i have a question for everyone i just moved into an apartment and i do not have a way to plug up my truck once it starts getting cold. will it cause any problems if i dont hook it up once it starts getting colder, and what should i do once it does start getting cold since i cant plug it in

99 dodge ram 3500 5.9 liter turbo diesel

thanks
mike

 

How cold are we talking?

 

why cant you mike? run an extention cord out of the apartment window!!!

 

im in norfolk va it usualy gets as low as 50 to 0 deg in the winter

 

i cant go out the window to the truck bc the parking lot isnt near where my apartment is

 

Hey cool im up at ft eustis at the moment.

Alright i grew up in an area that during the night it would get down to 10F and lower regularly. And i never had a problem as long as the fuel didnt jell, which a block heater doesnt fix anyway.

If you cant plug it in just let it idle longer before running. Also trip the heaters twice. Turn the key to the on position wait for the wait to start light to go out and do it again i think if i remeber corrtly.

Id just always give it a few minutes to idle before driving it, id say atleast 5minutes. Then once you start driving be gentle on it till its warmed up. Its like running real hard before warming up and stretching.

 

Find a plug in the building exterior somewhere. Let your landlord pay for it. I've started my truck in 16 degrees F with no problems before. Not sure how it would be if you do it everyday though. Good batteries, working grid heaters, and synthetic oil would go long way.

 

yeah good batteries and synthetic oil will help alot.

 

I am in Chesapeake which is what ten miles from you and I have never plugged my truck in. It doesn't get cold enough to worry about it.

 

The important part for you will be to go out every morning and not worry about it. At +50* I would have my grids disabled and just hit the key. Unless you have some kind of maintenence issue (bad bateries/cables, Fuel system problems, etc.) you won't have problems until WAY colder than +50.

 

You should not have any problems at all as long as your truck runs well. Several of us here at school run diesels and none of us have a place to plug in. We all regularly cold start at temps down to -20F or colder.

If you want to make it start easier, just run synthetic oil. This will make it turn over a lot quicker and it will build oil pressure a lot sooner which will save on engine wear. There is no reason to cycle the grids twice at the temps you are talking about. If you wanted to be very careful, try to park in a sunny spot(it doesn't help in the morning but it helps in the evening).

Once it is started and has built oil pressure, start driving but just be easy on it. These engines will not heat up when idling, it is bad for them.

As ofcmarc said, don't worry about it.

 

That isn't cold enough to worry about.

 

I agree with everyone else, dont even worry about it.

 

Back in Alaska, I usually didn't plug in until around 20*. Many times my truck would sit all day at work unplugged at -20* and still start no problem. Like the other said, no problem, just makes sure your running synthetic, your batteries are good and cycle the grid heater 2x...

 

If it's REALLY cold, just let the grid heaters cycle then turn the key off and back on to let them cycle again before cranking it over.