block heater ?

[mylady]

Is there a way I can test to make sure my block heater/intake heater, whatever you want to call it, is working properly? I'm keeping the van plugged in but it is still struggling to start in the cold. I don't remember it having such a hard time last winter. All the glow plugs were tested about 2 months ago and were all working fine.

[Doug]

mylady

Sounds like it is time to have the battery,starter,alternator checked.With all the trouble you had last yr I was surprised they did not end up changing out the starter. You might also be running thicker oil in the older van during the summer which becomes super thick in the winter making it harder to start or turn over. You'll have to go check your records from the last oil change.

[kats_melody]

Is there a way I can test to make sure my block heater/intake heater, whatever you want to call it, is working properly? I'm keeping the van plugged in but it is still struggling to start in the cold. I don't remember it having such a hard time last winter. All the glow plugs were tested about 2 months ago and were all working fine.

If you have a volt-ohm meter, check for continuity between the two flat blades on the plug for the block heater. If the element has shorted out, there will not be continuity.

The block heater elements are fairly reliable, but if it has gone bad, it is not an expensive fix. Make sure that you're using thinner oil for the winter months.

Even in the Florida panhandle, our diesel gets more difficult to start in cold weather.

[mylady]

Well I just had the oil changed two weeks ago. I did not know I was supposed to use different oil in the winter! I actually just added another 2 quarts this morning and it was a PAIN to put it in because it moved like Molasses. My husband brings the van to work and has the auto shop kids do the work, I just have to supply the oil and oil filter. I bought 15W-40 I believe. Whatever it said for diesel engines and it was the Ford brand. After I had the van for about 6 months the starter started to go so they put in a push button starter to fix that and both batteries are less than 6 months old, one is only about 3 months because it was found to be defective and they replaced it for free. that's the reason I thought it was the block heater, since I figured everything else has been fixed, replaced, rewired, what have you.
So what kind of oil should I be putting in it? I mean, for just the cost of the oil I have no problem having hubby take it back to work to have the kids drain it again and put thinner oil in. It was only about 8 degrees this morning and she didn't want to start, but she did. I have to pump the pedal while the glow plugs warm up and then usually hold the pedal down while I push the starter. You do not want to be behind it when it first starts! The smog coming out of the muffler is terrible, but if you shut it off during the day and restart it within a couple hours it doesn't do that. I do need to replace the muffler, just been putting that off until after the holidays. Don't really have any down time right now to get it taken care of.

[Doug]

mylady

Here ya go little snow bunny http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/m...ity/index.html
There ought to be a sticky thread for stuff like this some place and or storage for pdf manuals for the equipment that is commonly asked about.

Stephen: WAIT till you see what is coming for things like this!!! Surprise...mid January. A reference area for mobilers on a separate page attached to the board. First of its kind.

[kats_melody]

Mylady,

You don't have to pump the throttle. You have fuel injectors. There's nothing to prime.
In New York, where it snows, you should be using 5W 30 oil in the winter. It will help with cold starting.

[kats_melody]

There ought to be a sticky thread for stuff like this some place and or storage for pdf manuals for the equipment that is commonly asked about.

Stephen: WAIT till you see what is coming for things like this!!! Surprise...mid January. A reference area for mobilers on a separate page attached to the board. First of its kind.

Very good news. Hubby had to research hither and yon to find all of the documentation for the used stuff we bought to get started. For things he had to come up with on his own to make things work, he wrote documentation for it. I'm sure he will look forward to seeing it and not have to continue to reinvent the wheel.

Laura

[mylady]

Mylady,

You don't have to pump the throttle. You have fuel injectors. There's nothing to prime.
In New York, where it snows, you should be using 5W 30 oil in the winter. It will help with cold starting.

I'm not sure if I have fuel injectors. It's an 89 diesel. All I know is if I don't, it won't start. I'll have to ask my mechanic. I've tried not pumping it and I can't get it to start that way. I don't know if that means there is something wrong with it?

[Doug]

mylady

Does any smoke come out of the tail pipe when your turning over the engine? You will most likely have to wait till it warms up oust side a little bit to try it again. You can check the easy stuff though. Pull the air cleaner and see if got wet then froze check fuses for the in tank fuel pump if so equipped. Check the fuel filter for water ie frozen water. Place a blanket over the end if the wind is blowing hard on the front or back. Fuel does turn into frozen strawberry slushy if it gets cold enough. Cold has little to do with what it feels like to you. The wind will take a metal object like fuel line or filter and drop the temp down really further then you would believe possible. Starting fluid can sometimes work but sometimes it just goes boom and in the wrong hands can cause a lot of problems.Wish I was there to get it going for ya.
In the future you might want to consider making yourself a cover for the front end that reaches the ground to keep the wind out from under the engine in the front on cold windy winter nights.

[Doug]

Steven

I didnt mean for you to sticky this thread. I guess your going to form a technical area on the board in the near future. That would be an extreme 3 jumps forward. The traffic stats for that topic could be tied to a fan blade and provide you with plenty of summer time cooling.lol
I would venture a guess there is place somewhere to up load pdf.'s for free that can be accessed for free by hyper link. No one wants to know anything until they get stuck between a rock and hard place.Last thing they want to do is spend countless hours searching for a manual fighting off the porn pop ups. Pop ups are so distracting.

[kats_melody]

I'm not sure if I have fuel injectors. It's an 89 diesel. All I know is if I don't, it won't start. I'll have to ask my mechanic. I've tried not pumping it and I can't get it to start that way. I don't know if that means there is something wrong with it?

What brand van do have, a Ford, Chevy, or Dodge?

[mylady]

Sorry, I have a Ford 7.3 liter diesel van

And OH YES when it starts HUGE clouds come out the back, but once it's warmed up if I've turned it off and restart it there isn't that problem

[dobie2024]

mylady

did you have the glow plug relay tested? Just a suggestion from my hubby who works on those all the time.