How to Cold Start a Diesel Engine Truck (Tips, Tricks + Hacks For Truckers!)
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- čas přidán 3. 12. 2020
- How to Cold Start a Diesel Engine (Tips, Tricks + Hacks For Truckers!) There’s nothing fun about starting a diesel engine in a truck in cold weather! In this video, we’ll give you tried and true tips and tricks and a few hacks, to getting that ride fired up when the temperatures drop way down low!
3 Simple MUST DO Tips For Successful Cold Starts
Plug that baby in! This is simple but necessary.
Fresh, clean filters in the truck will help with trucks starts.
Invest in a new set of batteries for the truck. Old batteries are unreliable.
Heat the oil pan and rad.
Little shot of ether.
Diesel fired heater
Portable generator
A.P.U.
Plug in the truck
Dave’s Fav Truck Start Hacks
** Heat a gallon or so of diesel fuel in a clean plastic jug in a safe way. Then pour the ‘warmed fuel’ on the fuel filter and fire up the ride!
** Talking sweet talk to the truck can really help too!
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_Good Day Big Strapper._ Thanks for dropping in to check out the Cold Start Video. You got _any nasty experiences_ with your ride not firing up? Love to hear from you.
Thanks for the video. I drive for a local company that has junk trucks. What are some sinple things I should take with me when I go out on the road.
ALWAYS CARRY A GOOD INSULATED SLEEPING BAG.
Not a truck but on topic....
Up in Northern Minnesota, one winter, I went out to our van to start it. Chevy G-body from '77 with a 292 inline 6 and a 3 on the tree. I put in the clutch and cranked it until I figured it would start, no dice. My dad sniffed the gas tank, and told me to stop. He had me smell it too....at -54°F (-48C) gasoline smells like tar because the volatile parts of it that make it burn are too cold to vaporize. So we got a block heater and a gas tank heater, plugged them in, and left a few hours later.
I had a fuel pump die in Canada in winter. Stuck in it for hours. 20+ below. I layered up and got under my sleeping bag
My coffee froze in my cup. Finally got towed after about 10 hrs
A space heater that might be a good idea
When I used to live in northern NY, I sometimes plugged my vehicle in the night before to an outlet controlled by a switch in the house. Then in the morning, when I got up, I would flip the switch and then get breakfast, etc. By the time I was ready to go, the engine was nice and warm.
Good way to do it!
I thought they needed to be plugged in while still warm?
This is the BEST one ,no damage the engine
A tip from a New England logger: we install quick couplers on the coolant drain ports on the equipment engines and on the heater hoses of our pickup trucks. Come to the job on a cold morning and connect the heater hoses to the Diesel engine. In a few minutes it will start like summertime. I’m sure this would work on truck engines but it would probably take a bit longer. Saves a lot of wear and tear on your starter too.
Nice tip and a new one for me, thank you! I think that's the best tip I've heard this year! Proves you're never too old to learn something! Thanks again!
Candle and coffee can should be in every truck that runs in winter climate . If the truck breaks down in cold weather go in bunk , close curtains and put candle in coffee can after lit . It will provide enough heat to keep you from freezing to death in a serious stranded situation, like a major snowstorm for instance .
Great tip Peter!
My father told of putting a roll of toilet paper in a coffee can fill it with diesel then light it on fire underneath the oil pan.
In Russia we ALWAYS drive with a pair of pants and a coat rated for up to -50 C. No jokes. Sometimes you can't even start a fire because the snow in the forest is your nose deep and you can't collect any firewood because of that. A gasolene torch is also always in the bunk. Natural gas doesn't help cz it freezes.
I hear that! Thanks Vadim!
