Starting a Cummins in Sub-Zero Temps...possible??

[jimminyC]

With no block heater????

So, me and a few buddies went snow camping last night. Got back to our truck and my dodge turned over fast, but wouldnt catch. I got a jump from a friend, put a tarp around the engine compartment, started my camp stove under my rig and it finally started up.....barely.
I have 2 brand new batteries, new starter and its all tuned up. I was holding the throttle at 1/4 like they reccomend.
I was happy with how long it accualy turned over. Just wondering if theres anything i can do to help things along next time??
Is starting fluid ever an option? Would it help if i unpluggled the intake heater and sprayed some in?
other options.
It was dang cold, and i didnt want to screw with my rig. Fun though. :shrug:

[Colin]

It's definitely possible. Theres a local living in the dorms here that works on a farm. He leaves here every morning around 7 in his CTD....no where to plug in block heaters here. I'd say the average temp in the mornings has been -20 for the last week or so...

[NismoFreak]

Starting fluid will start your truck.. However if you have an intake heater it will pre-combust in your intake. Call Dodge or Cummins and ask cause I have no clue weather those little motors have intake heaters or not. I've started many semi's with starting fluid though with no issues. None of them had intake heaters though. Starting fluid is also good for getting it to run again after you have run it out of fuel. After priming the pump take the air filter out and spray some in the intake then start her up. One thing to remember is that the fliud dries out K and N filters really quickly..

[jimminyC]

Its been down in the 20s and below here in junction too, and my truck starts fine. This was up on the mesa...in the negatives. Coooooooollllllddd.

[Chris Halvorson]

Do Not ever use starting fluid on a Dodge Cummins unless you would like a nice explosion under the hood. The cummins uses grid heaters instead of glow plugs.

What year of truck are we talking about? This year hunting we had -10 and had no issues. The 3rd gens are good down to -28 below zero. We had 3 dodge trucks in our group. 12V, 24V and a Common Rail 24V..no starting issues at all.

I would look at your grid heaters. Take your intake horn off and cycle the key to see if they "warm up"....or use a voltmeter.

[trailrider12]

Cycling The Key To Run The Intake Heater 2-3 Times Will Make Them Start Easier, The Grid Heater System Needs To Be Operable.

[jimminyC]

I cycled them a few times when i went to start the truck. I wonder if the fuel gelled???
Its a 96 12V.
I'll check voltage at my grid heaters.
If they get volts, does that mean they are working?

[Colin]

Its been down in the 20s and below here in junction too, and my truck starts fine. This was up on the mesa...in the negatives. Coooooooollllllddd.

Re-read my post, its been -20 for the past week, -34 this morning actually. I'll ask the kid if he has any trouble starting.

[bcw1284]

put the white bottle Power service additive in your fuel. it's winter formula and will help prevent gelling when it's friggin cold. It's worked good for me. although, i've been ok without it this year so far, but not last winter... it works, I swear by the power service stuff.

[COcummins]

fuel gelling would be my first guess if no fuel additives were being used. the only time mine hasn't started was at the 36 hours of keystone a couple years ago where it was parked for three days unpluged. i ended up using my "mr. heater jr." on the fuel lines and she eventually started.
and i would NEVER EVER use starting fluid on my engine, but to each their own on that one.

[mdurbahn]

my dad's cummins never starts when it is below zero if it's not plugged in. my brother never plugs his in and it always starts...

[Mack]

Like everyone else said, check your grid heaters and relays. My old 24v 2nd gen started in -20, but didn't like it, if it wasn't plugged in. I'd cycle the grid heater a couple of times, though. The new 3rd gen hasn't even hiccuped when it's dropped into the neg's.

[bsaunder]

fuel gelling would be my first guess if no fuel additives were being used. the only time mine hasn't started was at the 36 hours of keystone a couple years ago where it was parked for three days unpluged. i ended up using my "mr. heater jr." on the fuel lines and she eventually started.
and i would NEVER EVER use starting fluid on my engine, but to each their own on that one.

x2 - I'd bet the fuel was gelled, at least in the fuel filter if not in the lines as well.

[jimminyC]

Tested voltage to the heater grids, and i only had one grid working. So, theres my issue.
Now to find one of these little illusive relays....did some calling around today with no luck.
Gonna try Grainger tomorow.

