Diesel engines need a different kind of treatment in extreme cold as well. On Monday, ConstructionEquipmentGuide.com published a useful story on this topic titled Diesel Engine Do's Don'ts for Trouble-Free Winter. The main point the author strives to get across is that the best solution to avoid problems with diesel starts is to prepare in advance. Don't wait till you have a problem. You know it will be cold, so be ready.
One reason diesels are a special problem in cold weather is because "they depend on high temperatures created by compression to ignite the injected fuel." Our diesels do not have spark plugs. Internal combustion operates on a different principle. Because of this, the author states that "it is five times harder to start a diesel engine at 0 F (minus 17 C) than it is to start one at 80 F (26 C).
Though there can be a number of causes for challenging winter starts, the top three reasons are gelled fuel, cold cylinder walls or electrical failure. The article offers practical actions you can take to avoid being stranded in the cold.
It's worth pointing out that these tips aren't just assembled from miscellaneous trucker lore. The author, Julian Wood, works with Perkins which has documented billions of hours of testing in all environments. Their cold weather testing is performed 100 km from the Arctic Circle in Sweden at near 50 below.
FLUIDS
The first area of focus is on the fluids. Just as water undergoes changes based on temperature (ice, liquid, steam) so are the fluids in your vehicle transformed as temps drop.
Recommendations fall into four baskets. Nine pertain to the fuel, two address the oil, three pertain to the coolant and two more to the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).
The second area Wood addresses is the engine itself. Some of these steps should become part of your regimen at the beginning of winter, not when you're in the middle of a blizzard.
The third area is a the electrical system, specifically your battery. This is where the energy comes from to start your beast. You want a strong battery going into winter, and the author reminds us the batteries lose a portion of their cranking power when temperatures drop. You may even want to consider a battery warmer.
A couple other items of note. Beware of parasitic loads. That is, be aware of the things that can be a drag on cranking. Also, always let the engine warm up for five minutes before putting it into work mode.
The key idea that the author strives to sink home is here in the conclusion:
"A modern diesel will start and run under extreme conditions with very few issues, but ignoring those issues can be expensive. Proactive preventive action may seem like an extra expense or time spent on something that isn't a problem — now — but it makes economic sense in the long run. The consequences of ignoring winter diesel issues can range from losing all or part of a day's work to repairing expensive engine damage."
Read the full article here:
https://www.
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Just a thought- Old Man Winter can drain batteries quickly. If a battery is close to the end of a typical 48- to 72-month cycle, replace it. Clean battery terminals and be sure connections are tight. If equipment will be stored over the winter, disconnect battery ground cables to prevent battery drain.
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