I used to keep a small bag of charcoal with me. If it was bitter cold you could use it like the sterno trick. Some people used to carry a steel bucket to burn the charcoal in. On really cold mornings you'd see a bunch of burnt up bags on the parking lots. What Dave says about batteries is good advice. Probably number 1. I have Odysseys' in my truck. They aren't cheap, but service calls cost more. Also, Arctic Fox tank heaters will never let you down and you'll never need to put anti-gel in the tanks. Of course you have to keep the engine running for them to work, but when it is below zero I do anyway even with an apu. It avoids the hard cold starts and I'm always safe and warm. In my old age I'll spend a little on fuel and keep me and the truck warm.
Smart Trucking: A couple of sterno gel fuel cans should do the trick......
Farmers: We know a thing or two, because we've seen a thing or two. 🤣
That is for sure!!
I've drove truck since 1973,talking to your truck llol now I dont feel crazy I'm not the only one lol
Nope, you're not Dewayne! Stay safe!
Haha, My dad lit some charcoal on a garbage can lid and slid it under his car, he went back inside, the messy engine dripped and burned car down. Laughed about that for years.
Wow! Bet your Dad doesn't find it too funny to this day!
@@SmartTrucking
He was pretty easy going with a great sense for humor. He was able to see the humor in it down the road. Thanks for the content, I enjoy your channel.
Another nice tool, cordless heat gun on the fuel filter(s). Keep two or three batteries charged for use, they'll help with a gel problem as well as warming the fuel prior to injection. Also can work to warm the batteries up; keep a small, thick blanket or old coat to throw over the batteries to keep the heat in, lock the trigger and give it a little time. Will also quickly thaw a frozen door lock, frozen up wipers, mirrors or windows without damage.
Awsome advices, specially those two of dave's own experience. I remember when I was a child, we had an old truck driver who had a Mack R600 as our neighbour. At winter mornings I used to watch him coming out of his house with a large industrial blow torch and nearly setting the whole truck on fire, and truck started at the first attempt 😁
Hahaha 😁😁
One thing to keep in mind is the new paccar engines and some other manufacturers used plastic oil pans so be cautious of that
Seriously?! I didn't know that!
@@SmartTrucking yeah ! Silly to be honest, Good thing I still run the ol 98 379 !
And Detroit too these days
Its plastic On the outside, aluminum inside. The plastic is to help insulate and try to prevent leaks or weeping from the gasket...
@@jonnothetrucker Detroits are metal. I have a newer DD15 and it’s metal. The radiator cover is plastic however.
Cold weather tip: drive in southern California. Good video as always!
Lol ur going to have these new guys burning their trucks down lol
Well, hopefully not!
Yeah especially if they drive for Swift! 🤣🤣 Good one Redwine 5 that was funny man!
Swift driver going to say if one can works five cans have to do it even Quicker😆😆
I can see it now, some idiot will grab a bunch of cardboard boxes and set them ablaze under their trunk......
Hey now, I'm a Swiftie and I'm smarter than that, I hope! Lol 😆 I'm a rookie and I'm still learning.
I'm doing a carrier change, going onto trucking. I will be starting cdl class in late December. I always find your videos very informative. Thank you for the real out look on trucking.
Thank you Glenn! Appreciate it!
Yeah Dave that second story reminded me of a reefer driver in Montana who had the truck motor quit for whatever reason out in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard. Lucky for them the reefer kept working and they were able to get in the trailer and survived the ordeal at a "comfortable" 40 degrees. I believe it was a Safeway driver.
Neat story! Thank god he wasn't hauling frozen!
I thought I would comment on another tip that can help start a cold engine, while its not at all some guarantee to start in severely cold weather it can help if the conditions are marginal and have no other means at your disposal. The technique is simply to crank over the engine for a few seconds rather then crank and crank. Crank over the few seconds and then let it sit for half a minute, then crank again for a few seconds, sit again for half a minute and so on and it make take a few events of doing that to allow it to fire up. What its doing is warming the cylinders by way of the compression heat generated and then sitting allows for that heat to soak into the head and cylinder walls. Some engines respond very well to that technique such as an old detroit 8V92 silver tip I have and have used that same method on other two cycle detroits years ago at an oilfield company. Otherwise those detroits can be cranked over and over and never even attempt to fire at all. I do that as well on other older tractors I have that won't even start just below the freezing point due to their design that was never conducive to starting if an ice cube was near !.
