My turn! Hdj81 cold start problem

[Enigma]

So many posts lately about starting problems, well now it's my turn.

My truck has been running fine, great actually, drove it home from work Friday and been parked all weekend.
So this morning I go to start it up, it was a bit nippy, but only -5 by my outside thermometer (the wife said it was something like -12 last night), I turned the key and waited the brief moment for the glow plug light to go out (which I never do normally) and fired it up.
It started up right away, but with a HUGE cloud of smoke, and as idled for a few minutes to warm up the interior, the rpm started to drop and it idled very rough and died.
I started it up again, but it would not come to a proper idle, if I kept my foot on the pedal it would stay at around 800 or so, and relatively smooth, but did not sound "right".
The gas pedal, and hand throttle, all felt kind of sluggish as well. While it was running, even if I put my foot to the floor, I could not get it to go above 800-900 rpm.
It does have about a 1/4 tank of B50 in it, has the fuel gelled? And if that is the problem, would that explain the weird feeling at the pedal?
I did manage to get out of the truck while it was running, pop the hood, and manually operate the throttle from the engine bay, but still had the same problem of not getting it to rev up at all.

 

[canucksafari]

Hey Jeff, yep its the fuel. If you remember my post last week in our club forum that I had the same thing happen to me a couple years ago with Cascadia bio. Their bio waxes up very easy as they use rendered animal fat to make their bio. If you have less than a tank in there, you may get away without draining the tank. If you can cut it down to about a B20, you should be fine with just replacing the fuel filter. Good luck.

 

[Enigma]

Just a little time in the "warm" sun seemed to cure it. After phoning around looking for a fuel filter, going to buy a new jerry can for diesel, filling up that can, dropping kid off at school, it starts and runs fine now.

But to be safe anyways, I dumped in another 20l of reg diesel, along with some anti-gel stuff from Canadian Tire, hopefully it starts when I leave work tonight

 

[canucksafari]

Let me know how the antigell stuff works on animal fat bio. Make sure you check to see if it is bio combatible. Some diesel additives can not be added to bio or, like the Standyne, can only be added to B5 and lower.

Had to run to pick up the kids from school as there are wide spread power outages in Abby. The old TD4.2 cranked over nice and sweet and that is still using the JDM batteries that came with the rig.

If you are worried about leaving work tonight, why don't you just plug her in? I plugged mine in the night before last and noticed that it also kept the engine compartment well above freezing.

 

[Enigma]

Hmmm...didnt notice any mention on there about bio compatibility. The stuff I bought was the Motomaster stuff anyways, guess I'll look at the bottle some more tonight.
I have no block heater, at least that I've noticed anyways. No cord hanging anywhere.

 

[canucksafari]

Jeff, get yourself a lower rad hose heater. Crushers technique is a good one, if you aren't planning on flushing your cooling system. Drain your rad and cut a 1" section out of the bottom end of the lower rad hose. Take that section to Napa and fit it on one of their lower rad heaters. I also got a few feet or wire amour to protect the wire. I think the heaters are around $37-$40 from Napa. When you get home, simply install it with two clamps into the section you cut out and clamp it tight. Put the armour over the plug cable and zap strap it so it is clear of your belts and anything too hot. Fill your rad with fresh coolant and you are done. If you haven't had a recent flush of your cooling system, you might want to do it when you put the lower rad hose heater in. If you have any trips planned to the interior during this cold snap, you will be glad to have done this.

 

[shromani]

Anyone have a part number for that Rad Hose Heater? I'd cut and check but that's my DD and I need to use it to get to and from Lordco\Napa\etc.

 

[simonliew]

Thay are all the same,use a 1.5" hose diameter heater,l installed 5 last week on HDJs and Hilux surfs,a bit tight on the surfs.
Simon
TLC import
Winterpeg
Manitoba
Coldnada.

