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Old 01-07-2014, 02:20 PM   #1
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Plugging my truck in?

It's 14* here which is colder than I'm used to dealing with. -10 windchill, but I assume that doesn't mean anything to the truck/engine.

I guess we'll find out shortly, but should I have plugged my truck's engine block heater (or whatever it is) in for my wife to use the truck in about a 1/2 hour?
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Old 01-07-2014, 02:27 PM   #2
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IMO...no need to plug in until outdoor actual temp drops below zero, otherwise you'll be fine, especially with a newer model oil burner



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Old 01-07-2014, 02:40 PM   #3
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I plug it in when it's below 20 just to aid in less idle time warming up when I leave for work. I have mine on a digital timer to start about 3 hours before my normal work time. Windchill has no effect on this since that's a measurement of what it feels like.
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Old 01-07-2014, 02:43 PM   #4
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I would agree and even at below zero the new ones are pretty good as long as your fuel is winter blend. Dealer here in Colorado put a you tube that shows one starting with ease at -11.
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Old 01-07-2014, 02:59 PM   #5
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Under 20 deg F for my Ford 6.0L. It will begrudgingly start on it's own way under 0 deg, but hence my moniker...'rattleNsmoke', so I give it a break....
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:05 PM   #6
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My 2013 F-350 6.7L started right up at -3 this morning. The glow plugs might have been on a few seconds longer then usual, but otherwise a normal start.
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:16 PM   #7
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Having lived in MN for a bunch of my life, it was always a good idea to "plug in" when it got cold - below 25* usually, just to make it faster to get warm air off the heater core. Now that I am in FL, I would be plugging in when at 50*!! Well, maybe not. But Chewie is correct - wind chill is for the living, nothing else. Just like the Heat Index. But, for me, if they say it is whatever degrees, that is what I go by. Everybody "feels" it differently.
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:18 PM   #8
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Anytime the wx fcst is for temps in the 20's, I plug it in the night before. This makes for easier starts and you get heat in the cabin sooner. I wrap the extension cord around the driver side mirror, lest I forget!
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:42 PM   #9
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I plug mine in when I get home from work, when the temps are below freezing. Since we've had below 0 temps for several days now, I've also put my winter cover on.
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Old 01-07-2014, 03:54 PM   #10
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Thanks y'all.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:30 PM   #11
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I have seen this one debated to the bone on other sites. Your diesel works on combustion and the heat there in. I fail to understand why (if you can) you would not want to plug your truck in. A warmer engine/oil/fluids has less wear on start up, warms up faster, pisses your neighbors of less cause you can leave sooner, not to mention makes D.W. happy to get into a warm vehicle.
It comes down to a personal choice much like anything else but if you like your t.v. why not make it easier..??!!...just my .02 worth.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:35 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N3HCP View Post
My 2013 F-350 6.7L started right up at -3 this morning. The glow plugs might have been on a few seconds longer then usual, but otherwise a normal start.
Well it was -16 here yesterday a.m. Had the truck plugged in all night. Didn't help it, it's at ford getting fuel filters changed all the fuel is gelled up. The glow plug would fire and start normal but would not stay running cause it couldn't suck the pudding through the straw. 18,000 miles needed new fuel filters anyhow.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:49 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by puff View Post
I have seen this one debated to the bone on other sites. Your diesel works on combustion and the heat there in. I fail to understand why (if you can) you would not want to plug your truck in. A warmer engine/oil/fluids has less wear on start up, warms up faster, pisses your neighbors of less cause you can leave sooner, not to mention makes D.W. happy to get into a warm vehicle.
It comes down to a personal choice much like anything else but if you like your t.v. why not make it easier..??!!...just my .02 worth.
Thanks for the input. I've honestly not used it before because it so rarely gets this cold here. AND- because I work from home, we don't often use the truck. It usually sites for 1-2 weeks at a time. My assumption was that she would use it today because it's in the driveway (due to furniture moving this past weekend) and it has remote start.
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Old 01-07-2014, 04:53 PM   #14
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Remember guys, as well as plugging them in(preference) you need to be running an anit-gel in the fuel. It will start to gel around 15* here in the south but I know you northern guys have a little more additive in it from the refinery. I use Diesel Kleen's WHITE bottle for winter use around freezing and use twice as much as recommended sometimes. It will not hurt. Also, I use Diesel Kleen's GREY bottle at all other times. There are many out there, it's just I've always had good luck with DK to about -10 in the mountains.
Doug, what year is your Dodge? The newer ones have much better 'cold start' ability than the older ones.
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:08 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad View Post
It's 14* here which is colder than I'm used to dealing with. -10 windchill, but I assume that doesn't mean anything to the truck/engine.

I guess we'll find out shortly, but should I have plugged my truck's engine block heater (or whatever it is) in for my wife to use the truck in about a 1/2 hour?
Remember that "wind chill" is a made-up number that reflect what the combination of temperature and wind feels like to exposed skin, and how quickly that exposed skin can freeze...that is, get frost-bite. Your truck's engine is not subject to "wind chill." That being said, however, a moving vehicle is more likely to have fuel lines gel, but it is often a function of ice, snow and slush being thrown onto exposed fuel lines than actual "wind chill" that causes diesel fuel to gel...that and not having the correct winter blend and/or not having heated fuel filters.
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:13 PM   #16
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Doug, what year is your Dodge? The newer ones have much better 'cold start' ability than the older ones.
It's a 2012.

I've never added any additives nor have any idea what "blend" of fuel is in it. I didn't think Marylanders needed to worry about that kind of thing!
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Old 01-07-2014, 05:44 PM   #17
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Plugging up the trucks will also help with reducing engine wear at start up as the oil flows better than when cold. I just like the fact that by plugging it up, it warms up faster thereby warming ME faster!
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:06 PM   #18
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It's a 2012.

I've never added any additives nor have any idea what "blend" of fuel is in it. I didn't think Marylanders needed to worry about that kind of thing!
Doug,

Most suppliers start selling and delivering "winter blend" fuel to retail outlets in the fall, before winter hits. It may not get that cold in Maryland on a regular basis, but I suspect some blending is taking place, and you are buying it and may not even be aware of it.
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Old 01-07-2014, 06:37 PM   #19
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My little guy had a hard time starting today, but I do have 1 out of 4 glow plugs bad.
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Old 01-13-2014, 04:52 PM   #20
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After two cold nights (15 degrees) i noticed battery acid under my truck (07 chev.2500 HD Diesel) It looks like it came from the battery on the passenger side, this is a maintenance free battery, is this normal for this to happen. I plan to pull the battery and check for a leak in the case.
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