Cold Starting

jeep06 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:52 pm

Been toying with the idea to throw this topic out there..... since a lot of you have 05's maybe there will be some results. I am wondering what the coldest temp has been starting the CRD with out having it plugged in. I bought mine in March of this year, not too many cold days in Michigan since I bought it. Just wondering what I can expect when the cold sets in. TIA.

KJMedic · **Posted:** Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:13 pm

I did work night shift last winter and some nights the temp here was down to 10* F. CRD started right up. Glow plugs only on for 1 or 2 sec.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

Coldest was 5 degrees F - gp light stayed on for 5-6 seconds, started right up, sounded like a mack truck for a couple of minutes, but quieted down after a little warmup.

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

I started mine at -12F last winter (parked overnight) without any fuel additives, or use of the plug in heater. It started up within a few seconds, ran rough for about 30 seconds and was warm enough for heat within about 5 min of driving at 40mph. The fuel was #2, winter blend. I know that colder than at about -20F you should add anti-gel, but it was not a bad winter last year and I did not have to use any.

redcrd · **Posted:** Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:43 pm

took a trip to pennsylvania this past winter, it sat for 2 nights at about 20 degrees, on the third day the start up was horrible, the loud hammering sounds that came from the engine for about 30 sec. but i did not plug in the warmer, only had the antigel in the tank

pierce1979 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:35 pm

I have owned my CRD for year now. I have never plugged in my CRD once, even on the coldest of mornings, just waited a few seconds for glow plugs to do their thing and it fired up every time.

railguy · **Posted:** Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:53 pm

Started my '05 in -10 F. weather with no problems for two winters. Have plugged it in once, when temperature was predicted to drop below -20. Didn't use antigel or additives, just winterized #2. Fuel economy does drop 10-15 % with winter blend fuel. For that reason, I usually drive my gasoline car in winter for better fuel economy, unless road conditions warrant 4WD. My car has all-speed traction control, so that doesn't happen very often. Also, I would say unless the weather is bitter cold, there's not much reason to leave a CRD plugged in all night. Put the heater on a heavy duty timer to come on a couple of hours before starting the CRD. That will save electricity, and seems about as effective as leaving the CRD plugged in overnight.

alvanko · **Posted:** Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:09 am

I use the block heater under 30 degrees F. Not for easier starting but to give quicker cabin temperature and also to warm oil a bit to get a little faster oil circulation.

RFCRD · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:53 am

I've started mine as cold as -5F when parked out overnight. This was also in an open parking lot on Lake Erie with no protection from the wind. Have never used the block heater. Not knowing what to expect, I kept a can of starting fluid under the seat all winter but never had to use it. However, it will clatter like it's coming apart. I also use a more efficient gasser if it's going to be extremely cold and don't expect snow.

onthehunt · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:40 pm

I would assume you know the dangers of starting fluid and glow plugs. Not a good mix at all. Maybe someone should post a warning for all the diesel newbies on that one. On the cold start issue, you should always plug your diesel in when it drops below freezing. Why wouldn't you want to reduce cold start wear, bad mpg, and quicker heat?? I can understand if you can't plug it in, but if you can, why wouldn't you?

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

I experiemented last winter with the block heater. While the viscous heater heats up very fast, usually in 1 mile for me even at 10F temps, I found that using the block heater increased my winter mileage by almost 2 mpg. At today's fuel cost, that alone is worth it to me. I bought a heavy duty timer and used it to start the block heater at 2:00am - by 6:00am the CRD was ready no matter how cold it was. The electric bill cost averaged out to about $10.00 a month extra. When working late nights in winter, parking it at 8:00am in the morning, there is nothing better than coming to a freezing cold CRD, 10F at 1:00am in the morning, starting it up and having roasting heat a mile down the road. The viscous heater on the CRD is absolutely top notch.

SCKJCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:25 pm

Please educate me. Is the "viscous heater" another term for the plug-in block heater, or does the CRD have some other kind of built-in heater to warm the engine faster once it's running. This is my fourth diesel vehicle, and I had just resigned myself to the expectation that I would get cabin heat about the time I arrived at work in the winter.

Fortunately it doesn't get too cold in my part of the world. I think we only had one or two mornings below 20 degrees F last year.

Ranger1 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:40 pm **Posts:** 1137

CRD has a viscous heater, which is driven by the engine belt and a AC style clutch, which adds heat to the cabin heater and the engine block when temperatures are below 40F and in the US a 110VAC plug into your house outlet engine block heater for overnight heating if you want it nice and warmed up in the morning. Then there is the built in heater on the fuel filter head to keep it from jelling up...

alpnst · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:47 pm

Not to Hijack the thread but!!

Dumb question, but I don't have a owners manual. DC says they are on back order and have no clue when they will have more. Anyway I have looked everywhere and can't seem to find where the engine block heater plug is. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:13 pm

alpnst wrote:

Not to Hijack the thread but!!

Dumb question, but I don't have a owners manual. DC says they are on back order and have no clue when they will have more. Anyway I have looked everywhere and can't seem to find where the engine block heater plug is. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

It is tied to the engine dipstick tube.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:47 pm

I've started my '05 in -10F weather with no problem. It runs rough for 30 seconds like people say. I also noticed turbo spool up was extremely slow with the cold viscous oil running through it.

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

I should add one other thing about the cold starting-the CRD would not go into overdrive until it reached a temp programmed into its little brain. For the real cold weather it took about 5-10 min at 40-45 mph

richardkf · **Joined:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:15 pm **Posts:** 167

when you untie the wire that leads to the heater under the hood - where do you route it along so that it isn't dangling around in there when it is not plugged in or do you wrap it up again?

also - in the summer, when the temps are like 98 degrees and one hundred and whatever under the hood ... over time ... will that cord begin to decompose with that constant hot exposure?

alpnst · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:57 pm

So I went out and looked at the power cable hanging off the dipstick. First of all I feel dumb for missing it at the last oil change. I have always seen the power cable hanging out of the bumper or grill on other cars with an engine block heater. Leave it to Jeep to put it in a place were you have to open the hood to hook it up.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:12 pm

alpnst wrote:

So I went out and looked at the power cable hanging off the dipstick. First of all I feel dumb for missing it at the last oil change. I have always seen the power cable hanging out of the bumper or grill on other cars with an engine block heater. Leave it to Jeep to put it in a place were you have to open the hood to hook it up.

It is there because the guy that serviced it after it got to the lot did not route it out the front as he should have done. Incomplete prep.

Cold Starting

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