thoughts on pluging in the rig

[Rot Box]

Speaking of cold this area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sinks isn't too far from my place... with a record of -69.3*F

The coldest temp I've had my IDI running in was -31*F and I wasn't very comfortable with that at all (I'm sure the MN and BC guy's are laughing at me right now )! I work nights so during the weeks in January when it sometimes doesn't come above 0* I plug mine in after I shut it off at night.

The extra nickles on the power bill is nothing compared to what my wife and daughter can rack up!

 

[Dave7.3]

Thats just lies!!! -40F feels like your face will fall off! But its always windy during the winter in ND...unfortunately.

The wind chill is what gets ya in the Dakotas. A couple of years ago I remember trying to light our propane powered livestock tank heater. A full tank of propane that wouldn't burn since it was so cold with the wind chill. Gave up when I started to get frost bite!

As far as cold weather starting, plugging in as others have mentioned just makes it easier on the engine and faster warming up. In fact, I wouldn't recommend not plugging in below freezing unless your starting system is 100%. My rig was a heathen to start with 2-3 burned out plugs...even plugged in. A full set of glowplugs later and I can say it has never let me down. Even into the -20*F range!

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjOMsKZMYBw

After:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW0bKyvmoO0

 

[dakotajeep]

My rig was a heathen to start with 2-3 burned out plugs...even plugged in. A full set of glowplugs later and I can say it has never let me down. Even into the -20*F range!

Before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjOMsKZMYBw

After:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW0bKyvmoO0

Very nice comparission. Glad to hear your rig is starting better!

Thad

 

['94IDITurbo7.3]

Is your timer going to be out in the weather? If so, now is a good time to get one with all the Christmas decor at the stores, they have plenty of outdoor weatherproof timers available.
If I really needed one full time, I would mount a permanent hardwire type such as the intermatic units you see on pool pumps and such.

X2 get an outdoor timer. my old timer was an indoor timer and it lasted only one season before the screen went wacky.

 

[gatorman21218]

try to pour some motor oil when its 20 degrees out. Thats why you should plug your truck in.

 

[Kevin 007]

try to pour some motor oil when its 20 degrees out. Thats why you should plug your truck in.

Good call. I plug my 90 in for 3 hours on a timer before I start it. And 3 hours is the most I ever do. Im just keepin the old girl happy.....it won't harm it.
And I put carboard in front of the rad

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

My two cents worth on getting a timer.

Myself, I avoid anything "digital", as they are prone to either complete failure, or worse = going all wacky and doing weird things.

Plain old mechanical is what you want.

Like someone already pointed out, during the Christmas light season is the best time to get a good price on an outdoor timer.

I have two that I got at Walmart for around ten-bucks apiece many many years ago and they still perform flawlessly.

They have little RED and GREEN clips that you snap onto the dial at the time points where you wish the timer to turn ON and OFF.

RED = OFF and GREEN = ON


For my usual winter climate, I set the timer to come ON THREE-hours prior to starting the engine.

I set the OFF time a couple hours later than I actually plan to already be gone; thus, if I get held up leaving for whatever reason, the timer doesn't turn OFF the heater and me lose what warmth I have already paid for.

There is no harm or cost whatsoever for the timer to remain ON and the cord un-plugged.



Although I constantly read/hear "my engine will start at ***-many degrees below zero and not plugged in", that does not mean that such is a good idea.

It is good to know that the engine is capable of starting at such cold temperatures were one in an emergency situation where it was not possible to plug in the heater.


However, if the means and the electricity are available, an engine SHOULD be plugged in at least one hour prior to cranking any time the temperature is below 32* American, adding half-an-hour more heat time for every three degree drop below the freezing mark.


If it is gonna be 10* American or colder, best to just forget the timer and leave it plugged in all the time it isn't running.



That is the way I do it; you guys are free to do any which way that suits your fancy --- it ain't no skin off my teeth.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

try to pour some motor oil when its 20 degrees out. Thats why you should plug your truck in.

^^^ Well spoken.

 

[gsxjay]

seams like an out door timer is the way to go shes got 2 bad plugs but starts up good thus far i am dreading changing the gps so iv ben putn it off and zd9 are scarce but i read good things about bosch gps so i may just go 4 it

 

[towcat]

I got an assignment where I flew into the Twin Cities (Mn/St.Paul) in the middle of Feb. one year. Had -65 with wind chill correction. -8 without. It was on a Friday nite. I was downtown and could barely move. This limo pulls up to the curb and the back section unloads a carload of girls in cocktail dresses. They must have had antifreeze in their blood. Aside from the eye candy, I'll never go willingly back to there ever again.

 

[GOOSE]

My two cents worth on getting a timer.

Myself, I avoid anything "digital", as they are prone to either complete failure, or worse = going all wacky and doing weird things.

Plain old mechanical is what you want.

Like someone already pointed out, during the Christmas light season is the best time to get a good price on an outdoor timer.

I have two that I got at Walmart for around ten-bucks apiece many many years ago and they still perform flawlessly.

They have little RED and GREEN clips that you snap onto the dial at the time points where you wish the timer to turn ON and OFF.

RED = OFF and GREEN = ON


For my usual winter climate, I set the timer to come ON THREE-hours prior to starting the engine.

I set the OFF time a couple hours later than I actually plan to already be gone; thus, if I get held up leaving for whatever reason, the timer doesn't turn OFF the heater and me lose what warmth I have already paid for.

There is no harm or cost whatsoever for the timer to remain ON and the cord un-plugged.



Although I constantly read/hear "my engine will start at ***-many degrees below zero and not plugged in", that does not mean that such is a good idea.

It is good to know that the engine is capable of starting at such cold temperatures were one in an emergency situation where it was not possible to plug in the heater.


However, if the means and the electricity are available, an engine SHOULD be plugged in at least one hour prior to cranking any time the temperature is below 32* American, adding half-an-hour more heat time for every three degree drop below the freezing mark.


If it is gonna be 10* American or colder, best to just forget the timer and leave it plugged in all the time it isn't running.



That is the way I do it; you guys are free to do any which way that suits your fancy --- it ain't no skin off my teeth.

Very nice write up. That should be in the owner's manual. Lets keep it clear that plugging our rigs in when the temps dip below freezing DOES help the engine to live a longer life.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Very nice write up. That should be in the owner's manual. Lets keep it clear that plugging our rigs in when the temps dip below freezing DOES help the engine to live a longer life.

Thanks for the compliment.



One other improvement in the whole plug-the-truck-in situation that I keep intending to install, yet haven't yet had the time nor money, but it is a very good idea none-the-less, is to install the business end of the block-heater power INSIDE THE HOUSE, preferably in the bed-room right next to the night-stand.

Thus, should one's plans change, the time that the heater comes ON could be altered, or the timer by-passed and the heater come immediately ON, or the whole mess just turned OFF and me pull the covers back over my head and stay there until spring.

 

[Bashby]

I did the math last year and with the rate per kw hr in my area it cost $.11/hr for a 1000 watt heater. Not too much but it adds up.

 

[Dave7.3]

Very nice comparission. Glad to hear your rig is starting better!

Thad

Thanks! It was a worthy investment to have that piece of mind that she would fire off when the temps got cold and I had no access to a plug-in.

 

[pennsylvaniabo]

Is it better to put the timer before or after the cord. I am running a 100 ft cord to get to the driveway across the yard.