Do you think our diesels "grow accustomed" to cold weather? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Aaron · #1 12-09-2005, 12:34 AM

I was just thinking that maybe our diesels begin to develop an immunity to cold winters if they have lived in winter states their entire lives??

Seems like any time someone brings a diesel up here to Ohio after it has lived down south or out west, it doesn't want to start! Kind of like a Miami Dolphins fan sitting at a Cleveland Browns game in December!

Similar experiences anyone??

iNeon · #2 12-09-2005, 12:41 AM

alabamians dont like cold much at all and my car is no different!

good advice, though. my mother and i were going to take the benz up to ohio to see family, i made sure they had an extension cord before i agreed that i'd drive

didnt pan out, though.

honestly, i didnt see much of a difference with the block heater hooked up last night, ive heard stories of instant heat, starts like in june etc etc. bunch of hot air, i tell ya.

maybe its broken?

Nate · #3 12-09-2005, 12:51 AM

Most likely, if it hasnt been used in 20 years

Was the radiator hot or above ambiant tempatures?
If so, then its working... If not, its not working

My uncle bought a k1500 blazer with the 6.2 TD in it from texas. Doesnt like it (ebay truck... didnt say it was smashed, and lots of broken interior peices

)

anyways it's done pretty good this winter so far, so I dont think they get used to hot/cold... but winters not done yet

~Nate

#4 12-09-2005, 12:57 AM

Car's (and anything else) wears into its environment.

Simple.

Also down south your car can get away with weak starting components whereas up north you need fairly top notch stuff.

And vise-a-versa with cooling systems

barry123400 · #5 12-09-2005, 01:37 AM

I always though the rough startup of my diesels in the cold weather was just the result of the cold weather. I now stand corrected as I listened very carefully one really cold morning and heard the engine say I want to be in florida. It was hard to make out as that engine was shivering and shaking so bad.

willy2004 · #6 12-09-2005, 02:15 AM

I lived in Minneapolis for four years with my 84 300SD and started it at temps as low as -10F, roughly...thermo read -23.5 C.

New glow plugs and new battery, no block heater hooked up.

Preglow three times then crank it for about a good 45 seconds.

I routinely started it at 0 F without problems. I think that Bosch plugs and a fresh battery are the key.

Brian Carlton · #7 12-09-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

I was just thinking that maybe our diesels begin to develop an immunity to cold winters if they have lived in winter states their entire lives??

The only way a 617 develops immunity is with a top notch battery and starter with good compression and properly adjusted valves and functioning glow plugs.

However, it's still a cold, miserable engine until it warms. When it's down below 20°F., I don't even think about moving it for 5-7 minutes (spent indoors!).

boneheaddoctor · #8 12-09-2005, 09:39 AM

hmm...minees not that cold blooded...runs perfectly fine allowing only a 2 minute warmup after starting it...actually does fine right away...but has more power after 2 minutes.

Brian Carlton · #9 12-09-2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

hmm...minees not that cold blooded...runs perfectly fine allowing only a 2 minute warmup after starting it...actually does fine right away...but has more power after 2 minutes.

Maybe I should rephrase.

It gives you the feeling that you are pushing it. It runs perfectly fine, but the revs come up somewhat slowly and it shifts somewhat late. It's a subtle thing.

I suppose that it's just me watching it too carefully as it warms up. Most folks probably wouldn't notice anything after two minutes.

pawoSD · #10 12-09-2005, 09:48 AM

Oh yes if you drive away shortly after starting a frozen 617 it will let you know your only working with about 30hp....then 40.....60.....75.....90.....110....130. Over the following minutes of driving.

Usually I have to clean my whole car off, so mine gets to idle from 5-10 mins usually after a block-heatered start....so its already around 50-60C by the time I actually drive away. Block heaters rock, started on the first crank this morning at 17 degrees, and idled nice and smooth right away.

boneheaddoctor · #11 12-09-2005, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Maybe I should rephrase.

It gives you the feeling that you are pushing it. It runs perfectly fine, but the revs come up somewhat slowly and it shifts somewhat late. It's a subtle thing.

I suppose that it's just me watching it too carefully as it warms up. Most folks probably wouldn't notice anything after two minutes.

that makes sense....I would guess thats common while the combustion chambers remain cold shortly after startup...I do see what you describe if I drive right away when its cold out...I think as pistons and combustion chambers (and prechambers) heat up to operating temp you get more complete combustion and more power.

Cold block not heat sinking as much away like at startup...

d.delano · #12 12-09-2005, 09:55 AM

My car is from GA - no difference in cold startup whether it's 90 or 10 degrees. No block heater either. Just lucky I guess. One thing I am worried about is salt. Did anyone see the huge piles of salt on the street corners and in th gutters here? I think they overdid it with the 5" of rock salt for the 2" of snow accumulation. Last time I brought a southern car up here it disintegrated in about 2 years. I have been and will be watching the nooks and crannies on the underbody like a hawk even though I don't drive in the snow. I mean it's just incredible how silly the DC works people use the road salt- one year I was here they ran out early and had no more for the last two great snows of the season. People up in NH are like 3"-4" forget about it.

boneheaddoctor · #13 12-09-2005, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.delano

My car is from GA - no difference in cold startup whether it's 90 or 10 degrees. No block heater either. Just lucky I guess. One thing I am worried about is salt. Did anyone see the huge piles of salt on the street corners and in th gutters here? I think they overdid it with the 5" of rock salt for the 2" of snow accumulation. Last time I brought a southern car up here it disintegrated in about 2 years. I have been and will be watching the nooks and crannies on the underbody like a hawk even though I don't drive in the snow. I mean it's just incredible how silly the DC works people use the road salt- one year I was here they ran out early and had no more for the last two great snows of the season. People up in NH are like 3"-4" forget about it.

You see the E street route 66 ramp near the Kennedy center towards VA?.....huge piles of salt from the last dusting...