Dave, you’re one Hell of a communicator. I am not in the trucking business but one of your live casts popped up on CZcams and I got addicted. Reminds me a little bit of the old school trucking shows that used to pop up late at night on the radio.
In the old days, up north, a tobacco tin , or two, with some holes punched in it, a rag, and some deisel. Light er up. Put under oil pan for half hour, Start engine. Never, ever, had new batteries. LOL
I carry hand warmers and an expensive sleeping bag during cold weather just in case....
Really good ideas!
Army 3 in 1 sleeping bags are great. Get at surplus store
Great video Dave, I always keep a real good snow suit in the truck with a nice thick sleeping bag just in case. It sucks getting cold....
I keep a stack of those hand warmers stowed away too, just in case.
Excellent idea!
😆 The sweet talking is something I do all the time whether it be the 7.3L Powerstroke in my 95 Ford Dually, or the 454 big block in my 85 Chevy C30 dually. Also gotta love hearing a diesel of any size hitting and missing when cranking in the cold. And if you're going to carry ether with you save yourself the headache of needing 2 people and just install an ether injection system.
You can purchase a magnetic heater as an add on to your block heater. I stick mine onto the oil pan to keep the oil warm.
Great tip!
🤣 come on baby! 🤣
Gotta sweet talk to her
Believe it or not it does work.
Then ya gotta pay her.... 😒
@@jasonduke3608 And not just with the wife/girlfriend. 😉
A lot off ppl would think talking to your truck is crazy. But the GOOD book says "The power of life and death is in the tongue." Talk nice to her.
Only issue I have ever had was batteries going out. My wife never understood how fickle batteries could be in the winter time. She is all about saving every penny possible while not spending a dime. Doesn’t always work out as she is learning.
One I used was an electric dipstick I bought at a yard sale. Was just long enough to get couple of inches into the oil. That on a timer plugged into my shop hydro & a shot of either did the trick every time. Have always carried candles as well. Amazing how much warmth you can get out of having couple of candles.
Like you, done the freeze _ss off covered with everything available waiting for service vehicle to replace fuel rail that had vibrated a hole against ribbing of engine.
The part on that one that hurt was I had questioned how close fuel rail was to engine when new truck was given to me. Told "oh no, that is normal." 1st trip out it wore the hole. I was asleep (Doing 5&4s - super single back then) when engine quit. Had emptied both fuel tanks while I slept. Fuel everywhere! Had to get service tech to bring 25 gal as well just so I could get to next fuel stop.
When I got back was greeted by boss who asked why I hadn't fixed it myself. Told him that new lead mechanic wouldn't let me put my tool box in new tractor. He went in shop, tore a strip off him, then made him carry my road box from my car all the way across yard to where tractor was parked. Fat f_ck_r couldn't lift it to put it in kick box!
Boss standing beside me told him next time I questioned something that he better pay attention.
Age & experience equals education!!!
Wow, great story!
1. Make sure your batteries are top of the line and in good shape.
2. Make sure you use a top of the line synthetic blend motor oil or full synthetic
Or the other way to go is to (if you can afford one) get an APU.
Part 2: The truck body, etc. was so cold that I did several laps around the yard to get the speed up to a whopping 10 mph. My boss said to get out on the road and start picking up my recycle route. It felt like driving a rock- no suspension, no air ride seat. After about another hour I was able to drive 20 mph. The sun and slow driving plus temps reaching 20 degrees gradually got the truck and hydraulics up to speed near the end of my shift. Have a blessed Christmas and a better 2021!
In all of the years I drove in and around the northeast I never heard of using Sterno to heat the oil & water. I wish I had, it sure would've made life easier on those cold winter mornings. Great advice, Dave!