[Chris Halvorson]

Glad you found the problem.

Fuel gelling is hard to do in the "winter blend" fuel. Strait #2 diesel has a cloudpoint of -10 to -15 degrees F.(some refineries) When the refineries start adding the additive packages, this drops to -20 to -25 degrees F.

[stroke this]

most truck stops offer both #1 and#2 diesel in the winter, i found that out the hard way this thanksgiving in MO. just something to watch for. dont know about CTD but on the PSD you can drain the water seperator, if you you dont, that can be where problems occure even when the fuel has not gelled. just my .02

[nord]

JimminyC, make sure the contact on the relay isn't dirty - the green or orange 18g wire that actuates it, not the thick ones that run the power the grid heat. I just had one get corroded and stop actuating the relay, on a 1997.

jon.

[jackrabbit]

http://www.priproducts.com/priflow.htm

[Wally]

We started a 94 cummins last night ...to take it for a test drive :evil: ...that hasn't been plugged in for over 3 weeks, and it started on the second crank.

[SCOUTMAN67]

My '96 never starts below 10 degrees unless it's plugged in for at least 30 minutes.

It's never fun stopping at motels on cross country trips in the winter when it's -5 and trying to get the sucker started. It's usually a 10 minute ordeal and praying that the batteries hold up. Once it does start, man it smokes like sonofabitch until it smooths out. :o

How do you check the grids to see if they're working? The "Wait to Start" light comes on and I hear a click when the the light goes out, so I'm thinking *something* is working under there...

-Gary

[jimminyC]

gary, i checked voltage at the 2 terminals right where the grids are. next to intake. i only had 1 working. you gotta have someone turn the truck on for you while you check voltage. both terminals need about 10V during the wait to start. i bought a Relay from grainger.

[Mack]

Gary-
How old are your batteries as well? I had issues with mine starting in the cold until I replaced the batteries.
-Mack

[SCOUTMAN67]

Thanks, I'll have to look for those terminals by the intake. I really should know more about the truck. :rolleyes:

Mack, the batteries were in there when I bought the truck...in 2000 :D

-Gary

[Mack]

Thanks, I'll have to look for those terminals by the intake. I really should know more about the truck. :rolleyes:

Mack, the batteries were in there when I bought the truck...in 2000 :D

-Gary

Same thing happened to me, in my '99.... pulled them out, and found the original sticker of early '98. Can't complain about 9 years of abuse :D

/hijack- You ever finish the basement project?

[SCOUTMAN67]

Same thing happened to me, in my '99.... pulled them out, and found the original sticker of early '98. Can't complain about 9 years of abuse :D

/hijack- You ever finish the basement project?

9 years isn't bad. I think it's time for new batteries...this morning the truck was plugged in for an hour and I killed them trying to start the bastard. Good thing I have a couple Scouts that actually start when it's cold, LOL

I'm *still* working on the basement :eek: but I'm getting closer. I only work on it about 2 weeks a year though and spend the remaining 50 weeks building trucks :beer:

-Gary

[Mack]

9 years isn't bad. I think it's time for new batteries...this morning the truck was plugged in for an hour and I killed them trying to start the bastard. Good thing I have a couple Scouts that actually start when it's cold, LOL

I'm *still* working on the basement :eek: but I'm getting closer. I only work on it about 2 weeks a year though and spend the remaining 50 weeks building trucks :beer:

-Gary

Sounds like I jinxed ya :D

[SCOUTMAN67]

Sounds like I jinxed ya :D

Yeah, thanks a lot! :D

[The Yetti]

If you use starting fluid, use just a tiny bit, not like starting an old gas truck that has sat too long. More like enough to start a lawnmower. I don't recommend it, but sometimes the truck just has to start, whether it wants to or not. Also if you have a mechanical injection truck(pre 98.5 dodge), The cold starting is very sensitive to injection timing. If the timing is retarded at all, it will not want to start. Also if you have any fuel flow problems at all, it will make it run like crap till it warms up.

[Chris Halvorson]

I didn't want to post this, but they do have a Cummins friendly starting fluid that will not light up your grid heaters. Please verify that it is for a Cummins...I would hate to see someone get hurt or have mechanical failure.