Those are interesting points, thanks.
Although, the Cummins 6.7L has been 2010 emission compliant since its introduction in 2007. I'm pretty sure it's only using a grid heater. The Duramax, even with a grid heater and glow plugs, wasn't meeting those emission standards. And both the Duramax and the Ford engines going forward will be using urea tanks while the Cummins doesn't need them.
My little 3.3L Cummins with a manually operated (I push a button which triggers a high power relay which stops when I release the button) grid heater starts better and smokes less in cold weather than my 2.8L Liberty with the glow plug system. And it's using the same single conventional battery my VW TDI uses. Although I believe this is likely due to having a starter that spins the engine faster than the CRD is using. I personally believe finding a faster spinning starter would be the best cold-start aid improvement for the CRD.
I just prefer the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid) whenever possible . . .
nursecosmo wrote:
Even though grid heaters are more reliable, glow plugs give cleaner, more complete fuel ignition in small displacement engines. Glow plugs also allow a slightly lower compression ratio in smaller displacement engines. Larger displacement combustion chambers such as in the Cummins, aren't as picky about how the ignition begins because there is much less thermal diffusion from the charge air to the cylinder walls. Duramax trucks have intake heaters as well as glow plugs for superior emissions performance. There have been a few guys who have retrofit small diesel engines like ours, such as Toyotas and Pajeros, but I don't know how well they turned out. They might smoke a little more at startup but that is what makes diesels cool, isn't it?
The biggest hurdle to overcome in installing a grid heater into a CRD would be the incredible current draw. Cummins engines use two 120 amp heaters for a total draw of 220 amps, or 2640 watts. Of course Ram trucks have two BIG batteries. My little mule barely has enough juice to turn the engine over @-30F, much less power a 120 amp grid heater, and that is with an after market Red Top. I would certainly want to have second battery if I were to go this route.