So, this past Saturday, Feb 4th 2023, it was -10F actual temperature, with the windchill at -31F in my little northeastern corner of CT. I was heading up to NH early in the morning, but I wanted to see if my M1009, after all the work I have done to her, would start in an extremely cold environment. I got in, turned the key and let the glow plugs do their thing. Then, given the cold, I gave them an extra 10 seconds or so, then turned the key. She cranked over a few times and sputtered, but didn't start. I then tried again and she started to sputtered and then she fired up! She ran really rough for about 30 seconds, white smoke coming from the exhaust, then she smoothed out and it was just water vapor from there. She was alive and looked to be running great !!
I went inside for a few minutes and warmed up (hands were freezing !!!) while the truck warmed itself up. I then got in and intended to take a 20 minute drive just to make sure she warmed up right and ran well. I got down my driveway and head down the street. Well, about a 1/3 of a mile down the road she started to slow down, no matter how much peddle I gave her. I knew something was off right away, so I turned around and headed back to the house. I barely made it up the hill and made the turn into my driveway and she stalled at the street end of the drive. I turned the key and she fired right up, but she wouldn't run unless I kept my foot on the accelerator and even then it was at low RPM. I tried to put her in gear and move her up the drive, but there was no power and she would stall. I knew what the issue was, but I tried for another few minutes before I shut her down and walked back to the house for the fix.
I was guessing that, due to the cold and sitting outside, the fuel must have gelled. I was going to dump some 911 in the tank before I tried to start her, but forgot. Soooo, I retrieved the bottle of 911 (always have at least one during the winter !!), poured about 1/2 into the tank and waited a few minutes, a very cold few minutes ! I then turned the key and she fired right up and ran as normal. The combination of 911 and heat from the engine warmed everything up enough to get me going. I then let her idle for a few minutes, just to make sure, and then took her out for a 30 minute spin. Downtown, the highway and a couple of hills. Everything work well and she ran great. I was actually surprised that she fired up as she did in those temps, as she had been sitting for a few days and she doesn't have a block heater or anything like that. My girl is tough !!
I did take a video of the cold start and will eventually try to figure out how to post it.
I went inside for a few minutes and warmed up (hands were freezing !!!) while the truck warmed itself up. I then got in and intended to take a 20 minute drive just to make sure she warmed up right and ran well. I got down my driveway and head down the street. Well, about a 1/3 of a mile down the road she started to slow down, no matter how much peddle I gave her. I knew something was off right away, so I turned around and headed back to the house. I barely made it up the hill and made the turn into my driveway and she stalled at the street end of the drive. I turned the key and she fired right up, but she wouldn't run unless I kept my foot on the accelerator and even then it was at low RPM. I tried to put her in gear and move her up the drive, but there was no power and she would stall. I knew what the issue was, but I tried for another few minutes before I shut her down and walked back to the house for the fix.
I was guessing that, due to the cold and sitting outside, the fuel must have gelled. I was going to dump some 911 in the tank before I tried to start her, but forgot. Soooo, I retrieved the bottle of 911 (always have at least one during the winter !!), poured about 1/2 into the tank and waited a few minutes, a very cold few minutes ! I then turned the key and she fired right up and ran as normal. The combination of 911 and heat from the engine warmed everything up enough to get me going. I then let her idle for a few minutes, just to make sure, and then took her out for a 30 minute spin. Downtown, the highway and a couple of hills. Everything work well and she ran great. I was actually surprised that she fired up as she did in those temps, as she had been sitting for a few days and she doesn't have a block heater or anything like that. My girl is tough !!
I did take a video of the cold start and will eventually try to figure out how to post it.
