Cold weather starting. How low do you go?

Sort of surprised our Cat with 3126 does not even have a block heater, or I can't find it. I don't see one in the schematic either. That surprises me as cold starts can be a bit torturous.

I would say the coldest I would ever have to start is +10F.

As far as getting the machine to start, I am certain it will fire up, but I always like to get a little heat in the engine if I can. Just curious if you guys have seen any fuel system or engine/pump issues related to cold weather starting?

Surprisingly enough the cold weather option for a lot of Cat excavators is an additional set of batteries and a higher-rated starter motor to get the engine spinning a bit quicker. I’m not necessarily saying that’s what you need though....

I have never had any fuel system problems over the years, but I have killed a few starters. I try to plug stuff in now if its 20F or lower. Even a few hrs can make a big difference. How often do you have to start when cold? If you have power close by it may be worth it to add a block or oil heater. Personally I think cold thick oil is the worst thing for an engine. Starves the bearings for a brief time and pulls very hard on oil pump gears. Most of my big engines have both oil and water heat. I realize my weather can be colder than OK. I really hate starting something when its 0 deg out if its not warmed up a little.

Some guys around here use the proheat set up if they are in a remote location. They work really well. Kind of expensive but we all know what it costs to fix anything big.

Post serial number sure a block heater can be fitted
How does it start around freezing temp?
When it's good and cold small shot of starting fluid is my go to get it spinning aquick sniff and she's going

TS posted on here his preference for using a torch or hot air in the intake, for a quick cold start without the hazard of ether.

Truck 3216s had electric air intake heaters.

If you install a block heater and let it run for some hours, it starts like it was not even cold outside. If you can't find a factory one, I would think anything you can install in a freeze plug hole would be good enough.

Generators have heater hose mounted electric heaters, but I'm not sure about their ruggedness on a moving vehicle.

farmerlund said:

I have never had any fuel system problems over the years, but I have killed a few starters. I try to plug stuff in now if its 20F or lower. Even a few hrs can make a big difference. How often do you have to start when cold? If you have power close by it may be worth it to add a block or oil heater. Personally I think cold thick oil is the worst thing for an engine. Starves the bearings for a brief time and pulls very hard on oil pump gears. Most of my big engines have both oil and water heat. I realize my weather can be colder than OK. I really hate starting something when its 0 deg out if its not warmed up a little.

Some guys around here use the proheat set up if they are in a remote location. They work really well. Kind of expensive but we all know what it costs to fix anything big.

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do you have a pad heater on the oil pan?

Standard practice in my AO to plug at 20F. You have lots of options for adding a block and/or oil immersion heater for that 3126. Look at some Cat truck engine ARR# numbers for the part numbers or the Kim hot start catalog.

If you can’t plug it in, at least consider a 5w-40 synthetic engine oil for the winter season.

skyking1 said:

do you have a pad heater on the oil pan?

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I use a plug style that screws into the oil pan.
I do have a pad style on the Stearman oil tank. Aeroshell 100 gets pretty stiff at 40F Hard to even get temp in it when its cool out. Its nice to have it warmed up right out of the hanger

warm oil in a plane is the bomb
My friend flies in AK, and they will suspend operations at -30. They have pad oil heaters, blankets, engine heat systems. You can't get the power down to land without cracking cylinders somewhere.

We typically won't see temps dip to nasty cold all that much and even at that, I try to avoid running machines in it.
As I mentioned, I think the 3126 will probably start pretty cold. I tested at about 30F and it was no issue, but it just comes down to engine protection. I don't run enough hours in the cold to justify an oil change just for it. I was just a little surprised Cat didn't at least throw the element in the block as standard. I think most of the old 5.9s like my tractor has just have a cap on the heater terminals so you just get the pigtail if you want to use it.

I probably won't hassle with any serious install this winter as we are deep into the season already.

I might ask for ideas for the "quick and easy"? I like the idea of a pad heater but that engine is near impossible to access. I am just pondering at the moment. What has happened here is moisture! And some of the small stuff I need to do will probably only happen if I let the ground freeze a bit thus the need for cold weather action.

You guys ever see any hydro pump and related issues? I think more than anything, I like to get my engine oil past the "honey" stage for cold starting and the 3126 is a HEUI engine so that can brings more concerns as well as extended cranking without a little heat. I am probably not willing to bump the engine with Ether. I have seen broken rings and such from that. I realize it can be used wisely but I tend to feel the wiser play is thinking ahead and get some heat before starting.

Where i work we try to plug stuff in before we use them if its below 20f but often in does not happen. And if a machine is on a job site with no power then thats that. We just turn the key and hope for the best.

Quick and easy is torpedo heater in the back of your pickup open the engine side doors and let her warm up I wouldn't bother with that above 0 providing things were functioning properly

I don't think heaters are standard on anything it amazes me when we get used equipment in Minnesota that has no heater installed, happens all the time

My 7.3 that is a heui will always start in the winter with out plugging it in. Helps if i drop the 15w40 and put 5w40 but the last few years i cant be bothered. My father got a little gmc truck with the small diesel and in the user manual it says
"An internal thermostat in the plug-end of the cord may exist, which will prevent engine coolant heater operation at temperatures above −18 °C (0 °F). "

Maybe get a bit of perspective here ....

For every machine that is sold into northern MN, AK, etc, how many are sold into temperate & tropical climates where any form of pre-start heating would be completely unecessary..? How logical is a block heater as standard under those circumstances.?

Nige said:

Maybe get a bit of perspective here ....

For every machine that is sold into northern MN, AK, etc, how many are sold into temperate & tropical climates where any form of pre-start heating would be completely unecessary..? How logical is a block heater as standard under those circumstances.?

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Yep it would make as much sense as installing an air conditioner on a machine that is going to be used in Antarctica!

Then with PacCar it's the Alaska package. For keeping a truck engine constantly warm just setting
the cat powered trucks with a retarder can't be beat, 5 psi on the hand valve at idle will keep it
warm in the coldest temps. And yes a block heater is available for a 3126.

Zero Start-3500015 block heater

Glow plugs and heater kits originated with the lower compression engines with lower injector pressures. I don't think I've ever seen an engine failure that can be blamed on cold starts unless there was no warm up period prior to putting the machine to work. I've done cold starts on machine inspections down to minus 10 degrees F. on nearly all makes and models of engines. On the stuff built in the last ten years, I've have seen more problems with batteries than the engines. To make it simple, if it won't start without aid at 10 degrees F, you likely have an engine problem.

Thanks guys but as I mentioned, I don't doubt the machine will start in cold temps. The main concern I have/had is related to any damage or wear that could be associated with the cold starts. It does not sound like many folks have really had failures though.

It depends on the engine. Some are very cold blooded. Newer engines are generally better starters.