What happens when you cold start a diesel? (2023)

What happens when you cold start a diesel?

The more cold-starts your diesel is subjected to, the shorter its lifespan will be. Inconsistent metal expansion and poor-flowing (thick) lubricants don't provide protection from moving parts. Another thing to worry about is fuel washing the cylinder walls before compression ignition can occur.

How bad is it to cold start a diesel?

In fact, it is five times harder to start a diesel engine at 0°F (-17°C) than it is to start one at 80°F (26°C). The top reasons for this are gelled fuel, cold cylinder walls, and electrical failure. There are, of course, many others, but addressing these is a good place to start when getting ready for winter.

What happens if you don't warm up your diesel?

If your fleet is running within the cloud point of your diesel fuel, not warming up your engine could lead to some potential issues with the fuel filter plugging. Cold filter plugging point (CFPP): The CFPP indicates the lowest possible temperature a diesel fuel can still pass through a 45-micron filter.

How do you start a diesel engine when its cold?

Glow Plugs and Block Heaters: The use of glow plugs or block heaters will start the vast majority of diesel engines on a cold day. Glow plugs work by heating the internal combustion chamber so that conditions are suitable for compression and ultimately ignition.

Is it necessary to warm up a diesel engine?

In fact, diesels won't reach operating temperature unless they're under load, so warming an engine up prior to driving is actually just prolonging the process. However, if your engine has a turbo, it is a good idea to let it warm up a bit.

Why do new diesels start better in cold?

In modern diesels like mine, with the glow plugs inside the cylinders, the onboard computer can determine how hot to make the plugs and then turn over the engine automatically after only a slight delay. So forget the diesel cold-start myth if you drive a modern one.

Is it good to let a diesel idle?

Running an engine at idle causes twice the wear on internal parts com- pared to driving at highway speeds. Idling will increase maintenance cost and shorten the life of the engine. Myth: Diesel engine idling does not waste much fuel. Fact: Fuel is one of the largest operating expenses in our industry.

Can you rev a diesel to warm it up?

Don't over-rev the vehicle, just take it steady until it warms up to normal on the temp gauge. 30 minutes of warm-up is not necessary and on modern diesels will cause problems with DPF-type vehicles and excessive soot build-up from EGR in the intake, etc.

Can you idle a diesel to warm it up?

If you want to warm up your diesel vehicle before hitting the road, knock yourself out—but idling for more than a minute or two is unnecessary, even for a diesel engine.

Why do diesel engines not like cold?

Metal cylinder walls become very cold when the temperature drops, so most vehicles are harder to start in cold weather. Because diesel engines require much higher temperatures to fire the fuel, they've always been harder to start in cold weather than gasoline-powered vehicles.

How long should you wait to start a diesel?

Starting a Diesel Engine Using the Glow Plugs

Turn the key. The Wait to Start Light should illuminate on your dash. Glow plugs take around 15 seconds to warm up. Once the Wait to Start light goes out, try cranking the engine.

How long does a diesel need to warm up?

As a general rule of thumb, if it is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, you should allow your engine up to seven minutes to warm up. If the temperature is between zero and fifty degrees, the warm-up period should be three to five minutes. Over fifty degrees will only require one or two minutes to warm up.

What will damage a diesel engine?

Thousands of diesel engines fail prematurely each year aided by the presences of glycol, fuel, soot and water in the engine oil.

Is it OK to drive a diesel short distances?

To get the most benefit from a diesel engine, you need to log many miles on the highway, where engine design and increased fuel economy shine. In fact, if you do most of your driving in short-distance, low-speed city driving, you may end up clogging the engine's particulate filter, requiring additional maintenance.

Are short journeys bad for diesel engines?

Driving at low speeds and short distances clogs up your Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) quickly. The effect of this is much slower if you have a high annual mileage (think 10,000+ miles per year) or drive mainly on motorways.

Should diesels be driven hard?

So I would like to make this point very clear; driving a diesel hard in moderation is good and will help keep the engine cleaner and running smoother, however, there is no reason to be driving hard all the time (other than it is fun of course).

What is the life expectancy of a diesel engine?

That said, while most gas engines are intended to last at least 200,000 miles on average, a diesel truck that is well-maintained can potentially last 350,000 to 500,000 miles. Those used mainly for highway driving and carrying minimal loads will typically get closer to the top-end of the range.

What not to do with a diesel engine?

Will diesel gel while idling?

Once you've warmed up the engine, drive outside and diesel fuel won't gel when the engine is running. Even if you're just idling the engine in a cold temperature for a long period of time, the fuel will remain in liquid form.

Why do truckers leave their diesel engines running?

