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Topic: COLD, COLD WEATHER START (Read 1778 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: COLD, COLD WEATHER START

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Bill Chaplin –
Enough about primary engine starts.
Some thought to the Aux power unit ( Power-Tech 10k)
How is it effected by lower temp's
I think If I could get it started I could get the main Powewr Plant going.

Cold Weather – Fuel
In cold weather fuel does not vaporize very well in the combustion chamber and this makes starting difficult.

Modern diesel engines designed for cold weather use a pre-heater or glow plugs. Glow plugs are heating elements that warm up the air that enters the engine. They work on a timed circuit or are manually activated just before the engine is started. The colder it gets, the longer those glow plugs need to stay on to preheat the combustion chamber for a smooth start.

Diesel fuel thickens in cold weather. It has a tendency to gel. Diesel Fuel has some naturally occurring paraffin (wax) and as the temperature drops, this paraffin crystallizes and affects the fluidity of the fuel and may cause hard starting and eventually lead to filter plugging. You can use a fuel additive to prevent this and is recommended for all year round use.

Cold Weather – Batteries
Batteries that are weak may not crank the starter motor fast enough to start a cold engine. As the temperature goes down, so does battery capacity. A battery that has all of its power available at 80 degrees F will have only about 46% available power at 0 degrees F. Plus, the engine will be 2.5 times harder to start at 0 degrees due to thicker oil and resistance to movement of internal moving parts. In effect, an engine is about five times harder to start at 0 degrees F than at 80 degrees F. Test weak or suspicious batteries under load before cold weather to help eliminate potential problems during busy times. If batteries need replacement, always replace with a battery equal to or more powerful than the original battery.

Keep your battery stored indoors to prevent it from freezing. Consider buying a small battery charger / maintainer to keep the battery topped up so it is always ready to use.

Cold Weather – Oil
The warmer the engine oil is, the thinner it will be and have less resistance to moving engine parts. Make sure you are using the proper viscosity oil recommended for your engine for cold temperatures. If you cannot store engines inside or in a heated area, consider installing a block heater on the engine. To save time and electricity, put the block heater on an electrical timer set to come on a couple of hours before you plan to start the generator.

After starting the generator on a cold day, allow the engine to warm up a few minutes before putting it under load. Proper engine operation temperatures assure more efficient fuel combustion and may prevent damage to cold engine parts. Engine oil flows more readily at operating temperatures and allows proper lubrication of engine parts and areas.
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: COLD, COLD WEATHER START

Reply #26 –
Bill,
When was the last time you were able to run the genset?
Do you have an engine block heater?
Sounds like you're boondocking?
Are your coach batteries charged enough to power the starting of the genset?
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: COLD, COLD WEATHER START

Reply #27 –
Bill,

FWIW, last week we found ourselves in Gallup, NM at 12 degrees.  The generator started just fine after a couple seconds of rough running, and the main engine started on the third try.  I had been circulating A-H coolant through it for two hours.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Ether start on M11 Cummings?

Reply #28 –
My 1996 U320 with M11 Cummins has a ether start switch on dash is it necessary in Calif for cold starts?
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
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Re: COLD, COLD WEATHER START

Reply #29 –
My last coach had ether. I only used it when it was so cold it would not start by regular methods. Usually, the engine heater, the 110V electric switch at the foot of the bed, would allow the engine to start without the use of ether. Preheat the engine at least 4 hours before starting. If after a couple of tries it will not start, turn off heater and try a short blast of ether. A couple of seconds is plenty. I never used more than two shots of ether. Always turn off the block heater.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback