Looks like we may break some low temp records this week. -30 ish?

Last year the fleets around here couldn't get diesel started. And when they did hydraulics were frozen.

-15 ish

What do you extreme cold guys do to prevent this if anything at all? I keep diesels plugged in over night at any temp under 40

At the open pit mines I worked at, the equipment was left running if it was not in use. Much cheaper to burn fuel and keep everything in working order than the manpower to fool around trying to get them started. We ran 24/7 but there was always equipment not in use full time.

I only run 6 hour days. If I do it that way? I'd probably just get up every couple hours or so and start it. Run to an hour/ down for two?

I didn't think that would pertain to you, one other place I worked we would tarp over Cat 992 loaders about 4 hrs before needed and place a big kerosene/diesel salamander heater under it there to warm up the hydraulic tanks and engine. My only experience is with big equipment at High Altitude mines
Someone else will have their experiences I am sure.
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http://wiktel.com/weather.php


Warroad would be the weather for me coming up, if you click on that. Near 30 below within the week.

That's hard on equipment.

Block heater makes my truck fire right up. Hydraulics on the tractor, at least for me are a different story. I have found that changing the fluid right before winter every other year does the trick. I think moisture builds up in the older fluid and freezes up. They also sell oil dip sticks that you plug in and they will keep the oil warm. That really helps with a cold crank.

We add the appropriate amount of Diesel fuel supplement (powered service) and plug them in. Start them up and let them run 10 minutes at 1200 rpm and go for it. We usually only get cold (-1 to -10) a day or two a year so I’m no expert, but it works for us. I’ve had feed trucks gel up at 10 above if they didn’t have power service in the fuel. If that happens we use Diesel 911. It’s a great product

for starters all our winter fuel is p-50 fuel and wont jell .seasonal fuel or summer fuel turns to jello at sub temperatures.you can plug trucks in and they will have warm block and perhaps oil but if fuel isnt of winter quality you go nowhere

Block heater, command starts, aviation hydraulic fluid (AW32), #1 diesel fuel, synthetic oil and gear lube.

Like Pawnee said, add Power Service in the fuel tank and make sure it's mixed in before the cold spell hits. Power Service comes in white bottles for summer and red bottles for winter. Get the red bottles. It'll prevent gelling and prevent icing in the fuel. (Also adds upper lube to keep injector pumps, valve guides etc from sticking.) If your equipment uses air breaks etc add airline deicer (alcohol) to the air tanks, or fill up the alcohol sniffer if it's equipped for it. In the winter we run 10wt or equivalent Hyd oil, but even at that you still want to let the pump warm up for a bit before engaging any controls. And then at idle slowly cycle all hyd cylinders full stroke to prevent busting lines or blowing "o" rings, before putting full power to them.

If electricity is not available, a diesel powered coolant heater is the best. You can program them to start 2 hours before you get there then the engine will crank right up. Once the engine is up to operating temp, with hydraulics I just start slow under no load and cycle everything until moving freely. But in my opinion when it's that cold it's too hard on equipment , even the big iron gets brittle when that cold.

Block heaters, Anti-Gel, and tank heaters. Plug it in, Plug it in. I've started my truck in temps as low as -50... but only if I had it plugged in.

block heaters, and anti-gel... if you have bio diesel, switch filters to a bigger ppm filter and you should have no problem. when I had my own trucks, I very rarely used anti - gel because the trucks returned more fuel than they used, thus warm fuel. biggest problem I ever had was with bio fuel, and once I went to bigger ppm filter I never had anymore problem. I now work for a rental company, and we just use winter blend fuel. only the delivery trucks get plugged in. most of our bigger stuff has glow plugs. if they are working, most likely its going to start. as far as hydraulics, they will be slow at first, but will warm up and work fine.

In the old days, we'd just give'm a snort of Kero and away we went. Now we have computerized crap and additives.

heated garage

I'll buy additives Monday and run em through the week. Real cold the!PS shouldn't hit till We'd.

No access to heated garage . But I do keep them plugged in.

May end up wrapping them in tarp and running a Salamander on the real cold night. I'm hearing neg 30 wind chill neg 47. Who knows though? I've never seen that kind of cold here before.

You don't have to worry about wind-chill on Iron, but it does cool it down to the ambient temp quicker, and it makes it miserable working on it.

Lol

I doubt I open front door to my house if their even close to being right! Trash will still be there next week!

5 gal of clear keep in the fuel tank then fill with on road take it for a ride plug it in and u will b good