Cold starting tomorrow???? ASAP

[John316]

I need to start our bus tomorrow. It will be 11 degrees (not extremely cold by some people's standards I know ). The problem is that our block heater broke. We will have to start it from dead cold. I will put our torpedo heater (60,000) under it for half an hour, but is there something else that I need to do. I think that our S60 will start just fine, I am not concerned about that, I am concerned about the "dry start" problem. Will the oil be pretty thick at that temp? Is my concern unfounded? And will the heater help at all? I just don't want to damage the engine... (Oh, and I have to start it at 6:20 tomorrow morning.) I was just wondering if anybody had anymore thoughts on starting it.

To summarize, I will run the torpedo heater for 30min before start. I will get very cold watching the heater to make sure that it doesn't start the bus on fire . And I won't crank it for more than fifteen seconds (I have know this all along, but I just mentioned it so that you guys will know that I won't burn my starter up.)

Anything else???

God bless,

John

[letz4wheel]

I wouldn't think you would have any problem with or without the heater. I start my S60 all the time in the cold weather without heaters. 480k and still going strong!

[Timkar]

You shouldn't have any problems. I ran up my S60 a couple of weeks ago when it was about 12 degrees F and it just took a couple of extra turns to start. Other option (if you have an old hibatchi) is to get it going and just place it and the charcoal briquets under the oil pan for a while and it will warm it up quite nicely.

[luvrbus]

John316, if you have a DDEC 111 or later it will start fine without the heaters the DDEC  does that by sensing oil,coolant and air temperatures and adjusting the injection and timing automatically. the engine will idle at about 900 to 1000 rpm till the temperatures rises so don't worry about the high idle speed make take a couple of 15 second spins but it will start remember 15 second start 15 second rest    good luck

[buswarrior]

Don't even think about it.

Wake up, start bus.

The fleet driver would then have driven it away with foot on the floor to make the pick-up on time....

The bus will be fine.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[NJT 5573]

I think the 1/2 hour would be better spent tonight warming it up and maybe putting some cardboard over the radiator for the nite. It will still have some heat in it in the morning and the battery's will be ready to go, no surprises.

[jjrbus]

John is gonna leave us in suspense, I wonder if it started?

[Sojourner]

me too ! ! !

[TomC]

I once started my 8V-92TA mechanical in -20 degree morning temp.  Turned over slowly, squirted ether directly into the blower (there was a hole with a bolt in it giving direct access).  I have no doubts that the electronic S60 will start just fine-especially with 15w40 oil compared to the straight 40 weight I had in the 8v-92TA.  Good Luck, TomC

[John316]

Okay, I am really sorry. We did leave on Tuesday. I was out there at 5:45, and put our torpedo heater under it, to warm the oil a little. My biggest concern was a dry start. I don't know whether it damaged the engine or not (I don't think it did...but). I cranked it for about ten seconds, and it started "hitting". I had to hold the starter down for another couple of seconds, otherwise it would die. The bottom line is, none of our neighbors called the fire department, because of all of the smoke , and it started. It ran just great, and I was very pleased. You guys helped ease my mind, about the cold start thanks.

Anyways, no more big issues right now. I will start another thread about some buses we have seen....

God bless,

John