7.3 IDI engine heating options

Caleb M Hughes · Dec 18, 2019

Currently have a 94 7.3 IDI and living in North Dakota, this truck is not driven daily but is used once or twice a week, my issue is that with falling temps it becoming a bear to start, the truck has newer glow plugs and is mechanically in great shape, my issue is that I currently live in an apartment and have no method of running an extension cord to the block heater, I have debated on placing 2 extra batteries in the cab with with a power inverter to run a block heater but the factory block heater would draw too much and drain the batteries rather quick, I am tempted to try a dipstick type heater but have no experience with these types any advice on using these in very cold conditions.

Cubey · Dec 18, 2019

Get a small cheap generator and run it for your block heater?

Selahdoor · Dec 19, 2019

If you go with your first idea. Don't leave them on overnight. Go out in the morning, a couple hours early, and plug it in.

You have a way to charge them back up, on your drive?

Cubey · Dec 19, 2019

Selahdoor said:
If you go with your first idea. Don't leave them on overnight. Go out in the morning, a couple hours early, and plug it in.

You have a way to charge them back up, on your drive?

2 hours seems to the sweet spot for mine, but it's not too cold here in west Texas except early mornings, low 20s around 5am lately. I probably have one or two bad glow plugs but it'll start without the block heater after sitting for several days, it just idles rough and puts out a cloud until it runs several seconds, then it's fine again. Lately I've had free electric access so I plug in the heater to help it out so not start so rough. Last time I only ran it about 1 hour and it wasn't quite as smooth of a start as 2 hours gives, but still not as bad as no block heater at all.

riphip · Dec 19, 2019

Run some Hotshot Extreme in your tanks. Cycle the glowplugs a couple of times before starting. Upgrade to the Denso type starter. This will help for much quicker starts. I use the DB Electric starters & bought 2 per 1st purchase (1 to keep a backup). Price for 2 is cheaper than buying 1 rebuilt stock one from parts store + ships free to lower 48 states.
I have used DB Electric starters since they first came out on eBay & have been happy with them.

Booyah45828 · Dec 19, 2019

Change to a thinner weight oil if it's that cold out. 15w40 turns into gel when it gets close to 0, and that gel makes cranking the engine slow and difficult.

DaveBen · Dec 19, 2019

I switched my 6.0 to 5w40 and it ran perfect all year round. Cranks fast and no romps. Not a bad choice.

Oledirtypearl86 · Dec 19, 2019

Iv never herd of the dipstick heaters working very well what about a heat gun in the intake for 20 min before you have to go that's how I get the wife's Jetta started when it's -35*

Black dawg · Dec 19, 2019

gotta ask.....

how cold?
wait to start light on how long?
Cranking speed pretty good?

With everything healthy.....including compression.....they will start down to around zero with little drama.

nelstomlinson · Dec 19, 2019

Buy a propane fired tank type engine heater. I used one for a couple years on my gas truck. They work great down to about -40.

A definite second choice would be to direct the flame from a weed burner through a couple lengths of stovepipe. Bring the hot air up under the engine compartment, try to avoid having your oil leaks drip on hot pipe. Drape a tarp over the upwind side.

Selahdoor · Dec 19, 2019

nelstomlinson said:
Buy a propane fired tank type engine heater. I used one for a couple years on my gas truck. They work great down to about -40.

A definite second choice would be to direct the flame from a weed burner through a couple lengths of stovepipe. Bring the hot air up under the engine compartment, try to avoid having your oil leaks drip on hot pipe. Drape a tarp over the upwind side.

Around here, all that stuff sitting in the parking lot of an apartment building, (The op is in an apartment, and can't even string an extension cord.), would walk away on it's own the first night...

Caleb M Hughes · Dec 19, 2019

Black dawg said:
gotta ask.....

how cold?
wait to start light on how long?
Cranking speed pretty good?

With everything healthy.....including compression.....they will start down to around zero with little drama.

We've already had a few -25 degree nights here in North Dakota, and it's justbggona be dropping more next month, and the wait to start light stays on for about 5 ish seconds but the glow plugs will keep warming up for about 12 seconds, and cranking speed in fair weather is great, truck has 2 new batteries and new solid copper heavy gauge cables. At about zero it does ok just 2 cycles of glow plugs and 10 seconds of cranking and she'll catch and fire up great, but those negative 25 mornings took quite a few glow plug cycles and a set of jumpers to keep the batteries where they need to be voltage wise.

Caleb M Hughes · Dec 19, 2019

Selahdoor said:
Around here, all that stuff sitting in the parking lot of an apartment building, (The op is in an apartment, and can't even string an extension cord.), would walk away on it's own the first night...

True that, we've already had one of my trucks get broken into and another vehicle of ours stolen ( a move is in the works next summer )

TahoeTom · Dec 19, 2019

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Caleb M Hughes · Dec 19, 2019

TahoeTom said:
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That's awesome to see, I'll have to file that away for a really cold day...

7.3 IDI engine heating options

Caleb M Hughes

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Cubey

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Selahdoor

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Cubey

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riphip

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Booyah45828

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DaveBen

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Oledirtypearl86

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Black dawg

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nelstomlinson

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Selahdoor

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Caleb M Hughes

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Caleb M Hughes

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TahoeTom

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Caleb M Hughes

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