 

[coyote69atthelake]

Okay so I measured the circumference (16cm) and calculated for the diameter (5.10 cm) and came up with 2" diameter, I took off 1/8 for each hose wall and came up with 1 3/4" inside diameter. I ordered the ZeroStart 3200004 (manf. #) from Lordco it was $47 plus taxes. I have not installed it yet. Should I take it back and get the 1 1/2" one.

 

[mikehj60]

does anybody have a part number for a lower rad hose heater for a 3B?

 

[shromani]

Okay so I measured the circumference (16cm) and calculated for the diameter (5.10 cm) and came up with 2" diameter,

Yes I came up with the same measurement, if I'm going to tackle this job at -15c in the dark, I'd only like to tear into this once.

Oh why didn't we do this last month?

BTW - FWIW - I run the Shell V Power I still had a real rough start yesterday morning at -21c, YES in Vernon, so I put is some diesel gel additive, and this mornings -23c start was much better.

 

[canucksafari]

BTW - FWIW - I run the Shell V Power I still had a real rough start yesterday morning at -21c, YES in Vernon, so I put is some diesel gel additive, and this mornings -23c start was much better.

Try Husky's Diesel Max. I use to run Shell V power - was sold on the marketing. Then I asked what was in it compared to the regular Shell diesel. The answer was only more lube - likely more VO.

 

[shromani]

Hmm

Husky's closer to home too

 

[coyote69atthelake]

Fuel Choice

Hmm

Husky's closer to home too

Try Husky's Diesel Max. I use to run Shell V power - was sold on the marketing. Then I asked what was in it compared to the regular Shell diesel. The answer was only more lube - likely more VO.

Yes I came up with the same measurement, if I'm going to tackle this job at -15c in the dark, I'd only like to tear into this once.

Oh why didn't we do this last month?

BTW - FWIW - I run the Shell V Power I still had a real rough start yesterday morning at -21c, YES in Vernon, so I put is some diesel gel additive, and this mornings -23c start was much better.

I wish I had a better choice for diesel. I have Esso, Shell or Petro-Canada. I really prefer to run Petro-Canada. I have had no real problems starting; however, I have only had -18 to -20 C over night and -18 C at most starts in the morning. Fired up within seconds (battery went a little low but came right back up). I do use diesel anti-gel.

I installed the ZEROSTART Lower Radiator Hose Heater today in my '92 HDJ81. The hose required the 1.5" Diameter Part. The manf. # is 3200003. (originally I had the 1 3/4" one but after cutting the line realized the hose was 1.5" dia. I did not take any pictures; however, I can take the panel off tomorrow if you want me to. The total working install time including draining and refill(not counting waiting for Lordco to deliver the right part) was 30 minutes, and at -18 C outside, no shelter on the cold pavement.... damn glad it was only 30 minute job.
Cheers,
Sheldon

 

[coyote69atthelake]

Installation Instructions

Careful following the manf. installation instructions. I cut out 1.5" opps should have been 1.25". It mentions to remove 3" of the internal spring spacer, but not until the end of step 4 does it mention only 1.25" needing to be removed from the hose. Mine was almost to short.... would recommend 1" to 1.25". I got lucky and was able to tight up one side and the gently stretch the hose the needed 1/4".
Cheers,
Sheldon

 

[canucksafari]

I wish I had a better choice for diesel. I have Esso, Shell or Petro-Canada.

..... I do use diesel anti-gel.

Petro-Canada should be fine. You can always get Husky in Grandforks or Castlegar when your in town shopping. You shouldn't need to use any anti-gel until you are at temps below -35 or maybe more. Best to check with Petro-Canada on their web site for the cloud point of their winter diesel. Anti-gel might be good to have on hand to get that last bit of summer diesel out for a unexpected cold snap. All I use in the winter is cetane boost and lube additive when on ocassion I buy diesel at Super Store. Even that, I am not so sure of any more. I did some checking and see that their source of diesel is Co-op Fuels. I think it was John Galt who said Co-op has one of the best diesel fuels - using only sweet #1 crude.