Last winter if I didnt plug my truck in it took about 15mins to get up to operating temps, outside temp was around -35 to -40 celsius. If I plugged my truck in I had heat in less then 5 mins. I would recommend for you to plug your truck in now. Also buy some cold fronts and or the card board in front of your grill. I am up in Borden right now and originally from the West Coast so I hate the cold and so does my truck. we both shiver at the thought of another winter here. After saying all of this if you dont plug your truck in, dont worry it will start very easily even at -60. Just ensure you wait for your grid heater light(glow plug light to go off). Have fun with your truck Cause I do with mine

 

Bordon as in Base Bordon?

I'm about 15 min. west of you in Essa (Utopia).


Where did you purchase your Stainless winter fronts?

Cheers
Rob.

 

A warm engine warms faster, cranks better and wears better than does a cold engine. Compared to the price of the engine, electricity is very inexpensive.

 

I plug in at about +10F. Lowers the warm up time and because I have an oil pan heater the oil flows to critical parts quicker. I dont know how cold it gets where you are but I also run battery heater pads and a transmission pan heater. At about -30F and below it makes a big difference.

 

I plug in at + 60. Truck doesn't care, but I sure like having instant heat. I'm a thin blooded desert dweller.

 

Just curious. This is my first diesel so I'm still adjusting to the touch and feel of these things. This is the first time we had weather in the 50's and I noticed it rattled for a few seconds, more noticeably then when temps were above 70. Is this normal for these things. I think the mistake I made was start and go, like I do in a gasser. But, once I got going it was quiet like normal.
Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds normal, nonford. It will quickly go away as the cylinders warm up. I see you live in Dallas, so you won't get really cold weather, but you should hear what it sounds like when temps drop below zero! By all means, "start it and go", it's really the best way to warm the engine.

 

Thanks for the feedback commatoze. Yeah, it made me lift my eyebrows up a bit, it was only like 48 outside. I go to New Mexico quite often and I will experience the sub-zero start this winter when I'm up in the mountains elk hunting. I bet that will really get my attention . I was just seeing alot a people mentioning their injectors going out and wasn't sure if this was the first sign of that. Thanks....

 

Well don't forget, nonford, I have an '02, so yours is quite different. Nevertheless, you'll be in for a treat when you start her at -10F !

 

I think the mistake I made was start and go, like I do in a gasser. But, once I got going it was quiet like normal.

I just did the same thing at 40F this morning for the first time. Had some other stuff on my mind and just forgot about the WTS lamp.

It ran horribly for the first few seconds. From now on I'm going to wait for the wait to start to go out.

 

I like to crank up when it's cold just to hear all that rattlin' going on underneath the hood. Unfortunately, it doesn't get cold enough here in Texas to really warrant plugging it in. Maybe if you live out in the Panhandle, but otherwise it's not necessary.

That said, sometimes I plug mine in when it's going to get down near freezing just because it's there and I can.

 

Plug mine in anytime it's going to be under 40 degrees. Last night got down to 36 here at Ft Hood, with frost. Yes, I know I don't have to plug it in until -10 or so. But, I drive daughter to bus stop in morning and want the truck to heat up a little quicker for her.

I have it on a timer to come on at 1:30 am and off at 6:30 am. Haven't tried to figure out the electricity cost...don't care.

Don't forget fellow Texan's...Deer rifle season starts this Saturday. I'll be on the road to Freer, TX tomorrow afternoon to hunt on a 7500 acre ranch!..