Starting a diesel engine in cold weather

[mlh1936]

My DD 8V92 is difficult to start in cold weather. It has been requiring a lengthy bit of cranking before it will run. What is the recommended procedure for cold weather starting? How long can I crank without overheating and damaging the starter? Is it helpful to pump the accelerator while cranking? Or is it better to hold the accelerator to the floor while cranking? What can I do to make the engine easier to start? Anybody heating the engine in some manner? My engine usually starts  quickly when the weather is warm. Thanks.

[Charles in SC]

An electric preheater is the best thing I have found. This is the kind that goes in the cooling system of the motor block. My engine takes about 4 hours plugged in and will start easily in cold weather. I have used it down to 12 degrees.

[mlh1936]

Where can I find one? Is it an aftermarket item?

[mcichad]

Hi, a DD 8V92 will be hard to start in weather going below the zero mark, simply having a block heater plugged in for approx. 4 or more hours will keep it warm and ready to start into the -30's.  This is Celcius, older diesels have always been harder to start and with any engine you shouldn't crank it long and no peddal action required.  If it's taking a long time to start even while plugged in, then you may want to add an oil pan heater to thin the oil or run a thinner oil in the winter months.

Cranking any engine excessive is never a good idea, the DD 8V92 likes to spin quickly to start, especially being a 2-stroke.  Add a block heater, possibly oil pan heater and check all of your battery cables.  Any sign of corrosion or bad cables will slow down the crank and check your batteries for their health in cold weather.  It takes allot more cranking juice in the cold and this engine needs to spin fast, once you have these addressed it will start quick and easy!

Have fun,

Chad

[Eagle Andy]

Hello , you can find a block heater for the 8v92 at any napa store for around 125 bucks. looking at your motor from the back of the bus it will be on the right side of the block . there should be a plate there with four bolts , that 's were the heater will go . You will have to drain some antifreeze out to make the job a little easier.

[Jerry32]

When I started converting my bus I found a cord tied to the frame next to the AC compressor and plugged it in. the electric meter started spinning but the engine got warm. Jerry

[Jriddle]

In cold weather I always let it crank for only a few revolutions then let it set for 30 seconds or so. Then crank again it always starts right up if I do this, otherwise I have to crank the S%$# out of which is not good.

John

[Eric]

As with jriddle  spin it around quick short "bursts" We have an air starter and have to be MUCH more cautious then the battery folk LOL not as easy to get a jump start! Spin it around for 5 seconds stop hit it again every time the engine rotates you'll be warming the cylinders making combustion easier with every rotation!

[JackConrad]

Mal,
  First, make sure batteries are fully charged and all cable connections are clean & tight. The engine has to spin fast to develop enough compression heat to ignite the fuel.  Pumping or holding the throttle will do absolutely nothing.  The rack is already at full throttle until the engine starts and then the governor takes over and moves the rack to idle speed.  Crank for 5-10 seconds and let the engine "soak" for aboy 30 seconds, then hit starter again.  Best way is to use a block heater.  Jack

[cody]

You can get 2 different kinds of block heaters, mine is a circulating heater and circulates the warmed water thru the engine, thats a much better way than just a regular block heater that heats a given area or an oil pan heater that again heats a given area.

[bobofthenorth]

Everybody has been bumping around the edge of this and you may already know it but it bears repeating anyway.  In cold weather you have two things working against you:
- first your batteries are less efficient
- second your oil is thicker which makes the engine harder to spin

The combination of the two effects means that you don't develop compression heat as easily which makes the engine hard to start.  As others have already pointed out you can warm the engine which will deal with the thick oil and you need to make sure all your battery connections are good.  You can also warm the batteries. 

I hope to never have to do a really cold start again but if I do I have a block heater.  And I have my Proheat plumbed into the engine.  And I have battery warming blankets on both batteries.  And if the going really gets tough I've got two 750 watt magnets that I can stick to the pan for additional heat.

[luvrbus]

Best heater for a 8v92 is move to AZ I never have problems starting mine lol .The best heater for a 92 is the factory one that mounts like Eagle Andy is talking about 2 hrs of heating and your good to go. 



good luck

[John316]

We have one of the better heaters. We have our Oasis (like a Webasto). Thirty minutes, and we are set (really cold an hour tops).

God bless,

John

[gus]

I don't know about 92s but the 671 was designed to start with ether and it does it very well. The ether cup goes directly into the air box.

I would sure prefer a block heater but don't have one so I use the original ether cup to start mine in cold weather.

[baker4106]

Nobody said anything but if you can shut off the fuel when you crank a couple times about 5 seconds and wait 30 it will start quicker.   Worked on farm tractors well.