Figured I'd post a little video of my truck in 3 cylinder high idle. It was -13*F when I shot the video. I did not use block heater and the Cummins still fired up without much hesitation.

 

 

Back to normal idle after about 15 minutes of 3 cylinder high idle and 20 minutes of 6 cylinder high idle.

 

 

Normal. Sounds good.

 

Typically these trucks start fairly easy.

52 minutes ago, 04Mach1 said:

Back to normal idle after about 15 minutes of 3 cylinder high idle and 20 minutes of 6 cylinder high idle.

 

Sounds great, but why let it idle for 35 minutes at -13°F? Anything more than 3-5 isn't necessary and just wasting fuel or potentially creating wet stacking issues. 

9 minutes ago, AH64ID said:

 

Sounds great, but why let it idle for 35 minutes at -13°F? Anything more than 3-5 isn't necessary and just wasting fuel or potentially creating wet stacking issues. 

It was idling at around 1100 - 1200 rpm. Normally I don't let it idle that long either but was busy trying to figure out why the water pipes froze by the water heater when there is a a liberal amount of heat tape and insulation on them. Figured out I forgot to plug the heat tape back in when I replaced the water heater a few months back. We still had cold water but no hot.

A little spooky the first time you hear the 3 cyl idle. One thing the video does not convey is how loud it actually is. lol

 

ETA - High idle and exhaust brake on is bar none the best engine warming there is besides an Espar. 

 

God awful noise, but the motor builds heat. 

Edited January 5, 20196 yr by Ben

I got in my truck one morning at 10 below 0. The truck was less than a year old and I just hit the key. It fired right off but the noise was un godly. 

On 1/3/2019 at 11:29 AM, 04Mach1 said:

Figured I'd post a little video of my truck in 3 cylinder high idle. It was -13*F when I shot the video. I did not use block heater and the Cummins still fired up without much hesitation.

 

What do you have a fuel heating on that set up? Do you have gelling issues?

7 hours ago, pepsi71ocean said:

 

What do you have a fuel heating on that set up? Do you have gelling issues?

 

@pepsi71ocean

 

Up here you can do your own 50/50 blend of #1 and 2.  A lot of pumps have the 3 diesel types right there. 1, 2 and Offroad. 

 

I have run straight 1 before with lots of lube when there were stretches of heavy sub zeros with no issues.  

 

Howes has treated me well for an anti gel but I’ve used power service as well. 

 

There is the “winter blend #2” here but I and others prefer to mix our own. 

 

The neighbors fuel barrels for the trucks and equipment are all 50/50 mix.  The fuel company mixes it for him.  

 

He has zero fuel related issues in the winter. 

 

14 hours ago, pepsi71ocean said:

 

What do you have a fuel heating on that set up? Do you have gelling issues?

 

I have nothing for fuel heating. I was half expecting the fuel to be gelled but to my surprise I bumped the starter and saw 16 psi on the fuel pressure gauge. I fired the engine up and monitored fuel pressure until 3 cylinder high idle started the fuel pressure was still holding steady at 16 psi. The last fill up before the arctic blast was at Route 66 Casino just west of Albuquerque so I wasn't expecting their #2 fuel to be good for such low temperature. The tank was still full so maybe that was helpful.

In my state, Washington I have a choice of one diesel pump usually and I've never had any problems however very seldom do we see freezing temperatures at least on the west side where I'm located but when we used to travel in other states there's multiple choices of diesel pumps in other states I usually just pick the pump that's got the highest price that's after sorting out the on-road off-road tax no tax number one number two and all kinds of other choices so at what point if a person has a choice you pick number one or number two fuel.  The only time I think we're I got the wrong fuel is when a mechanic working on my fuel line had to drain my completely full tank and he re- filled it up with some agricultural equipment fuel that was dried red, so that was the only time I think I got wrong fuel.  ( course I won't talk about the time that I had put in about a gallon and a half of gas,  when I pick the wrong handle) 

I hear ya on the putting gas in the diesel tank. When I had my Dodge, I one time put 7 gallons of regular unleaded in it. Oops...

how much gasoline in a take will start to cause problems?  1 gallon in 33 doesn't sound like much, but I imagine that it would still cause problems.  Is the fix to drain the tank and refil?

1 hour ago, Hawkez said:

how much gasoline in a take will start to cause problems?  1 gallon in 33 doesn't sound like much, but I imagine that it would still cause problems.  Is the fix to drain the tank and refil?

 

When I added about a gallon of gas, I called my brother in law, who was a tanker driver for many years.  He called someone that worked for Conocco .   Some guy called me back and asked me a few questions like size of tank, how much gas I put in etc.  Recommended that I complete fill with diesel, then drive 20 miles to burn out a gallon, then added a gallon of diesel.  Then drive it 20 more miles again and add another gallon of diesel.  If I recall right did this “burn out a gallon” then "add a gallon" of diesel 4 or five times.   That was over 50,000 miles ago.  Still on same VP44 pump today.

 

 

Edited January 15, 20196 yr by 015point9
info

You might want to look up the MSDS sheets for most of the cetane and anti-gel products and you'll find out its just as bad as gasoline. Xylene, Naptha, and other common chemicals. This is one reason why I favor true oil additives over stuff like PowerService that doesn't contain any lube oil at all. A true lubricant can be left to the air forever and it will remain oil. Now leave PowerService exposed to the air it will evaporate and turn to sticky tar base goo.

 

If you are worried about gasoline just drop a 1 quart shot of 2 cycle oil to the fuel. DO NOT use ATF!!!!

When I put 7 gallons of gas in my Dodge, I just filled it the rest of the way with diesel and drove it. I ran 2-stroke oil in that thing anyway, so no harm, no foul. It was just a little noisy (a noisy 24 valve...imagine that!), and down on power a bit.

 

Back in the day when I went through all of Bosch's diesel (and gas) training courses, Bosch recognized up to 25% gasoline in the fuel to help them start in cold climates.

This is all good to know. One time I grabbed a green handle at the pump and was about to put it in the hole just as I realized it was gasoline. You would think it would be standard practice to have a green handle for diesel. Around here diesel handles can be green or yellow. And gasoline handles can be red yellow and green. 

Yes standard practice as you describe with the colors.  Problem is when somebody doesn't follow the standard practice.  

Out here typically all gasoline is black. Diesel is green and even the hose is green.

Ohhh I forgot, yes also black for gasoline here

I see them different between the staes I travel in. For the most part diesel is green or yellow. But Tennessee is black with green on the gas. I have still managed to never put a drop of gas in mine, but have come close a few times.

Couple of winters I've been really close to the idea of buying a gallon of kerosene for anti-gel.