Cold weather starting...

[Fordisthebest30]

honestly, i live where it's below freezing 4-6 months out of the year, and block heaters are typically only really needed for places that get below 0 degrees farenheit

 

[Mark_88]

I installed the battery warmer yesterday and left it plugged in last night...cranked over good but didn't catch right away...started after 3 long cranks with no choke...wasn't that cold last night...

I did find a in-hose block heater at Canadian Tire...in stock...only $60 plus a new lower rad hose...think I will try the warmer/charger for now as I just got my cooling system fixed anddon't want to disturb it...but at least I know it's not an expensive option and I don't have to pop a plug...

 

[naford]

A good load tester for an automotive battery are the size of a lunch box with air holes for cooling and if you looked inside has thick wire wound in coils. They tend to get hot. What I would suspect is that you either have to clean the wiring from the battery down to the starter and the ground wire to. Or you have something kind of current draw. Disconnect the battery for over night then reconnect it in the morning and see what happens.

 

[mp3deviant721]

I don't know what I'm doing different, but I just start my truck up. No sort of heating aids or battery chargers. It's always started even in the dead cold.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, as I said, my truck always starts first crank when it is warm (temperature outside) and once it has been started it usually starts first crank even after sitting for hours (even in -20 C)...

It's only when it sits overnight and the temp drops to below 0 C...and even then it will start but it takes a few cranks...I've only ran down tje battery once through repeated cranking and that was last winter when the temp hit -25...

If it was FI it'd probably start better...that's why I was polling...like maybe these winter aids would help...and I'm thinking now a block heater might help...but I also think putting a liner under the hood might also help...

Maybe moisture in the carb or on the wires...

Started this morning first crank but temp was only -1 C...

 

[Mark_88]

It dropped to -12 last night...5 or 6 cranks and not even a sputter...charging the battery now...

 

[racsan]

I'm voting for diethyl ether. That stuff is pure gold when you can't get one started in cold weather. Just don't give it too much or you are going to be giving your engine some head.

...now theres a visual!

 

[dangerranger83]

I can crank on mine forever and I have never had it die. Last year my duraspark box went out in front of my driveway as I was pull out and I used my battery to get my truck back to the curb,50 foot away, by cranking the engine non stop while in 4lo in a foot of snow to make it easier on the starter and the next day replaced the durabox an it started right up. I think you need a bigger battery with more CCA. I think I have a 850 CCA one and I only paid $40 for her from my local farm store plus has a 60 month warrenty too.

 

[509lifted]

40 bucks damn u guys can get batteries cheep my basic napa battery was 125 and the next step up was 650cca was 150....but batteries are so expensive here for some reason maybe because no one hardley buys them idk

 

[racsan]

batteries around here are about 75 & up, did find a good deal at a local farm supply store, $54 for a 500 cca. got one for the blazer back in august. what i used to do to help with the cold was mount a 100 wat light bulb under the hood of the truck, right next to the starter and leave it plugged in all night. better than nothing.

 

[Mark_88]

I didn't use anything last night to assist it...but I didn't realize it was going to drop 20 degrees...got it started after a bit of a charge and choke...my neighbor charged at me for waking her up with a bang and tried to choke me...lol

The light under the hood actually works pretty good...I just realized that my truck is now parked facing the west and the wind whips around the front end of it...might try facing it the other way...but then I need a longer extension cord...

Where I was living last winter it was fully protected from the wind...

 

[Mark_88]

OK...I found a hose solution and installed an in-hose block heater...got up this am and plugged it in...let it boil for two hours...turned the key and it started with no choke...

-15 too...that's a first...

I think the main factor is the carb...it gets frosty (on the outside) and no amount of battery power or choke makes a difference...

I think what was holding me off the block heater was "how is it going to heat the carb/intake?"...but it worked...

It's going down to around -15 again tonight...if it starts after plugging in the heater and letting it warm up then I will know...

Just a matter of how long to let it warm up...

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Maybe the float bowl is draining slowly overnite. In the morning before you crank on it pop the air filter off and push the throttle and see if the accelerator pump is pumping fuel. Maybe a carb rebuild will solve the issue.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I had a similar problem with a holly carb on my dodge 360 2 bbl. The bowl vent valve was stuck open to atmosphere and the fuel after the engine stopped would evaporate out the bowl vent but a pin hole in a power valve will do the same thing. What I used to do was crank on it for a bit and wait for the float bowl to fill up pump it then start it up. Is your bowl vent connected to the vapor cannister and do you smell fuel after the engine was stopped for a bit.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

From someone that grew up in -70 F i can tell you a block heater is first choice. I dont like the rad hose/ heater core crap because the heat will kill the hose and pop, your 100 miles from the nearest human at those temps nope not me. If your charging system and battery are stract, and rated it will crank. 2nd after the block heater is a batt blanket then at minimum a little 6 ish amp charger that has float sencing. I had so much on my rigs in my hometown i had to spit it between two 15 amp breakers. I was alway go big or go home so you can imagine 44's with a flat spot, shit it was like riding a bull for however many miles till they rounded.