Cummins cold start

[musketeer]

I have a 1997 Land Yacht MH, freightliner chassis and a Cummins 5.9 12 valve engine. I am in MN and want to take it to AZ, it is very cold here. The motorhome has been stored since Oct. 1, I have some sort of engine heater which I can plug in, I have the Cummins cold start instructions, I have a new chassis battery. The temp could be as low as 0 degrees.

Experienced cold weather friends, is this thing going to start?

Thanks for any and all advice!

[RickDavis]

Have to base my experience on a 99 24 valve 5.9, but it always started in below zero with out using the block heater. Plug in the heater , give it a few hours and it should be fine.

Your fuel may still be a summer blend so some anti gel additive and refueling locally would probably be a good idea but I would bet you will be ok

[overlander63]

I could get all technical with pour points and wax formation, but basically if the thing does start, wait until it warms up, and drive it to a station that sells diesel, and fill it up. The Winter formulation in the added fuel should offset the Summer fuel in the tank.

[musketeer]

Forgot to add that I filled the fuel tank before I stored it. The usual winter blend wasn't available, so I used 40% # 1 and 60% #2 then added the specified Power Service diesel anti-gel treatment. Doubt that gelling will be my problem. I've just never started a cold diesel without glow plugs and this baby doesn't have them!

[NWGreyhound]

My 99 dodge cummins always started easily. If you plug in the block heater for a couple of hours she won't know the difference.

[RickDavis]

If the 12 V is the same as the 24 valve, and I believe in this case it is it has heater grids in the intake manifold that come on when cold. You should get an indicator on the dash.
If I am wrong I know some one will jump in. Cummins used the grid thing instead of glow plugs.

[overlander63]

There is a heater grid.somewhere on the dash should be a wait to start light, unless it was done away with.

[musketeer]

No glow plug, no heater grid, no wait to start indicator light on this one. That is why I am scratching my head. I do have the Cummins cold start instructions, which basically tell me to depress the accelerator 1/2 way down and crank until it starts. I will plug it in overnight and hope for a good result. Thanks everyone!

[RickDavis]

Let us know how you make out

[GCinSC2]

Look carefully at the air intake horn where it goes into the cylinder head manifold plate. Do you see any cables or projecting studs? This is where Cummins mounts the heater grid. My '97 and '05 5.9L have them. If you have a block heater plug it in, give it several hours. It makes a big difference. I've occasionally even heard mine make a slight percolating sound as it heats the coolant.

If this was built with a grid heater, no starting fluid. Possible ka blewey!

Don't over crank, give the starter a chance to cool if it doesn't fire up pronto.

"I have the Cummins cold start instructions" OOPS, just saw your 1/2 pedal comment.

What does the Cummins instructions say?

[musketeer]

I have verified this has no heating grid or glow plugs. I really don't want to use ether or wd40 to start it. It pops off pretty easy when it is 35-40 degrees so maybe I will be okay with just plugging it in overnight and following the instructions. I give you all a report, thanks!

[GCinSC2]

That block heater will make a big difference. If you have a meter you could check the resistance across the element. If you get an open circuit, that's not what you want to see.

Have faith in Cummins.

[musketeer]

It popped right off! It was about 15 degrees in the shed, had it plugged in for about 2 hours, cranked for 5-10 seconds and it started. Very little smoke, didn't run rough, took about 10 minutes for the air to come up. Must be a good block heater in that thing! Thank you Cummins and thanks for all of your advice! Leaving Sunday for Tucson, yippee!

[GCinSC2]

Good news. Guess we gotta have some faith in their engineering, this ain't Cummins' first BBQ or Rodeo.

I have run mine a few times on a heavy duty timer and just heat for a few hours but we're not in a real cold winter climate.

[Mike1997]

Interesting comments here. I also have a 1997 Land Yacht WB with the upgraded 275hp Cummings diesel. It does have the "wait to start" light on the dash but am unaware if it has an engine heater. Where should I be looking to find the connection if it exists?

I brought it to Montana from NC and try to start it up weekly during the winter. So far, only problem has been if the batteries were weak. This weekend I had to use the coach batteries for start up. Any updated info would be appreciated.

[dennis3751]

Mike

Not sure if this applies to your rig but in my 1999 2500 Ram the Cummins had a block heater installed at the factory but no cord from the heater with a 110V plug. It's low on the side of the block on the exhaust (right side in the truck). A cord is available from Genos truck parts which screws on the outside of the block, if present. Ihope this is helpful to you.

Dennis

[GCinSC2]

Mile,

Look at the air inlet where it attaches to the cylinder head. It should have two good sized cables hooked to grid heaters that are in the airflow just before the head. The grid heaters cycle on, light shows on dash, wait for it to go off turn key and Cummins music starts.

It's also why starting fluid is a huge no no on this engine.