Any other Winnipeggers having trouble this week?

pj_jazzy_janz · Post by **pj_jazzy_janz** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 7:15 am

Greetings from the frozen wastes of southern Manitoba! Has anyone else around here had trouble bringing their Delica to life on these -40 wind chill days? Last weekend she died on the road (my fault, I didn't realize it was so cold and was in a bit of a rush, so I let her run for a bit and thought, "ahh, she'll warm up while I'm driving"

Stupid, I know.) She was a real champ all week, but then yesterday, she just wouldn't start. She's in a car port (no garage on the new house

) and hadn't gone anywhere the day before, but has had the block heater plugged in all week and an oil pan heater on for 20-25 minutes before trying to start. Has anyone else had this happen? Should I be worried about the van, or just the cold?

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 7:36 am

Sorry. Can't help. I was in Saskatoon all week. Van is sitting frozen in the driveway. We have to meet someday and I show you my heater setup.
Last weekend I cracked my windshield in a car wash. I wasn't impressed.

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vixentd · Post by **vixentd** » Sat Jan 14, 2017 1:36 pm

At -40 you will need a fuel additive to make sure you fuel is not gelling up. You can purchase at any truck store. The fuel will gel up as the wax firms up in the diesel, and will actually plug your filter. Some of the trucks will run fuel heaters to avoid this, others will need to add a Product like power service that stops this from occurring.

pj_jazzy_janz · Post by **pj_jazzy_janz** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:53 am

Right! I forgot to mention, I use this in winter. Would that still be an issue if I'm already using an additive?

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 12:47 pm

In general I find that the winter fuel they sell in the prairies does not gel down to very cold temperatures. But I agree that you should add an additive and I do so myself. If your van starts and then dies on the road your fuel might be gelling or air gets in your fuel system due to the cold temperatures. Some plastic parts shrink and air can get in the system. I hope your van is running fine now.
I am surprised there are not more additive wars in this forum.

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brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 2:57 pm

Good afternoon .

Ive been running my L300 here in Winnipeg for nine years. I have never had issues with winter diesel and don't use any anti gel additives. Are you sure your issues are fuel related? Is your battery fully charged? With the temps we've had the last week, I like toss a trickle charger on the battery from time to time. Good Luck

Warm regards

Rob

VanVonVan · Post by **VanVonVan** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:17 am

I use the same Kleen flo additive all year round to provide some lube to the IP. I was plugged in and in a garage and started fine all week. At work a few days I had a couple of rougher starts but they limit the plugs to some sort of on/off schedule. I do have dual batteries and that makes a huge difference. I would also suggest checking your block heater cord, I had a fray in mine one year and it was working intermittently until I changed the plug end. Or glow plugs could be going, that made for a very rough idle and warm up.

Russell

pj_jazzy_janz · Post by **pj_jazzy_janz** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:09 pm

Yeah, I was wondering about the glow plugs. We bought the van summer of 2015 from Mardy and still are running with the same ones. I haven't found anything definitive on expected glow plug lifespan. Maybe it's time to change them out?

I've got dual batteries, and they've been huge, but I did drain them trying to start it on the road. They died again when my wife tried to start it at home, but I charged them up both times. That first time, I was able to drive it up the driveway and let it run, and it ran again after that, but died a few days later.

The van chugged a bit yesterday, but purred like a kitten once she started and ran like a dream all afternoon.

Sounds like it was either dying glow plugs or maybe a touch of air.

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate the info!!

pj_jazzy_janz · Post by **pj_jazzy_janz** » Mon Feb 06, 2017 7:40 pm

Hello again! So, it's gotten worse after the weather dropped below freezing again. I replaced the glow plugs Saturday, no change - maybe even worse.

I just bled the fuel system and got 7 full pumps before fuel started coming out. Theoretically, this should improve things, yes?

Also, I know you can get air in if you don't remove the extra seal on the fuel filter. Unfortunately, I was not the one who put on this most recent fuel filter (so I don't know if it was removed), and getting in there to check it is not something I really want to do in winter (no garage). What other ways does air get into the fuel system, so I know what to check once I do have a day that's warm enough.

VanVonVan · Post by **VanVonVan** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 10:57 am

You may be the lucky recipient of a bad glow plug, depending on where you got them from they could have been damaged in shipping. Something easy to check even in the cold is your block heater itself, if its shorting out you would also get the condition you are describing, ie not turning on. With a multi-meter you can check the resistance between the two prongs. Anything past -15 and I am not plugged in I get the same conditions, bucking, low idle. If I can't plug in and my deli doesn't want to cooperate, I put the accelerator to the floor and crank till it catches, keep my foot to the floor till it'll hold 2000 RPM smoothly and then slowly bring it to 1500 then 1000 then let it idle on its own. Not the nicest thing to do and burns a bit of oil but I'd rather do that then leave my deli somewhere.

Also if you have the multi-meter out check both batteries, if they aren't reading the exact same number then maybe one is draining the other.

Russell