Thanks for watching!
I had a 6.9 in a f 350 and ran a 1/8 tubing into the cab that fit the can nozzle, shot the eather while I cranked.
I worked for a guy out of Fargo for a while. When i ran above Louisville in winter. I never turned the truck off.
Company policy.
But it was an artic spec truck as well. Dad's told me stories about bonfires under trucks before.
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for watching!
That reminded me of the ridiculous gymnastics I used to go through to start trucks in winter in Victoria, Australia. At one stage I was driving an International ACCO, a locally made cab-over truck by I-H Australia. It had a 210 V8 Cummins in it and it was a complete pig of a thing to start on cold mornings and even more so when I was on my own. The air cleaner had a snorkle on it that ran up the rear of the cab. So, most cold mornings would see me clinging to the side of the cab, with a can of Aero-start in one hand, aimed at the top of the snorkle, holding onto the cab gutter with the other hand, standing on one foot while I tried to use the other foot to depress the starter button on the dash board!
I have never believed that driving trucks for a living was nothing more than doing a job a well trained monkey could do, but on some of those sub-zero mornings, clinging to the side of the truck like a chimpanzee, I did have some occasional doubts! lol
Man, I wish I had a picture of that! Thanks for watching!
I got my block heater installed on my 3406e this morning.
Fully Synthetic Oil , Rigmaster APU pick it up used $1000 easy to install and maintain had mine for 8 years now
Gidday Big Strappa! I'm driving already in my third country of residence (Russia), and we don't go anywhere in winter without at least a butane torch, but preferably with a small blowtorch. Those diesel-fired wet heaters you speak of are just as unreliable as you say, but a blowtorch is as durable as a ball peen hammer.
As they say downunder, keep her shiny side up!👌
Dave this year I spray the eter directly from the hood vent and it works very good. So I don't need to pop open the air filter. So I role the driver window down stand out in the stair spraying while pushing the start botton 😀
I’m about to light up a camp fire right in front of the fuel island after I go inside for a shower and lunch
The truckstop should like that!
😂 I haven’t seen matches in 20 years. I am not lying 🤥. That’s a great idea 💡
Up where we live, I use an espar engine heater rated at 14,000 btu, plug the oil pan heater (300watts) in as soon as you shut her down; usually that works at -48. If that fails you, tarp the engine, and throw a grain drier tube under it, and fire up the ol 140,000 btu diesel forced air heater, tarp her up and in about 45 minutes she will start like it’s summer. I’ve had to do it several times. Great videos tho bud.
Great video, Sir. Great humor along with great info. You made my day!
Sweet talking is the key! For every motor!
My trick is to fill the fuel filter with kerosene. Be careful with the crack engines get addicted, gets so bad they won’t start in the summer without it use as last resort only. If you can’t plug in and below -10F definitely drain oil after shutting down and bring inside but always put a tag/note over starter button or key so you or someone else doesn’t forget that there’s no oil in her!
I always sweet talk my rig. Lol...
Cmon baby !!!
Upon firing : uh ya baby, good girl !
Me to
Me: Please Baby Please do one more time for daddy
Truck:starts
Me: awww LETS GO!
I just call her a son of a bitch and it fires right up 😂🤷♂️👌
It depends if it's a girl truck or a boy truck... 🤔
I appreciate your stories. I love listening to the drivers in the company I work for. There's always a story to tell.
Yes there is and plenty of them!
I'm just glad I'm not the only one sweet talking the truck in the morning! :)
Kind of embarrassing but true!
Oh yes sir! I'm running a 97. 379. With the 3406e. With one that old there a lot of sweet talking!
BTW, I learn more from you than any other, videos on U Tube, and I'm a 67 year old company driver...
Thank you for saying so and thank you for watching! Appreciate it!
Good stuff to know, now a days some guys on flip flops don't even do a pre trip. Especially in the cold. Seems like all you need now a days is just synthetic oil in the cold weather and conventional or synthetic blend for summer.
