Re: Cold Start Question
Reply #3 –
30 F isn't that cold. I suggest you check your engine block heater. They can burn out. With your hand, you should be able to feel some heat close to where the heater is after a couple hours. Sometimes the block heater might be unplugged from the outlet due to the fear of it being switched on accidently by someone's foot. (BTDT)
I also suggest verifying that the grid heater is working. I'm not a Cummins owner, but the grid is 12 volts and when the dash light (and the grid) goes off you should see the voltage bump up very slightly. Maybe others in the know can chime in on this subject.
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it sounded like the engine would crank but then come to a stop? (with the key still turned in the crank position?) That shouldn't happen with good batteries and and good cable connections and being plugged in overnight (thus fully charged batteries).
The cold does a triple whammy for starting:
- harder to turn engine due to oil thickening
- more cranking is needed to generate compression heat (the grid and block heaters helps this part a lot)
- batteries have less effective capacity.
In warm weather a weak starting system will seem 100% fine because it's not being taxed much, but the cold will show it's true colors.
I would read this as a warning that something is not 100%
Topic: Cold Start Question