Furthest North?

[josh]

It's not a choke, its just a throttle lock. It's the exact same as pressing on the pedal. I lock it on so that the vehicle idles around 800rpm while i scrape the windows and wisk the snow off the roof.... I turn it down everytime it takes a jump (the rpm go up as the engine heats up).

Josh

[Thomas Porter]

We're in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - it gets %$#&ing cold here. We had -35 for two weeks when my van first arrived. The high today was -15. First thing we did was put in the pan heater. What a joke. My trapdoor- assedthermal underwear throw more heat hanging in my closet.
So we put in the lower rad hose, seemed to help a bit but it's still rough. We now use both and have them on a timer - starts warming at 5 a.m. and quits at 10 a.m. (usually off and running by then).
It takes a few turns before it catches and when it does it shakes a bit for the first minute and throws smoke.
I keep the throttle lock on at about 900 rpm until she starts to race then back it off to 750.
Smokey like a McDonalds on fire when cold. Disappears after it warms up and we get going.
I'm not used to this starting thing. I have an anxiety attack pretty much every morning, worrying if this machie can handle the extreme weather here.
Before September, we will be installing a Webasto Blue Heat automatic engine engine heater system. It's supposed to make the unit ready to drive away at any point.
Where we drive, there aren't plug-ins - or people for that matter.
If you turn your diesel off here, you're lighting a fire under it if you want to get it going again. If you don't get it going, you're dead. It's that simple.
We have at least half a dozen motorists found frozen to death here every year because their vehicle broke down. Smithers may be further north that Prince Albert, but they don't get the cold like we do. I lived out that way for a while - Chetwynd. Didn't drive a Deli then though...
I'll keep you posted on the Webasto install and pricing info. It's supposed to be around $1500 and is alleged to pay for itself in reduced idling time inside a couple years. It also means a reduction on your utility bill not having to plug it in anymore - ever.
It would be a load of my mind if it the engine were already warm when I went to start it...
Anybody else put on in?
Thomas

[MardyDelica]

HI, just advise the best way to do on this delica is to plug the lower radiator heater for 8 hrs or 10 hrs. this delica dont want cold weather.
also try to maximize your diesel anti-freeze to 70% antifreeze & 30% water. i have cleint with pajero & delica & they dont have problem even -30. just try to check your mix coolant.usually smoke bad when you put too much gas in the engine to start it.
but if the coolant is warm then the glow system will be easy for your delica.
hope this will help you:
Cheers: :)

[Thomas Porter]

Thanks Mardy. I'll get my mechanic to do a coolant flush and put in the good stuff right away.
The vehicle starts okay I guess, but it runs like a tractor for the first five minutes until things start to warm up.
The temperature gauge doesn't move until we get rolling down the road for a while...
How much of the coolant system is warmed by the lower rad hose heater anyway? Is the flow not obstructed by the thermostat?
Cheers,
Thomas

[MardyDelica]

hi, The flow is obstructed by thermostat for sure, but still getting thru the engine block & cylinder head later eventually when you let it plug in for about 8 or 10 hrs long in that cold weather you are getting. it helps a lot.
you just have to test it for how long to warn up in your case. but coolant should be a must to do to maintain the maximum degree you can get when its cold or hot.
Hope this will help you,
Keep in touch,
Cheers: :)

[josh]

Totally keep me posted on the webasto install cost, i figured about the $1600 mark sounds right.

Josh