How will my HJ60 handle a harsh winter? (1 Viewer)

[WideAngleWandering]

I'm getting ready to wander on over to Bozeman, MT for the rest of January. Temps are usually 22 to 35f (-5 to 2c) but with the crazy weather we're getting in the states right now, it could be as low as -5 to 5f (-20 to -15c) or even lower.

I have a new starter and spare glow plugs. It's a 12v truck. I don't have a block heater and don't have plans to buy one. It will be parked outside.

I imagine I'll need a piece of cardboard to partially block the radiator to maintain water temps.

Is there anything else I must do, or am strongly recommended to do, for reliable operation in these temps? Is my Honduran truck going to freak out or keep on purring like usual?

 

[Douglas S]

If you need it:
http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Auxillary-Heaters/300W-25A-Magnetic-Engine-Oil-Heater/4270100.p


Also, make sure you put anti-gel in your fuel and run a winter weight oil (I use Rotella 5w40).

 

[DanS HJ-45]

You really aren't going to like starting it when it's real cold. And your neighbors will probably like it even less.

Since you aren't going to put in a block heater (I'd put on some sort of engine heater), at least make sure your battery (batteries?) are in good shape and can do a lot of cranking and glowing.

Expect it to start on 3 cylinders at first, and it may take a while (30+ seconds maybe) to get all 6 cylinders firing. Don't count on being able to just hop in and go when it's real cold. My routine on the cold mornings is to get ready to go, almost. Then I go start the truck, and let it idle while I brush my teeth. By the time I'm done, it's a pretty safe bet that the engine is warm enough to run smoothly.

Dan

 

[WideAngleWandering]

One of those magnetic stick-on oil pan heaters isn't out of the question but I've not been convinced about how useful they are. I also don't know if I'll have a place to plug in yet.

She already smokes like an old lady at a casino on first start when the weather's near freezing, but it usually evens out after 30 seconds or so.

This embarrasses me when I'm in a national park or some pristine wilderness that gets filled with diesel fog.

But the neighbors ... well, they can go suck it. Right now I'm parked in a fancy condo neighborhood and I take great joy in smoking the place out when I fire her up.

I've done everything (pistons/rings, glow plugs, injector service) short of rebuilding the IP and replacing the lift/primer pumps. Not quite sure where that vaporous start is coming from, but I consider it a fact of life.

I have two Sears Diehard Platinum batteries for the new starter (2LT innards swapped into my 2H starter housing) so I imagine she can crank a long time.

 

[AJAEbj42]

Yep, try and keep the batteries warm and be patient when starting as had been stated above.

If you can, check your glow plugs to be sure they are all in tip top shape. In my experience, diesels take a loooong time to warm up compared with gas engines; left at idle you thermostat may never open, so dress warm and try to drive longer distances in winter as diesels don't like short trips either.

 

[John Galt]

Check the anti-freeze; it should be good for -40.

Get a plug-in oil pan heater at the very least. A lower rad-hose heater would be better. Consider battery blanket heaters too. Buy a good 14ga 50ft extension cord.

Plug in pre-heating is always better/cheaper than idling to warm up the engine.

Long idle periods with a rough engine is harder on the engine than a short idle and slow driving.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Not sure why you are unwilling to instal a block heater thst is what they are made for. The 2H is a bear to start below -20c even with good glow plugs and compression. Thats with 24V of starting power I cant see a 12V 2H stsrting very well with out a block heater and good bit of preglow.

I would recommend looking at some form of engine heater in those temps now rather than when you are there trying to get a heater of some sort instslled at -25c. Diesels can be a bear to get goi g in deep cold like we have been getting. I had to get a International 6cyl diesel tractor fired up to plow snow at a family farm in Manitoba last week it was -34c (-52c wind chill) it was plugged in with a 1000w block heater for 3 hours. It took a tiger torch to the oil pan to finally get the thing turning over. Once it started it smoked and complained for 30min till it had built up enough heat that I could unplug the blovk heater and that the tiger torch off the pan....... as soon as I did that the coolant temp started droping and the oil pressure started raising. Only way to keep any heat in the engine was load with the snow blower, as soon as you stopped the blower the hester would blow -35c air in your face.

Dont over estimate the ability of a diesel in the cold.

Good luck

Posted via IH8MUD app

 

[WideAngleWandering]

Since I rarely see those low of temps I'd rather not mess with the coolant plumbing ... but the real reason is lack of time to sort it out before I hit the road.

All food for thought. I am taking this into consideration.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I've done everything (pistons/rings, glow plugs, injector service) short of rebuilding the IP and replacing the lift/primer pumps. Not quite sure where that vaporous start is coming from, but I consider it a fact of life.

.

Sounds like you may have air in the fuel lines. The Bosch primer pump is $10-$20 and quick to instal.That may go a long way to an easier start and you wont have to crank the engine longer than necessary.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

What voltage glow plugs are you running?

 

[Turdzoplenty]

My .02C. Maybe my hj60 is anomaly but when its -20 to -25, I plug it in for three hours, turn the key and wham she goes, and runs super.
I run 0/40 rotella, and use power service winter formula additive in the fuel. The engine is unopened at 472,000 kms.

No battery or oil pan warmers etc. Glow timer will cycle the glow plugs for up to 10 minutes while its running.

BJ42 i have starts even better, same treatment, 0/40, fuel additive, 350 watt blockheater and NGK glow plugs with a new busbar.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

My .02C. Maybe my hj60 is anomaly but when its -20 to -25, I plug it in for three hours, turn the key and wham she goes, and runs super.
I run 0/40 rotella, and use power service winter formula additive in the fuel. The engine is unopened at 472,000 kms.