Oh man they get addicted to that ether! Change out your oil to full synthetic for winter and don't overdo the additives. The synthetic flows better cold and helps the engine crank faster. That extra piston speed helps heat that air in the bowls..👍
Dave your a mentor to me for years.... thank you
Great tips a hello from Winnipeg
Hello there!
Get independent heating for the truck, Webasto, Eberschpacher, and you can switch it on remotely or set a time on the clock.
You heat the cooling water, with that your engine will heat up and you can heat the cabin.
You are saving your engine and sitting in warm cabin right away
I love watching your videos. I never fail to learn something knew. I truly appreciate your work doing these.
Appreciate it Jim! Thank you!
All of the information is very useful. Always a great video.
I love the sweet talk !
“Cmon baby” always work 😁👍
Great videos Dave! Keep them coming young man!💪🏾
Thanks! Will do!
As always.....good ideas! Another way we did it back in the day which is safer than the Sterno thing is to drain out the coolant into steel five gallon pails and then warm it up on a wood stove or in front of torpedo heater. After it’s good and warm pour it back in and wait about 10 minutes then crank.
Yup, that's what Cathy's grandfather did!
Ur truck sounds beautiful mate and sweet talking to the truck also helps with an older truck.
The best way to ensure that ANY engine will start in Artic weather is to follow the Russian Siberian example & use 100% synthetic oil which doesn't thicken regardless of temperature and allows motor to turn over as if it were middle of August!!!
Good tip!
Ya that’s it, Talk to the old Girl to get her in the mood 😂.
I often use heat in the inlet. From a paint stripper or a rag on fire. Works excellent !
Great video Dave
Thanks Doug!
I almost forgot always treat your fuel with antigel never assume that it’s treated this will save you a lot of aggravation.
An interesting bit of history the old timers used to dump about 20 percent gasoline in the crankcase this thinned out the oil and as the engine warmed up it evaporated “DO NOT EVER DO THIS” on a modern engine with a closed crankcase ventilation system as it could cause the engine to runaway as well as destroy seals bearings ect but worked on the old engines back in the 1950s
They also did something like this back in the day to get piston powered war birds running.
Great content like always
Appreciate it! Thank you!
In extreme conditions only tie rag on your pin puller dip in diesel squeeze out . Light it. Bypass the air filter get a buddy to hit the starter and let the motor suck the flame in . Like you said got to have good battery’s , don’t let the motor grab the rag . I’ve been doing it for years from trucker Al retired .
Very nice videos love the old school tricks and tips
Thanks Richard!
I love the stories! It helps me out because I'm a rookie.
As always there's value in the used market. Super trucker Dan for instance just got a used carrier apu installed for like $4500. Then again he does do most maintenance himself.
Your second story happened to my dad back in the late 70's hauling crude oil. Gelled fuel line, truck died on a deserted back road he sat for 5 hours before someone came by to help. He was bundled up pretty much the same way as your story.
Dave, you are still the best- then comes, “BONEHEAD TRUCKING”
nice tricks,,sr.. enjoyed it....
I remember my dad and grandpa using the sterno trick in the winter. However, that was when trucks had more steel in them than plastic. To my mind, a plastic oil pan and an open flame is a recipe for disaster.
Yeah, you don't want the flame too close to the pan!
Thanks pops.
Brrr so cold ! Great tips and advice
Appreciate it!
Awesome videos and thank you
Thank you!
good tips the sterno one is good.I also like the ak-47 sticker in your back window
Thanks 👍
Great video.
Thank you sir!
love your videos! gonna get my CDL one day with your help, thanks for the info and help getting me there!
Before you pull the trigger watch the videos on depression and the isolation issue. Thats a common thing that leaves alot looking for a new job.
Glad to help! Thanks for watching!
@@SmartTrucking thanks for the awsome videos! im a big fan!
