berner

I do the cardboard with mine too, but I don't bother with a hole. It's never overheated. Bumping up the idle to 1200 or so really helps warming them up. If it's an automatic, put it in neutral to circulate the tranny fluid. I'd try to start it every 4 hours or so. If it's hard to start after 4 hours, do it every 2 or 3.

It's -37C here today, windchill -51. It's sure gonna be nice jumping on that plane to the Mayan Riviera on Sat morning.

Tate

Just hope the plane starts!

my02CTD

I would recommend the ESPAR. I would fit your situation perfectly. It is a little spendy about $1200. I see you raise morgans. Got me to thinkin about the one I had. Excellent horse. Worked great checking the cattle .Easy ridin. Anyone could ride him. Sure do miss him.

MustangFilly

First, let me thank you ALL for the help you've given me!! Finding this place and learning from you all have made what could have been a gawd-awful-day livable! (Some of you may have seen my 'stuck door' post, too).

I've never had such a good winter operating temperature as I have since I put that cardboard in the grill last night. Actually had HEAT in the cab!!

And, NOMAD.... we hit -55C with the windchill today - our construction site at Petro-Can has been shut down until next week!!

Using the "high idle stick" made a big difference, too. Usually the temp gauge wouldn't come up just idling, but it does now. (I'm not used to it running close to 90 - midway - that's ok, right?)

Thanks, DARTMOUTH, for the details on why the inverter won't work. I'm just stubborn (blonde?!) enough to have thought to try it anyway, but now I understand it enough to let it go.

I've done some research on the Espar heaters now and I'm definitely saving for one of those!!! Two questions there.... Do they tie into the truck's fuel lines, or have independant fuel? And... would it be readily transferable if I upgraded the truck some day? (to another Dodge, of course!)

You're right, my02CTD - they're darn good horses! Sounds like you need to get yourself another one (Hey, I know this place.... LOL). Seriously, though - check out www.geocities.com/tecequineservices to see the horseflesh my horsepower gets to haul around....

So.. again... THANK-YOU all. Now I'm gonna go start a new thread so I can learn more about the 4x4 aspect of this truck....

M.F.

hipsi

Funny thing.. Remember how I sad that "im in ontario and I only have a small hole cut in my cardboard so you should be okay" well last night I was driving home from work and it was +4*C outside.. so like low 40's F... and i was getting on my truck alittle and when i came to a stop in traffic I shut my heat off and a few min later i noticed my temp climb to half way between normal and max... I guess 4* makes all the difference... as today it is around -10 and she does not move from normal.

dieselman2300

Espars use the diesel in you fuel tank.

This guy has the best price on the Espar D5. His name is Greg Landuyt.
http://lubricationspecialist.com/front/index.aspx

HOHN

The question is, will it take off?

Personally, I think removing the fan is the second cold weather "essential" after blocking off the rad.

I don't leave a hole when I block off the radiator. I just make sure that the fan isn't getting blasted in only one area. So I make sure that at least the whole of the fan's area is covered. (prevents fan clutch/water pump problems).

Fanless or electric fans help HUGELY with warmup times. That oem fan draws a lot of air through even when the clutch is supposedly freewheeling (it's not). That sucks away a lot of engine heat.

JMO

dieselman2300

I like to also take the fan off. Instead of the cardboard, I have the cold weather inserts instead. This way there isnt any cold/hot spots in the radiator.