No battery or oil pan warmers etc. Glow timer will cycle the glow plugs for up to 10 minutes while its running.

BJ42 i have starts even better, same treatment, 0/40, fuel additive, 350 watt blockheater and NGK glow plugs with a new busbar.

How will they do starting in those temps with out being plugged in though?

The supper glow in our 24V CND rigs is made for that kind of weather and when working correctly is great. But a 12V HJ60 from a warm climat not plugged in will have issues I'm sure hell he is having issues at 0c.

 

[WideAngleWandering]

I have a 12v system that was on fixed delay but now has a wilson switch.

Even when all 6 plugs are perfect (last time I pulled them off and checked them was a few months ago) it would start a little rough once the temps get down near freezing.

I can't remember the glow plug voltage ... I'll try and dig up my spares to double check. I do remember doing a bunch of research to make sure I had the right ones.

At the moment, filled with 15w40 rotella, about 500 miles old.

 

[Douglas S]

15w40 will not do. I think you're going to have problems without some kind of engine heater.

 

[hj 60]

I have no problems with 24V at -18 but now with the blockheater it is funny how well it starts, the heater installation in the 30 mm freeze plug was maybe 20 minutes of severe pain, (remove 7 litres of cooling liquid, slam plate out by turning it (undamaged), slam heater in, connect, add cooling liquid)

The wiring plug with tie-rips trough grill can be done in 15 minutes and later fix it right in summer.

I think with a 12v system you need heater help but it will be a suprise if it does not start when heater is forgotten> so it should start by itself.

 

[WideAngleWandering]

15w40 will not do.

yeah, I'm expecting to do an oil change to something climate-appropriate.

I think you're going to have problems without some kind of engine heater.

I know a proper block heater is the way to go but would a magnetic oil pan heater make a difference?

I would have to take a day off of work to do or coordinate any sort of install and that would be very tough to pull off right now. It might have to wait until I get out there.

However, it looks like this polar vortex might lift soon ... in which case the temps may be much closer to freezing. Will it stay that way? I don't know. But heater install might be something I could do after arrival.

 

[Turdzoplenty]

yeah, I'm expecting to do an oil change to something climate-appropriate.


I know a proper block heater is the way to go but would a magnetic oil pan heater make a difference?

I would have to take a day off of work to do or coordinate any sort of install and that would be very tough to pull off right now. It might have to wait until I get out there.

However, it looks like this polar vortex might lift soon ... in which case the temps may be much closer to freezing. Will it stay that way? I don't know. But heater install might be something I could do after arrival.

You can get inline 400w-500w heaters. Splice in to lower rad hose. Weapon of choice if you want minimum downtime and aggravation.

How will they do starting in those temps with out being plugged in though?

The supper glow in our 24V CND rigs is made for that kind of weather and when working correctly is great. But a 12V HJ60 from a warm climat not plugged in will have issues I'm sure **** he is having issues at 0c.

Either truck will start. No problem. Plugging them in just lessons the noise.
I just sold a bj60 with 295000 kms that was 12v and started and ran great in the dead of winter never being plugged in.
Reckon the state of tune varies from vehicle to vehicle.
I run 2 1000cca AGM batteries, in both my diesels. Gets the glows good and hot.

 

[John Galt]

y
I know a proper block heater is the way to go

NO, as many have told you, a lower rad hose heater is best

but would a magnetic oil pan heater make a difference?

as answered before: still Yes.

 

[brownbear]

Just have a block heater installed at a Napa garage. I did this on my 3FE Landcruiser last fall. Was cheap. No point fighting it yourself. They will look up the frost plug needed.

Mag heaters don't do enough. On a diesel you need a warm head, which is what the block heater does with very little watts. The rad hose heater uses a lot of watts for the same thing. Not all plug ins can support huge watts.

0w40 Rotella is also good oil.

You have the wilson switch good. I can make my 3B stop smoking after it starts with my switch. I may glow for 30 seconds more or sit and go and off with my push button. But at -20 C. it will smoke.

Another thing to help might be putting a small trickle charger on your battery at night. I do that with my 80 in addition to the block heater.

A block heater is a simple thing to have installed. But its one of those things I would not do in my own driveway. I'll take apart whole front ends, but I don't want to deal with coolant in tight spaces.

I fought not having a block heater for too many years with an engine that would not start on my gasser 80. Then I paid to have it installed and could not believe how cheap it was.

 

[markthemenace]

I have no problems with 24V at -18 but now with the blockheater it is funny how well it starts, the heater installation in the 30 mm freeze plug was maybe 20 minutes of severe pain, (remove 7 litres of cooling liquid, slam plate out by turning it (undamaged), slam heater in, connect, add cooling liquid) The wiring plug with tie-rips trough grill can be done in 15 minutes and later fix it right in summer. I think with a 12v system you need heater help but it will be a suprise if it does not start when heater is forgotten> so it should start by itself.

Hahaha HJ 60, I have yet to find time to fix my block heater! It's warming up here though, and I think it leaks less when it's warm. So far I've used almost 6 liters of coolant (1/3 mix) and many liters if distilled water already. Oh...to find the time to love my HJ properly!!!

OP get a block heater installed like the bear says. If it's an option to just drive into a NAPA garage and have it done, do it and then have one thing less to worry about. With that block heater, and the right oil, you should be good to go! Btw, block heaters are not only for extreme cold weather use. I regularly it my old Merc in, even at 5 or 6 degrees above 0, only because I'm sure it reduces wear and tear and besides, the heat works faster too! At 730,000 km, that poor engine needs all the help it gets to last longer still!