More Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Diesel Equipment

In much of the country mid-January is the coldest time of the year. Arctic blasts send shivers up our spines. Though most folk hunker down on those coldest days, there are others who make a living outdoors. It's not a matter of dressing for success (the white shirt, the right tie) but rather learning how to dress to survive. (Choppers, lined pants, layers of shirts, parka, snowmobile boots, etc.) 

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.constructionequipmentguide.com/diesel-engines-dos-donts-for-trouble-free-winter/50940

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Getting Your Diesel Truck Ready for Winter

Photo courtesy Chevrolet

It's Black Friday. It's nice to have a long weekend to get our vehicles ready for winter. What follows are a few areas to focus on, extracted from an article by Whitney Russell that I saw this week at The NewsWheel.

1) The Battery
As you head into winter you may wish to test your battery to see if it is ready for Jack Frost. According to NAPA auto parts, battery strength is reduced by 35% at 32 degrees and 60% at zero. The time to deal with an older battery is before the season, not when you get stuck somewhere and need cranking power.

If you live up north you probably know a little about the tricks diesel owners use in the winter time, but if you've just moved here from another part of the country you may want to think about getting a block heater, if your truck doesn't already come equipped. (Heated seats are nice, too, but they won't help get your truck started.)

2) Anti-Gel Fuel Additives
It depends on where you live, but for those unfamiliar it can really get frigid in winter the further North you go. Sometimes someone in Florida goes to visit family in Maine or Toronto, and is unaware of how cold it can get. You should be prepared with a suitable fuel additive to keep it from gelling before it reaches its cloud point, the point at which wax begin to form and inhibit flow.

3) Switch to Lighter Weight Oil
Unless you're a newbie you know how viscosity makes a difference between seasons. If you need help selecting the right diesel oil for your truck, you can always Ask Jake. (Hit the white Ask Jake button on the right here.) 

4) Fuel Filter
The author suggests that if it's been a while since you replaced the fuel filter, this would be a good time to deal with it. We're also reminded that some trucks have two. Replace both.

* * *

The article is basic, but a good reminder that it's that time of year and winter's coming soon... or has already arrived, depending on where you live.

The article ends with links to more info on block heaters and how to protect the exterior of your vehicle from road salt. Don't know what road salt is? It's not for your grits. 

Here's a link to the article in full. Hope you've recovered from your feast yesterday and had a happy Thanksgiving.

https://thenewswheel.com/how-to-prepare-your-diesel-truck-for-winter/