cold start problems (1 Viewer)

[zmontgomery]

So it has been pretty cold here the past few nights -between 5 and 15 with the wind chill- and the other day I went to start my cruiser and it took 2 tries, which has never happened before. Do you think I just need to pump the pedal a few extra times to give it a richer mix?? Normally I give it about 3-4 pumps with the choke all the way and it instantly starts, no extensive cranking or anything. Could it also be the oil I have in it? right now I have 10w-40, and I am guessing the engine probably has to work pretty hard to make it move around when it is that cold out. Any input would be sweet, cause I hate it when people see that it takes 2 tries to start a car that is far superior to theirs in all aspects.

 

[hullendersauce]

damn dude, yur lucky then. as Doc stated above, sometimes they dont start at all. plug in the block heater, and use a timer. i set mine to come on at 3:30am, and go off at 7:00. no more hard starts after that.

 

[Doc]

Yeah, you lucky bastage.

I pumped, I choked.... no start.

FWIW, I'm running Rottella T-syn 5w40 and a jacobs ingnition sys.

 

[The Dude]

- 22 C here last night. I didn't fill my truck up with winter diesel... Last fill was over two months ago.

It's a no go for me this morning.

Try the block heater. It will help.

 

[zmontgomery]

Sadly I don't have a heater to plug in, nor a plug to plug it into. I am going to change the oil tomorrow though, along with the thermostat-I think mine is stuck open cause it is barely coming up into the white on the temp guage- and yeah, this morning I went to start it after it had sat for 2 days in temps no higher than 35, and I gave it 6 pumps and it seemed to start fine........so I guess ol' Sheila just needs a bit more of a richer mix on those cold mornings. lol

 

[MR.FJ60]

As far as the block heater is their a limit on hold long to leave it pluged in for? Sorry for the stupid question.

 

[Front Range 4x4]

As far as the block heater is their a limit on hold long to leave it pluged in for? Sorry for the stupid question.

Nope, leave it in all night if you'd like. When I lived in MN it was common practise though probably not necessary. A timer a couple hours before starting should be good enough.

 

[smoothy_bj]

my cruiser is parked about 2 blocks down from yours. 4 pumps on the pedal, full choke and she starts right up. i am using different viscosity oil (and synthetic), so perhaps an oil change will do you good. rebuilding the carb a few weeks ago made all the difference in the world for my cruiser.

 

[ColoradoFJ60]

Well, it was about 20 degrees here last night and this morning it took me 15 minutes to start it up.

I added some of that IsoHeet stuff to the fuel and I use 10-30 syn blend oil. Summer it starts right up but in the winter, I must pump about a 1/4 of a gallon into it before it starts up. I am scared I am going to run out of charge before it starts. I changed the plugs about 2 weeks ago also.

I should probably take the 80 out of the garage and put my 60 in it.

I would kill for two try starts.

 

[djawahir]

I thought that the oil is thinner when it's cold, i.e. the 10 in the 10-40 or 10-50 that we use in our 60's. So would changing the oil really make that much of a difference?

I'm not trying to steal the thread, but am interested in this...

 

[Benji]

Absolutely not. That's why you drain your oil when the engine is hot during an oil change, and why you decrease viscosity when it gets colder. The colder a material is, the less the atoms tend to move around, thus the material becomes harder and more crystaline. i.e. water to ice.

I thought that the oil is thinner when it's cold, i.e. the 10 in the 10-40 or 10-50 that we use in our 60's. So would changing the oil really make that much of a difference?

I'm not trying to steal the thread, but am interested in this...

 

[zmontgomery]

Changed the oil, filter, and thermostat yesterday. Now with about 5-6 pumps sheila starts right up, and the heater actually blows warm instead of just semi-warm. I'm stoked.

 

[sl33py]

i don't live in cold climates (unless you think 40 is cold) and I think it's safe to say -

we all hate you.

lol! I'd love to have that easy of a start...

good luck.

rob