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12-12-2016, 12:49 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 181
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Starting a 7.3 in the Cold Cold
I'll be heading up to the mountains soon and was wondering how cold can I start the 7.3 in before its to cold? I haven't had any problems around 20 but it's looking like we might hit negative numbers soon. I also wondered if anyone has used a portable generator to power the block heater and if it worked worth a damn?
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12-12-2016, 02:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 952
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We had to leave a 7.3 F350 in a mountain town for two weeks last year because it wouldn't start. Got it back once it warmed above freezing.
Generator works as a good backup source. Frozen diesel is another issue.
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12-12-2016, 04:14 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 439
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Make sure to toss in some of the Diesel Kleen white bottle winter anti-gel additive and make sure your fuel tank is mostly full. Keep your eyes open, definitely have found some parking in mtn towns where I could plug the block heater in to. Just make sure to pack a good outdoor 50-75' extension cord
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
__________________
2002 EB51 7.3L w/ Stage 2- UJoint 6" 4x4 Conversion
2001 RB50 V10 Quigley- SOLD
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12-12-2016, 04:42 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: boise idaho
Posts: 2,625
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^^^ almost exactly what i was going to say. only thing i can add is ive found a few light poles in parking lots that have outlets in my travels. when using power sources that arent mine, im sneaky with how i route my cords to look the least inconspicuous. snow hides them well
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"understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of your car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of your car, horsepower is how hard your car hits the wall, and torque is how far your car moves the wall."
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12-12-2016, 06:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boulder, CO.
Posts: 2,554
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All good advice, I also get in the habit of cycling the ignition at least 2X's in the winter months when it's cold to give the glow plugs an extra heating cycle.
'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
RB "50" SMB
Quigley 4X4, Deaver's and RIP kit
CCV high profile pop top
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'03 Ford E350 7.3L Diesel
(de)SMB'd Custom RB-50
Quigley 4X4 w/Deavers & Agile Offroad's R.I.P. package
CCV High Profile Pop Top
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12-12-2016, 06:56 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,244
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In Alaska, it's not uncommon to use a propane weed burner to preheat engines. Folks will take a section of stove pipe with a 90deg bend in it. Place the bend under the engine, light the burner and place it in the long end of the pipe. Occasionally, someone will leave it too long and burn a hole in the pipe. It's obvous who's done this, because there the ones that have melted bumper covers and grills.
__________________
Arctic Traveller
KC6TNI
2001 GTRV
Advanced 4wd
Agile Ride improvement package
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12-12-2016, 10:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 181
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Here is another food for thought question. How many amp hours would it take to heat the engine block heater with the inverter? I can't imagine it would work well but if shit hit the fan maybe it would warm up enough to start. Isn't Scalf the local electrical guru? Maybe he could chime in?
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12-12-2016, 11:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 705
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainVo
Here is another food for thought question. How many amp hours would it take to heat the engine block heater with the inverter? I can't imagine it would work well but if shit hit the fan maybe it would warm up enough to start. Isn't Scalf the local electrical guru? Maybe he could chime in?
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I'm very doubtful about this working, block heaters pull big juice! But if I'm wrong then I'll keep it in mind for my next cold travel
I do like the wood pipe idea though, beats building wood fire directly under the engine like they do in Russia, lol
Cheers
David
"Another great day ruined by responsibilities"
__________________
2008 E350 Hambo
2001 E350 AmbuLand (sold)
1970 Econoline popup camper
1965 Econoline Travelwagon
A few bicycles...and sandals ;)
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12-13-2016, 06:46 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by REF
All good advice, I also get in the habit of cycling the ignition at least 2X's in the winter months when it's cold to give the glow plugs an extra heating cycle.
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Agree completely. Also, keep in mind that the glow plug cycle lasts something like 2 minutes each time, not just until the dashboard Wait To Start light goes out. But, the glow plug cycle takes a lot of juice, so make sure your batteries are in good shape.
This does all remind me of growing up with my Dad and going skiing in the Winter. Before turning in for the night, my Dad would run the engine for 15 minutes or so, and then stick an old sleeping bag on the hood of our station wagon to try and trap some of the heat.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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12-13-2016, 08:46 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 1,258
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I installed a cheapo volt guage to watch when the glow plugs are drawing juice...
So in very cold/ first start of the day, i wait till the voltage comes back up to 12.2 and fully turn to start. Works like a charm.
__________________
Rob.
Current:
2001 E350 PSD w/ a bunch of stuff.
And had three other E350s...
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