Diesel fuel turns to a gel state in freezing temperatures so truckers usually add anti-gel fluid into the fuel to help prevent this, and they leave the engine running to keep the fuel from gelling in the engine. Some trucks do not have an auxiliary power unit (APU) to generate electricity when the engine is turned off.

Why do people leave diesels running?

Truckers, both independent owner-operators and fleet drivers, leave their engines idling for three main reasons: weather conditions, economic pressures, and old habits. In cold weather, a truck's engine and fuel tank need to stay warm.

Is it OK to let a diesel idle overnight?

Modern Diesel engines don't have an issue with excessive idling. In fact, modern gasoline engines don't get damaged as well. Obviously because of superior electronics and control systems. That said, it's not ideal to idle engines for that long if not necessary.

How often should you start a diesel engine?

To better maintain your vehicle that operates on a diesel fuel system, we recommend starting the engine at least twice a month. Ideally, you would do this once a week.

What happens if you start a diesel without waiting for the glow plugs?

As long as it is around 70 degrees or above the glow plugs don't really serve a purpose and most diesel's will fire right up without hesitation. The primary reason it may be harmful is that without the glow plugs the engine will likely need to crank longer to get started.

What temperature should I plug in my diesel truck?

Some experts will recommend that the engine block heater should be plugged in when temperatures are below –10°F (–23°C), but as a general rule of thumb, they're most effective when outdoor temperatures are below 0°F(-18°C).

Is it bad to rev a diesel engine when cold?

Since oil takes time to start lubricating moving parts, its never recommended to rev engines but allow them some warm-up idle time before racing to the first stop sign or light.

Is it bad to rev a cold diesel engine?

If you revive a cold diesel engine, it will eventually stall. This is because diesel engines depend on a process called compression ignition to work. Compression ignition is when the air in the cylinder is compressed to such an extent that it ignites the fuel without the need for a spark plug.

Can you rev diesel when cold?

After starting a cold diesel engine, don't Rev it over 1,000 rpm until the water temp Guage shows at least 100f. This let's the oil pressure stabilize & oil lubricate all the parts while warming up. Moderate driving means “no full throttle” starts from stop signs, no hard pulls uphill, etc.

Why are diesels bad in winter?

Diesel fuel does not fare well in cold temperatures – it can start to form crystals that clog fuel filters and fuel lines. Prolonged freezing temperatures can cause engines to not operate properly or not start at all.

Why do diesels smoke so much when its cold?

A plume of white smoke is generally most noticeable at diesel startup, particularly when it's cold. This is due to the fact that colder air, which is more dense than warm air, lowers temperatures in engine cylinders at the end of the compression stroke.

Are diesels bad in the winter?

Yet, when temperatures drop below freezing, diesel-powered vehicles suffer the same fate as their gasoline-powered counterparts: They're simply harder to start. Preparing your car for extreme cold is important to ensure you're never stranded.

Should I start my diesel everyday?

Daily Ignition No Longer Necessary

Over the past years, vehicles and diesel engines have transformed tremendously. It is true that daily ignition was necessary to maintain the peak condition of a car. However, modern vehicles do not need it anymore.

How long should a diesel truck idle before driving?

Idling Facts and Myths

Myth: Diesel engines need to be warmed up with long idle periods, especially in cold weather. Fact: With today's modern diesel engines, engine manufacturers often recommend a warmup time of less than 5 minutes.

Why are diesel trucks hard to start?

Because of low compression in diesel engine's cylinders - engine starts better during warm times compared to cold. Reasons for low compression in cylinders are: cylinders wear-out, damaged or fully destoyed piston rings, carbonated piston rings, damaged intake valves, burnt piston's body.

What happens if you put DEF in a diesel tank?

In conclusion, adding DEF to the diesel fuel tank can cause serious damage to the engine. If this happens, take immediate action and have the vehicle towed to a mechanic or dealership for proper repair.

How long does it take for a block heater to warm up a diesel truck?

A general rule of thumb is to plug it in for at least 2-3 hours, and if it's especially cold outside, possibly even longer. A lot of people will say that simply starting the vehicle and letting it idle is a good enough way to warm up the oil and the engine.

Do I need to let my turbo diesel cool down?

Short Answer #1: Let your engine cool down. Dan explained how you must let the engine idle a while to cool down after any long haul to prevent the manifold from cooling too fast. The exhaust manifold gets hot, really hot on long trips, especially those over steep mountain passes.

What are 3 disadvantages of diesel engines?

Cons of diesel cars

Diesel fuel usually costs more. Servicing can be more expensive, although you don't need to do it as often. Diesel cars produce a lot more NO2. Diesel engines can be slightly noisier.

Will 1 gallon of gas hurt a diesel engine?