@@andrewterry9577 i know but i think the good relly wyes out the bad, plus im planning on being an off highway logging truck drivier after getting some truck driving expirence so i might not be an OTR driver for more than two years
Definitely a very useful video see you in the next livestream
Looking forward to it Hamish!
OK Big Strapper , I may be just little older than you and I agree with every thing you said , and more , in my early years we had COMPRESSION releases on our 220HP cummins engines which helped considerably , and GOOD BATTERIES , you have to be very careful with using EITHER on some of these engines equipped with GLOW PLUGS serious engine can happen , next my Wife got me a NORTH FACE down sleeping rated for 0 degrees , and they are great , next carry 2 or 3 large fat candles and some crackers and peanut butter , it will keep you alive , I don't care how much you don't like peanut butter , they will taste great when you are hungry Stay safe Frank T
I don’t know about sweet talking the truck. Every truck I’ve ever had to cold start always fired up when I talked dirty to them. Then again bulldogs like the cold
"Cmon baby lets go!"
I enjoy your videos I find them very interesting and informative
Thanks Tim, appreciate it!
Always talk to a good truck, works like a charm
I agree! Sometimes it works with my wife as well!
Awesome vid! My uncle in Ontario runs a 1996 western star with a Cat diesel and walinga aluminum dump body
Very cool!
You can have electrically operated ether injectors, another to think about is an electric air heater that attaches to the intake manifold, and don’t forget the arctic fox fuel heaters. And a sterno can for heat inside in case your truck quits.
I love old school solutions!!
I like the sweet talking.
I think it works anyway.
I plug in the block heater before I go to bed then I'm usually good to go when I get ready to go or hook it to a timer
Also if you have an APU start that first so your coolant can warm up and you can recharge your batteries and it will heat up your inside of your cab and sleeper at the same time. Also you can jump start your truck if your starter and everything else is in good shape except for your batteries. Plus the added advantage you will get a waiver for the APU so you do not have to worry about the extra weight on your truck.
Exactly right. 👍
Yep. I also had weather proof outdoor receptacles installed on my tractor. That way, I can plug in my block heater and run it off of the A.P.U. if it's REALLY cold.
Got to be carefully with the fire trick. Some of these newer motors have fiberglass pans.
Another trick I use to do was I had a small turbo heater I made a heat pipe and floor vent case and vent for house and plug it in with hood closed.
Come on sweet baby we gotta go, heheh; I like this guy. Sold!! -subscribed...
Thanks for the sub!
You make great videos
Thank you!
Insurance claims department would be so impressed🤣
I can imagine!
Lol! 🤣🤣
F k em!
@@vadimprozorov2569 Really? When you get canceled and no other insurance company will touch you for at least a year (I know) and you can't pay the rent/ mortgage will you still be saying F them? Don't think so tough guy.
@@victorcastillo9413 excellent response. That's why I don't buy sob 😭 stories about some guys high insurance. There's always a good reason of how they got smacked with high rates.
I'm in my 3rd yr of CDL with own MC, truck, reefer and only pay $9K/yr. Why? Coz I keep my nose clean and record impeccable.
"start a small fire under the truck"
um, i pull fuel tankers.... lol
Gotta keep an eye on it!
Use a smaller fire. 😆 Seriously though I'd be nervous as can be even doing that with a dry van.
Instead of using either you get a rag damp with gas not enough where it's dripping but damp and hold it over the air intake it well start it but it doesn't hit as hard as starting fluid
This is my favorite way to start my diesel.
If your truck has two battery boxes then buy four extra batteries for the passenger side as well. Having extra batteries is cheap insurance to make sure your truck always has enough cold cranking amps no matter if it's 40 below zero outside.
Everybody should have a Mr. heater buddy propane heater I highly recommend them they have tipped over protection and low oxygen sensor they use a 1 pound screw on propane canister mesa great emergency heater
You do know when you burn propane.. it creates condensation?? So everything gets wet in the truck.. not a good idea... now, canheat is great stuff.