nursecosmo wrote:
Last week when the temp was -20* I was able to start the Jeep with only a little extra cranking for like one second. Last night for some reason I did not think that the temperature was supposed to get very cold because it was snowing and in the twenties so I did not plug it in but this morning it -15*. It would not start. I don't know why it started at a lower temp last week but would not start this morning. I think that I'm going to put some 0W-30 oil in it tomorrow if I can find it. I had a hard time getting the hood unglued from all the ice in order to give a spurt in the intake. years ago there was an ether kit made for small diesel engines that mounted in the cab and had a tube that sprayed right into the airbox. It worked real nice for tired old MB's and VW's. does anyone know if such a thing is still available or will I have to make my own?
I found there is big difference in cold starting depending on diesel fuel supply. During the coldest months, I use the white Power Service additive - about 4 to 8 ounces per tank. The white Power Service is widely available and is probably the most commonly diesel additive available. You can find it at WalMart, for example.
It is made to improve cold starting and allows cold start to low temperatures that are not commonly experienced.
On the topic of the block heater, I find even 15 or 20 minutes has a impact. I typically use a timer, though, and set it for about one hour before I use the Jeep. Big difference. The glow plug indicator hardly goes on even in -0F temperatures. It doesn't take long to have an impact. Leaving it plugged in all the time is not necessary, but then, I haven't experienced -30 or -50 temperatures, only -20F.
+1 on the Power Service. I use the same amounts as you do per tank. I don't plug it in unless it gets below 10*. My wife finds that after it has sat out all day at 0*, it is a little slow to fire. She has since gone to cycling the key/glow plugs 2-3 times and it fires right up.
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