A question for anyone with a diesel engine. I have a 2014 F250. We are headed into Colorado and freezing weather; I have never taken a diesel into freezing weather before. Any special tips for overnight other then hopefully being able to use my engine block heater? Fuel tank additive or anything?

Thank you in advance. I posted here instead of automotive because of the increased traffic. Thanks again.

You can pour some gas under in the morning, and make a fire to warm it up. Should heat it up pretty quickly.

Add this before leaving:

Fill up in the mountains to get a local blend of diesel (most important part) and add more Howe's with each fill. You cannot over treat with Howe's Diesel Conditioner & Anti-Gel. I run it all winter long here (Iowa, MN, ND, and WI). Next week will single digit highs with lows around -15.

You'll be just fine. Plug in block heater a couple hours before you'd drive that day if it's stupid cold and then let the truck run a bit before taking off. That said, I've only used mine when it's well below zero.

Thank you! As undeniably helpful as the first reply was, this is what I was looking for!

I use Power Services the White bottle is for cold weather environments. The gray bottle is for normal environments.

Power Services - Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost is a winterizer/antigel that is used in the cold winter months to prevent fuel gelling and keep fuel-filters from plugging with ice and wax. When temperatures drop, paraffin (wax) in ULSD fuel will gel stopping fuel from flowing through the engine, and water in the fuel can freeze on the facings of fuel-filters, blocking fuel flow. It provides trouble-free winter operation for diesel fuel. Contains Slickdiesel Lubricator to protect fuel pumps and injectors from increased wear caused by Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel Effective in all diesel fuels, including ULSD and biodiesel blends

Diesel Fuel Supplement +Cetane Boost is intended for use only during cold winter months when temperatures drop below +30F. Use Diesel Kleen +Cetane Boost (in the silver bottle) for peak performance in non-winter months.


http://powerservice.com/psp_product/diesel-fuel-supplement-cetane-boost/

BurnetAggie99 said:

---

I use Power Services the White bottle is for cold weather environments.

---

Yeah this is another product many people use and it works well. A few of the farmer COOP stations here advertise it as part of their winter blend.

If you're using the block heater, make sure to check under the hood for stray cats before you crank it up each morning.

Sgt. Hartman said:

---

If you're using the block heater, make sure to check under the hood for stray cats before you crank it up each morning.

---

We had a 3 legged cat when I was a kid for this reason.

Sgt. Hartman said:

---

If you're using the block heater, make sure to check under the hood for stray cats before you crank it up each morning.

---

Why?

Because melted cat is hard to clean off an engine.

Yeah... Some pros, some cons. But that ground up burnt cat smell is hard to get rid of.

Yeah, there's something special about that thump thump sound. Baked on hindgut will stick with you for a while.

Dad happened to grind up 3 kittens in a Plymouth Horizon. I can still remember that glorious smell.

My sisters old cat lucky got his name because he was hiding in the engine bay of my brothers car when he drove home from U of H to their house in Houston.

Said he pulled it in the garage, shut the motor off, and heard something meowing.

Read your owner's manual. Ford doesn't like some of those additives and will void your warranty if you have an issue.

mts6175 said:

---

Read your owner's manual. Ford doesn't like some of those additives and will void your warranty if you have an issue.

---

They don't like anything they can't sell themselves at huge margins, even though it may be perfectly fine (or even good) for the truck.

mts6175 said:

---

Read your owner's manual. Ford doesn't like some of those additives and will void your warranty if you have an issue.

---

Neither recommended will void the warranty.

Power Services will not void the manufacture warranty. The head diesel mechanic at my local Ford house is always telling people to use Power Services. I've used it on every diesel I've owned at every fill up for over 13 years.

Another recommendation for Power Services. Good stuff. Best thing to do is plug your heater in overnight if you can. If you can get a hold of some Jet A, add it to the tank too.

Park in a heated garage.

When you start it cold, be sure to let it warm up properly. For that matter, when it is below 40, I let a gasoline engine warm up at an idle for several minutes before driving it.

Already added Howe's. Am I screwed with warranty? Hope not.

Re: engine block heaters - leave plugged in indefinitely or just the night before I'm driving? Below what target temp?

I don't even consider plugging in until temp drops below 20 but usually won't even for that usually closer to single digits. Totally up to you.

Doesn't need to be plugged in around the clock. Most effective within 2-3 hours of being plugged in. What I usually do is have the cord plugged into the truck and then plug into the house when I wake up in the morning. Early riser so plenty of time for it to get up to temp.

Old Jock 1997 said:

---

Already added Howe's. Am I screwed with warranty? Hope not.

Re: engine block heaters - leave plugged in indefinitely or just the night before I'm driving? Below what target temp?

---

You are not screwed with the addative, dont worry.

You can leave it plugged in all night, no issue. I usually plug mine in it it is,going to be in the low 30's or colder. Not worried about fuel,gelling, but it starts up better and gets to temp,faster.

Old Jock

....coming to CO.... assuming that you may not have access to inside parking....

I Agee w the comments above on fuel but will add one additional cold weather observation - your batteries. Cold temps affect cranking amps. On my older batteried outfits, I also plug in a trickle charger during the winter.

Final suggestion, bring your own extension cord.

Well, maybe one more. ....assuming your p/u is 4WD, do not consider yourself "stuck proof". 4WD obviously helps, but remember your back end may be light, which you can fix. Take it slow and enjoy the other square state - just stay out of the shops w the green cross.

wyoag77 said:

---

just stay out of the shops w the green cross.

---

If he's visiting family/in laws, he might need a visit.

Howe's is fine so your good to go. I just prefer Power Services but I've used Howe's before and won't void your warranty

Just leave it running .

Friend of a friend had to replace a radiator due to cat bone perforations.

Don't forget to change your coolant to one that is correct to the place you are going to be at.

We have to change our coolant to one that protects lower than your average cold temperatures, when we travel up to North Dakota during the winter holidays.

Today it's -16 up here, couple of winters ago it got to -48

OP son fell shortly after getting on the slopes and needs surgery to his hand. T&P for the little guy.

Well that sucks.

It's 12 degrees out. I just got back from the grocery store (in another town). From the time I started the car (and let it warm up) until I pulled back into my usual parking place, the car stayed running the entire time.

Better to have melted cat in the engine than in the dash.

SteveBott said:

---

OP son fell shortly after getting on the slopes and needs surgery to his hand. T&P for the little guy.

---

Any update? Hopefully doing well.

Yes, my son is doing well. He had emergency surgery on Christmas night to set the bone, and we drove home the following morning. Now it's just recovery time.

RE: the Howes Lubricant...I added that through out trip, and continued when we returned to Texas given the cold snap we've had. Now that it's warming up again over the next day or two, any harm in stopping adding the supplement cold turkey, and then restarting next winter if we drop below freezing again?

No harm at all