Diesel fuel is also considered a lubricant, so if you use regular gas when you are not supposed to, it does not allow the fuel injector pump to be properly lubricated. Gasoline detonates earlier, so when it is wrongly added to a diesel vehicle, it can cause engine knocking, misfiring, and damage.

What happens if you run a diesel dry?

When you run low on diesel, your fuel pump might send air through your fuel system instead of gas. If that happens, your vehicle will shut down and not restart until the air is removed. This is called “bleeding” the fuel system, and depending on your machine, it can take several hours to complete.

Is it OK to drive a diesel once a week?

If the driver does not regularly (ie – about once a week to once a fortnight) go for a drive of at least half an hour, the filter trap clogs up. In addition to not filtering the diesel soot properly, continued or repeated clogging will eventually destroy the filter, requiring a very expensive replacement.

Do diesel trucks need to be driven regularly?

You may have been told when you bought your diesel truck that it needs to be driven long distances week to week (usually a 60-mile trip each week is recommended). This is recommended so that the debris is really given a chance to be burned and blown out of the engine system.

How far can a diesel truck go on a full tank?

How Far Can a Semi-Truck Go on a Full Tank? Whether your truck's fuel capacity is 120 or 150 gallons, average semi trailer fuel efficiency is 6-8 miles per gallon and can travel between 900 to 2,000 miles on a full tank of diesel.

How do I keep my diesel engine in good condition?

Why do diesels feel fast?

Petrol vs Diesel: Power Production

However, this acceleration is short lived as diesel cars have a much smaller power band where the torque is spread over a smaller area. This gives the impression of quick initial acceleration before the engine starts building power.

Does driving faster use more diesel?

Slow Down and Drive Conservatively

Speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy as a result of tire rolling resistance and air resistance.

How warm does a diesel engine need to be to start?

As a general rule of thumb, if it is below zero degrees Fahrenheit, you should allow your engine up to seven minutes to warm up. If the temperature is between zero and fifty degrees, the warm-up period should be three to five minutes. Over fifty degrees will only require one or two minutes to warm up.

Does easy start damage diesel engines?

It's proven to start petrol and diesel engines fast with no damaging effect and can be safely used in all conditions. You can use Bradex Easy Start whenever you need it to get your engine started.

How cold does it need to be to plug in a diesel truck?

Some experts will recommend that the engine block heater should be plugged in when temperatures are below –10°F (–23°C), but as a general rule of thumb, they're most effective when outdoor temperatures are below 0°F(-18°C).

Do diesels idle rough when cold?

This means that the fuel being injected into the combustion chamber is not being burned properly. In this case, the engine is probably experiencing rough idling both when it is cold and hot, and the problem will come and go.

Do diesels like the cold?

Diesel engines depend on high temperatures created by compression to ignite the injected fuel and that makes them harder to start in cold weather than a gasoline engine. In fact, starting a diesel engine at 0°F (-17°C) is five times harder than starting one at 80°F (26°C).

Do diesel engines like the cold?

Some say, "diesel is no good in the cold" that's not true. Modern diesel engines start in cold weather with minimal effort. The problem is with untreated diesel fuel, as it will jell at low temperatures. Below about 40°F, certain hydrocarbons in diesel turn gelatinous.

Why can't you bump start a diesel?

When normally starting a modern diesel engine, it typically uses glowplugs to preheat the cylinder(s). If a battery is completely discharged then it may not provide the necessary power to heat the glowplugs, making the push starting of a diesel vehicle with a depleted battery almost impossible.

Why is my diesel hard to start in the morning?

If this is the case it could be that fuel pressure in the injector lines is bleeding back to the fuel tank while the car sits for long periods. When that happens you have to crank the engine over quite a number of times until the pressure it built back up and fuel reaches the injectors.

Why do diesel engines get addicted to easy start?

Engines do not become addicted to Easy Start, they are simply worn to a state where starting is difficult in adverse (typically cold) conditions, and will not start without it because their mechanical condition does not improve over time.

How long does it take a diesel truck to warm up plugged in?

A general rule of thumb is to plug it in for at least 2-3 hours, and if it's especially cold outside, possibly even longer. A lot of people will say that simply starting the vehicle and letting it idle is a good enough way to warm up the oil and the engine.

Why do you plug in a diesel truck in the winter?

This is where plugging your diesel engine in comes into play. The cord you are seeing is connected to a block heater inside the truck. This block heater warms up the engine coolant to around 85 degrees. This allows the cylinders to stay warm in cold weather allowing for faster and easier starts.

Can you plug in a block heater overnight?

One thing that most can agree on is that the maximum amount of time you should leave the engine block heater plugged in for is four hours. Any more and you're just wasting electricity. You should also plan for plugging your vehicle in for at least two hours to ensure it will start.