CRD in Cold Albertan Winter

mungewell · **Joined:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:04 pm **Posts:** 48

Hi,
We managed to pick up a Liberty CRD last summer and am approaching our first (self) service, being in a cold climate I'm wondering whether there are any specific suggestions. Winter temps here are usually between -15'C (5'F) and -30 (-22'F) and it's normally parked outside - we do have access to a garage, but it's some distance from the house so not particular convient.

And to top it off we're off-grid so power usage is a concern; Our normal power usage is 5-6kW.hr per day so leaving it plugged in overnight is not really an option.

It's due an oil/filter change and I plan to clean off the MAF sensor (no ERG mods yet)...

My questions would be:
1) 0w40 or 5w40?
2) Engine blanket (or cardboard)?
3) any other suggestions?

Cheers,
Simon.

mungewell · **Joined:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:04 pm **Posts:** 48

just re-reading what I wrote.... we do plug it in, but not for a great deal of time. Say 45 mins for -15'C, long if colder.

Simon.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:37 pm

Hook up a timer on your plug, been there done that for at least -20F in the US.
I heard a story that it gets so colt up there you take warm towels and place them around but not on the body dent to pop out the dent.
Any truth or just another story?

Oh: Chinese put hot coals from a fire under the engine oil pan to help it start, just don't get to close and cook the oil in the pan. You could build a fire pit and put a steel plate over it and shovel in the hot coals.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

I'd use a 5w30 diesel oil in cold winters. That's what I use in my other diesel during the winter.

I'd fire up that generator and run it for the 30-60 minutes before starting the vehicle just to make things easier on the engine during extreme cold temps.

Are you using a Lister generator off grid?

mungewell · **Joined:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:04 pm **Posts:** 48

Drewd wrote:

Are you using a Lister generator off grid?

We're off grid solar (1.3KW of panels) so battery/invertor is normally good. Backup (gas) generator is in garage, so if my wife is going down to start that she might as well park there too ;-)

Simon.

PS. There's also a black CRD around the Crowsnest Pass, our's is silver.

mungewell · **Joined:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:04 pm **Posts:** 48

warp2diesel wrote:

Hook up a timer on your plug

I managed to screw that one up before, accidently set 7.00pm as start time. Water pump (on low-voltage disconnect) tripped out by 11:30pm :-(

Simon

GreenDieselEngineering · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1111

The 0W-40 is recommended in extreme cold environments. Without some sort of auxiliary heat (coolant/oil) a 5W will have trouble starting below -10 F. The thicker oil reduces the cranking rpm. The goal is to have at least 120rpm for a good clean start. On the KJ it is closer to 100rpm, marginal at best. A 3kW starter would do wonders for this beast or an oil pan heater.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

Mobil 1 0W-40:
Pour Point: -54 DEG C

Mobil 1 5w-30 ESP
Pour Point: -45 DEG C

Castrol 507.00 5w-30
Pour point -39°C

Amsoil 5w-30 HDD
Pour Point -50 deg C

I'm not a fan of Ow-40 cuz its not really a good diesel oil and best should be in gssrs.

Glend · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 5:57 am

As a transplanted Canuck I feel your pain. The Mobil 1 0W40 has a nice low pour point so that would suit even if you live in Edmonton (Calgary boy myself). I second the idea of the heater timer. There are some nifty remote start systems around as well. Finally, look at changing your diff oils and go to a lower pour point full synthetic for the front and rear diffs.

OldSkull · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:32 am

I got exactly the same weather here and my KJ is alway's plugged in overnight, no front cover and it's park in a Tarp shelter logic. If you live yours outside I suggest you use a carboard or cut some aluminium foil bubble isolation like this to cover your radiator. (Easy to fix with ty-rap)

I use Mobil 1 Turbo diesel truck 5w-40w because I didn't find any 0-40w or Delvac 5-40w anywhere arround my place (still searching..) Where the hell they find it anyway? :roll:

dgeist · **Posted:** Thu Jan 13, 2011 5:01 pm

Probably wouldn't hurt to add a diesel treatment for reducing gel-point and so forth. Not necessarily needed if you have a good quality fuel supply, but better to be safe than sorry. Also, stock up on a few fuel filters. If one does get frozen, it may be easier to replace than thaw

Dan

canlib · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:40 am

I run Mobil 1 all the time and use a Fia Winterfront. I don't try to start below -20 C without the block heater for a couple of hours. Just seems like too much wear and tear on a motor I want to run for a long time. For off-grid, you might consider the tiger torch/ stove pipe elbow under the pan option.

CRD in Cold Albertan Winter

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