computer upgrade that holds the solenoid coils on the injectors open while preheating the glowplugs. It warms them and helps free them when they're cold. The injector design Ford (International) uses allows oil to get into the injector body and leave a deposit that, when the injector is cold, allows them to hang up and improperly fire. You can also pull the injector and have them ultrasonically cleaned if they have less then 100K on them. beyond that, you're better off sticking rebuilts in it.

[Seafordguy]

I have to believe its the fuel in different parts of the country. Had another tow in today. It really hasn't been that cold here. 10 degrees or so at night. I'm going to learn how to cut fuel with kerosene.

I would have to agree with this too.

We have actually had several days in the last few weeks with weather in the teens and mine starts, and runs great with or without letting the glow plugs warm up.

[BUIZILLA]

most, if not all, aircraft ground equipment runs on jet fuel year round, which is really super clean kerosene,,,, no reason not to use it or blend it with DF2 in the winter... the AGE people use 100% jet A year round, so does the US Air Force... you don't see the de-ice trucks gelling on the runways...

[smittyseng]

I'm suprised everyone has so much trouble. I've been driving diesels as my daily drivers for 6 years now and I've never put anything in my fuel. This morning it was -11 and the truck started just like normal and drove fine. Have I just been lucky?

Ian,do you park inside or outside? Like I said,I have never had a problem getting any of the 4 duramaxes I have had to start,even at -18 and I don't bother plugging them in BUT I have had them gell up driving down the road after being fully warmed up (with no additive in the fuel,just winter blended fuel),it baffles me,Smitty

[Chris]

It's sounding like a Michigan thing. I run straight pump fuel and over the last decade, none of our trucks has ever had a gelling problem. Michigan isn't substantially colder than Northern Ohio.

[smittyseng]

It's sounding like a Michigan thing. I run straight pump fuel and over the last decade, none of our trucks has ever had a gelling problem. Michigan isn't substantially colder than Northern Ohio.

Overall though,the further north you go the colder it is on average during the night,it's 5-10 degrees colder on average here in mid michigan then it is in detroit and another 5-10 degrees colder on average and earlier in the fall/later in the spring when I head 150 more miles north. This winter has been exceptionally cold with temps reaching -18 at night which is close to record low's for around here. I know now if it's going to be -10 or colder to add some anti-gell addittive to my fuel,Smitty
I also find myself leaving for my day job at 5:20 am,by 7:00-8:00 am it has warmed back up to near zero or above on these cold nights.

[Bgchuby01]

You all need to move to california, I can start my engine without a glowplug 365 days a year. Oh and did I tell you we can boat on christmas day.

[smittyseng]

You all need to move to california, I can start my engine without a glowplug 365 days a year. Oh and did I tell you we can boat on christmas day.

I lived in Ca for 2 LONG years,no thanks
Anti-hunting public
crowded
non-stop traffic jams
food and gas was 50% higher
housing cost was insane
every town was just a continuous strip mall and suburb
Mexican gangs roaming the streets
Emission testing on automobiles
AND NUMBER ONE: EARTHQUAKES
2 weeks after I moved a earthquake devastated the area right where I lived and drove

[drpete3]

It's sounding like a Michigan thing. I run straight pump fuel and over the last decade, none of our trucks has ever had a gelling problem. Michigan isn't substantially colder than Northern Ohio.

FUK that! When was your last -30 reading? You must be referring to Detroit.

[drpete3]

I lived in Ca for 2 LONG years,no thanks
Anti-hunting public
crowded
non-stop traffic jams
food and gas was 50% higher
housing cost was insane
every town was just a continuous strip mall and suburb
Mexican gangs roaming the streets
Emission testing on automobiles
AND NUMBER ONE: EARTHQUAKES
2 weeks after I moved a earthquake devastated the area right where I lived and drove

Hell yea!!! If people keep leaving the state (MI) we will soon be here alone