So Cold...

[thance]

Anyone else have a diesel that wont start in this extreem cold? Is been an actual 0 for the last few days (-20 with wind chill). I took the jeep out of the garage for a few hours ... not driving it, just sitting in the drive way while I did other things.. that was a mistake. It will crank but won't run for more than a few seconds. Any secrets?

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[Heimkehr]

A family member owns a VW diesel. With low temps in mind, as well as the OP's non-start situation, I gifted this fuel treatment last Christmas. Possibly it will perform as advertised.

Maybe fellow EcoDiesel owners may have additional advice to offer.

 

[Aonar]

I will reply more fully once home from work. But, do you get a "water in fuel" symbol when trying to start? Do you let the glow plugs do their thing, before trying to start? Do you have the block heater? I had -20 before the wind (not sure if wind-chill actually has a bearing on starting), I will post a pic later, and she started right up. Chat later.

 

[Aonar]

- I also religiously use Howes diesel treatment and/or other diesel treatments EVERY fill-up.
- Also using #1 or #2 diesel. Stopped using the bio-blend in the coldest months. Not sure if that has a bearing...just what I do.

It will crank but won't run for more than a few seconds.

So, it DOES run for a few seconds?
Not a battery issue then?
Leaning toward a jelling of the fuel in the fuel filter. Do you get this symbol when starting?

How long have you had her & have you changed the fuel filter yet?

 

[Grayhound]

I’ve had this happen and I got a starter overheat error and had to wait cranking for a bit.

you need to get it warmer. plug in the block heater for a few hours and see if that makes it warm enough to start.

 

[Zandcwhite]

First suggestion is don't live in some frozen hell. If it's flat back into the garage, pull the neutral release and roll it back inside to warm up some.

 

[Compression-Ignition]

Anyone else have a diesel that wont start in this extreem cold? Is been an actual 0 for the last few days (-20 with wind chill). I took the jeep out of the garage for a few hours ... not driving it, just sitting in the drive way while I did other things.. that was a mistake. It will crank but won't run for more than a few seconds. Any secrets?

Do I have a diesel that won't start in the extreme cold? No. My 12 valve is or can be hard to start without plugging it in. My backhoe if I haven't run it in a while nor had the batteries on a charger. Same. They will all start at -25 coldest I've had occasion to start them. With caveat's.

A lot of this I do by rote at this point.

If I know it's going to be super cold and or I have to get out of the house no matter what with no issues, I plug in the block heater.

If I need to go and I didn't have the vehicle plugged in I will cycle the glow plug or grid heater (whichever it's got) 2 or 3 times before actually trying to start it.

Keep the batteries in good condition. And if they are done don't fight it by trying to limp them along. Time for new batteries.

I almost always run a winter additive. Every once in a while (now for instance) it has been warm and I don't have any in, but it is really just because I filled up and forgot to bring it with me. I don't keep the stuff in my vehicles any more as it just stinks.

 

[thance]

- I also religiously use Howes diesel treatment and/or other diesel treatments EVERY fill-up.
- Also using #1 or #2 diesel. Stopped using the bio-blend in the coldest months. Not sure if that has a bearing...just what I do.





So, it DOES run for a few seconds?
Not a battery issue then?
Leaning toward a jelling of the fuel in the fuel filter. Do you get this symbol when starting?

How long have you had her & have you changed the fuel filter yet?

Battery is good, it will crank away. Fuel filter was just changed couple of months ago.

on first try it will start and run couple seconds on future it will ceank crank crank start for fraction of a second crank crank crank start for fraction os second ...

I dont generally put any additives in and dont know how diesel in nj compares to yours. Whatever we get, I dont think we have a choice... though I have thought of just running it on heating oil.

 

[thance]

In 4 years i've never had to plug this thing in.... but a winter like this hasn't happened ina long time and it is usually in the garage. Do need a special cable to plug it in? Where does ir go? Would you believe I'm the son of a mechanic????

 

[Aonar]

Battery is good, it will crank away. Fuel filter was just changed couple of months ago.

on first try it will start and run couple seconds on future it will ceank crank crank start for fraction of a second crank crank crank start for fraction os second ...

I dont generally put any additives in and dont know how diesel in nj compares to yours. Whatever we get, I dont think we have a choice... though I have thought of just running it on heating oil.

I did a quick search on heating oil in a diesel and personally I wouldn't do it.

 

[thance]

A family member owns a VW diesel. With low temps in mind, as well as the OP's non-start situation, I gifted this fuel treatment last Christmas. Possibly it will perform as advertised.

Maybe fellow EcoDiesel owners may have additional advice to offer.

Tractor supply has had xxx requests for this today.... so I'm not the only one. On the flip side it will be about 4 days before they can ship one to me and a week to get it into the store.... thats right, they can swnd it to my house faster than i can pick it up.

 

[thance]

First suggestion is don't live in some frozen hell. If it's flat back into the garage, pull the neutral release and roll it back inside to warm up some.

The right side is in about two feet of snow and it is a little up hill, but if you want to come over and help push I think we can knock it out.

 

[Grayhound]

In 4 years i've never had to plug this thing in.... but a winter like this hasn't happened ina long time and it is usually in the garage. Do need a special cable to plug it in? Where does ir go? Would you believe I'm the son of a mechanic????

There should be a plug down beside the fuse box. Plug that in to an extension cord for a few hours and it should start.

 

[Aonar]

If yours came equipped (an option) the plug might be over passenger tire, up high and visible. Hopefully you can see where mine is here. Here is an older thread.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/my-block-heater-set-up.121996/

 

[Beau Nugget]

Your owners manual should tell you where your plug is located. I bet if you plug it in for a few hours it will start

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