Cold Weather Talk, Again

Winter Prep Tips From Alaska

Posted July 27 2010 02:48 PM by Mike McGlothlin
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Observations about features/should-be features

This winter we’ll be picking an Alaskan companies’ brain on how to prep our Power Stroke for the cold weather months, and we’ll even see how they prepare trucks for -50 degree weather in our northernmost state…

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The shop is called Different Strokes of Alaska. They specialize in Power Stroke diesels, but more importantly, prepping them for active duty in sub-zero degree temperatures. From checking the functionality of block heaters, fuel heaters, replacing injector O-rings, UVCH harnesses, exhaust backpressure valves and more, all the way down to making sure trucks are running the correct coolant for the climate they’re asked to work in. One thing is for sure; if a truck can survive an Alaskan winter, it can easily survive a Midwestern winter down here.

Reader Comments:

1. Cool

(I know horrible pun)

Ice Road truckers has some pretty nice tips and trick in it.

I especially want to know about correct idle time after a cold-start. Also, ive heard if you have your trucks block heater plugged in all night you could just start it and go without any further idle time (lets say in 10-20* weather). Even that further idle time is bad and just dirtys the turbo. Transmission warm-up time would also be interesting.

SmokenGun - Posted July 27 2010 02:59 PM

2. thank god. really lookin forward to hearing about it before our harsh winter hits!

linmup - Posted July 27 2010 03:44 PM

3. Quiet down you! Notice in the photo that it's actually in Southern California... It was an ice-cold 38 degrees that day, brrrrrr. LOL.

I agree that transmission warm up would be cool to know too. How cold do your winters get in Michigan Smoken?

Mike McGlothlin - Posted July 27 2010 04:11 PM

4. I cant wait stationed with the military in alaska driving a 95 with a quarter million niles this will help me out big time.

powerstrokeD95 - Posted July 27 2010 08:46 PM

5. Winters are generally inbetween 10-30*s in the lower East side. The West side temps. are about the same, but they get tons of lake-effect snow. The Northern parts of MI get hammered and can have very severe weather. The farther North the colder it gets, probably more in the 10-20 range.

Winters a real pain. I just run an extention cord out from the garage to my truck (its outside all the time) to keep it plugged in. Its real fun trying to put the cord away in the moring when its still dark out and the colds makes your hands stiff, LOL...

Though it still starts very well even when unplugged. I always use a fuel and oil additive.

You certainly feel the difference of a cold truck versus one at operating temp.. I always try and baby it until shes warm. This article will definitely be useful.

SmokenGun - Posted July 27 2010 08:49 PM

6. just messin man! i remember a day not unlike that, when i saw 250 degree trans temps.

linmup - Posted July 27 2010 09:28 PM

7. Just kiddin' myself! I will look to migrate toward your neck of the woods come wintertime, linmup. Just can't beat 75 - 80 degree days in January!

Where I'm from in Illinois, 20 to 35* is the norm I'd say, although there are plenty of single digit and 0* days come January, February, and even March.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted July 27 2010 10:04 PM

8. How about insulating the engine after its shut down? Or if you could regulate the heat leaving the engine you could insulate the engine all the time. Just think if your engine never cooled down. It would never have to be warmed up. I think it would help the emissions, mpg, and it would make your engine last longer. Plus instant heat and instant cold. Plus you would never need to plug in your truck or worry about keeping the hot box running.

My roomate in college was from Siberia. They had to drain the coolant from the blocks each night or they would freeze solid. They would dump hot water in. Every year at Spring they would find people still in their car alongside the road. Back in Minnesota it would get down to -30 to -40 F. They more continental you are the colder it gets if you're by an ocean it doesn't get as cold. Plus the wind is what really gets you.

jason.thompson - Posted July 28 2010 12:43 PM

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