Cold Weather Tips for Diesel Newbie

99GunMetalTJ · **Joined:** Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:35 pm **Posts:** 39

So we got my Fiance' a CRD this summer with 19,000 on the clock. We've got 25,000 now with no issues. I live in WI and we see some pretty cold weather here. Average is probably low teens at night through the winter with the extreme being below zero. First question is do all CRD's come with a block heater? I poked around a bit and didn't see anything. Next is she works 3rd shift so the Jeep sits outside during the coldest temp's and she does not have the ability to plug it in. What precautions should be taken to prevent any diesel specific issues in these conditions. All the stations have switched to winter blend around here so we've been using that.

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:41 pm

99GunMetalTJ wrote:

So we got my Fiance' a CRD this summer with 19,000 on the clock. We've got 25,000 now with no issues. I live in WI and we see some pretty cold weather here. Average is probably low teens at night through the winter with the extreme being below zero. First question is do all CRD's come with a block heater? I poked around a bit and didn't see anything. Next is she works 3rd shift so the Jeep sits outside during the coldest temp's and she does not have the ability to plug it in. What precautions should be taken to prevent any diesel specific issues in these conditions. All the stations have switched to winter blend around here so we've been using that.

There's another recent thread all about the heater, but the short of it is that the US CRDs should come with it but some people have removed them and many dealers never prepped them correctly. Assuming the latter, it might be tie-wrapped to the dipstick tube. It is in that general vicinity, though. As for fuel, a lot of folks have complained that "winter fuel" gives poor mileage, so you might want to add some powerservice diesel additive (which improves cetane rating and also reduces likelyhood of jelling.)

Inet_CRD · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:48 pm

Use 0W30 motor oil, not 5W40.

bbo · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 5:17 pm **Posts:** 382

WI here too .. GB to be exact ...

I got my crd new in 05 .. have only used the block heater a few times. While it makes for easier starts, you don't absolutely have to plug it in. it will just start harder and run rough for a little bit.

My advice? plug it in on the coldest nights ( when it dips into single digits or below ) and don't worry too much if you have to park it where no plug in is available.

if you want to save some energy. plug it into a timer where it comes on 2 hours or so before you expect to leave.
I have a remote timer I have used and just click it on when I get up in the morning.

(my cord was zip tied to the dipstick as well)

onthehunt · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:38 pm

I work nights and never have a problem with it starting unplugged, below zero. It might run rough for minute or two. Power steering makes some evil noises too below zero at start-up.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:08 pm

How long does it take the block heater to heat up?

If I get up in the morning and plug it in, will it be warm by the time I work out, take my shower, and get dressed (about 2 hours)?

McMoney · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:06 pm

If you cant plug it in you can start down to -26C with a bit of fight. I know.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:04 pm

Now that its starting to get cold here in N. FL I've discovered something
kinda annoying. The transmission wont shift into 4th or 5th untill its fully
warmed up!
Yesterday morning I got alerted and had to get to work in a hurry. Without
OD I couldn't go faster than 60. Finally shifted after a few minutes.

chadhargis · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:10 pm

Get that sucker to the shop. I'm sure it's colder up here in Tennesse than in Florida. It was 27 degrees this morning and mine shifted into 4th and 5th just fine.

I will, however, be heading down to sunny North Florida for a track day at Jennings on the 29th, then heading down to New Smyrna Beach to hang with the family. Hope it's warm down there. High here today is 45, but it's going to get close to 70 this weekend, just in time for the Titans game versus the Chargers.

chrispitude · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:20 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Now that its starting to get cold here in N. FL I've discovered something
kinda annoying. The transmission wont shift into 4th or 5th untill its fully
warmed up!
Yesterday morning I got alerted and had to get to work in a hurry. Without
OD I couldn't go faster than 60. Finally shifted after a few minutes.

That is normal behavior in cold weather. The TCM wants the transmission to heat up to operating temperature as quickly as possible. I'm surprised you couldn't exceed 60mph... that doesn't sound right, I go more than 60mph on the main road outside my development all the time while it's shut out of lockup.

- Chris

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

Quote:

Now that its starting to get cold here in N. FL I've discovered something
kinda annoying. The transmission wont shift into 4th or 5th untill its fully
warmed up!
Yesterday morning I got alerted and had to get to work in a hurry. Without
OD I couldn't go faster than 60. Finally shifted after a few minutes

.

OOH, North Florida!! My refrigerator is colder

onthehunt · **Posted:** Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:58 pm

It was -10 last night here and it started fine. Two hours is long enough to heat the block I would think.

alljeep · **Posted:** Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:28 am

99GunMetalTJ wrote:

So we got my Fiance' a CRD this summer with 19,000 on the clock. We've got 25,000 now with no issues. I live in WI and we see some pretty cold weather here. Average is probably low teens at night through the winter with the extreme being below zero. First question is do all CRD's come with a block heater? I poked around a bit and didn't see anything. Next is she works 3rd shift so the Jeep sits outside during the coldest temp's and she does not have the ability to plug it in. What precautions should be taken to prevent any diesel specific issues in these conditions. All the stations have switched to winter blend around here so we've been using that.

25,000 miles is the first timem the user manual recommends a fuel filter change. Get it changed for the winter. Use a "splash" of Diesel Power Service in each tank full to keep water dispersed and to prevent gelling.

All CRD's come with a block heater.

barnez224 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:28 am **Posts:** 130

chrispitude wrote:

flash7210 wrote:

Now that its starting to get cold here in N. FL I've discovered something
kinda annoying. The transmission wont shift into 4th or 5th untill its fully
warmed up!
Yesterday morning I got alerted and had to get to work in a hurry. Without
OD I couldn't go faster than 60. Finally shifted after a few minutes.

That is normal behavior in cold weather. The TCM wants the transmission to heat up to operating temperature as quickly as possible. I'm surprised you couldn't exceed 60mph... that doesn't sound right, I go more than 60mph on the main road outside my development all the time while it's shut out of lockup.

- Chris

I agree, mine does the same thing. I can definitely go past 60 though, the only difference is that rather then the normal 1800 rpm's at 60 it's pushing about 23-2400 before it's warmed up and kicks into 4th. The going past 60 thing sounds fishy though.

Weegie5 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:53 am

An alternative to PowerService is the Amsoil Cold Flow Improver. I've used PS since I got my Liberty but I'm going to give this stuff a try as I've been impressed with the other AMSOIL fluids I've purchased. The article was in the AMSOIL magazine I received yesterday. (I guess the subscription comes with having bought stuff from them in the past.)

I'm not an AMSOIL dealer, so I don't stand to gain anything; JJsKJ & LanduytG are, so buy from one of them.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:57 am

barnez224 wrote:

I agree, mine does the same thing. I can definitely go past 60 though, the only difference is that rather then the normal 1800 rpm's at 60 it's pushing about 23-2400 before it's warmed up and kicks into 4th. The going past 60 thing sounds fishy though.

Ok, you're right, I COULD have gone past 60. :oops:

It was just that the high RPM's
didn't feel right and because it wasn't shifting made me concerned so I backed
off.

Cold Weather Tips for Diesel Newbie

Who is online