Went on vacation for a week and a half and came back to find it freezing out and snowy truck batteries were dead. So I hooked up two rigs trying to jump my cummins and cant get it to fire off at all. I cracked the fuel lines to make sure I was getting fuel I got it out at the valve cover connections the intake grid heater is getting warm I can feel it. It just cranks and no start Won't even sputter. I needed my truck bad last night and it snowed again. So I am headed out right now to figure out what is going on

 

is it spinning over real slow any codes ect

 

Sounds like an emergency to me.

 

I would suggest checking the fuel filter first off. Typically if the cold weather is gonna stop things up that's where it starts. Plug the truck in and in the absence of having some kind of shelter you pull it into to thaw it out I have even had to go so far once as to draining the oil, brought it in the house to warm up and poured it back in. You may have to thick a blend for the cold weather in there and it's thickened up on ya.

 

Our part of the country, need to run a full synthetic oil, preferably 5w-40. Bring the batteries inside, and charge em up, then clean all the terminals and ground points. Plug the block heater in for at least 4 hours. By then, the batteries should be charged, and the block warmed up.

 

Seems to be turning over fine. I have it plugged in now and a battery charger on it but still can't get it to fire. Snow is melting quick I got the hood open and sun shining on the motor. I have to run into work in my spare vehicle and won't be back for 5 hours so hopefully it will be good and ready to fire I just can't believe it won't even try.

 

If that oil is thickened up it's like glue on that motor and no amount of batteries will turn it over hard enough to start it. Around here most auto parts shops sell the plug in dipsticks to help with this but if this is the case it's time to get that winter blend in there.

Mind you this is just a guess here and somethin for you to check, I'm not tryin to get you to run out and change perfectly good oil without checking first.

 

I may look into it. It's really not insanely cold though. I think it was 24 this morning at about 8 oclock when I was out trying to start it. I think it's just been sitting and so cold for too long, I hope. We'll see when I get off work it should be real warm and charged by then.

 

Sounds like the fuel is poor quality. If by chance you get it running, run and top it off with #1 and a double shot of cetane boost. May as well change the fuel filter to.

 

Ya I was wondering about that too. Unfortunately where I am you buy diesel or diesel, you don't get a choice. Fuel filter is new within a thousand miles. I was thinking about the cetane though. Got to get it running first though hopefully it will be warm enough by the end of the day. Is it bad to pull start these rigs? I was just wondering it will be a last resort if I can't get it fired this weekend.