I am from nw Washington and am planning on moving to Bozeman, MT next fall and taking my truck with me. its a 97 f250 5spd manual with 125k on it. my question is what preparations/ modifications should be made inorder to be able to still get it to start mid winter when the temps are in the -10's and below? I wont have any access to a plug for my block heater and wont all through the winter and it will be sitting for a week to two weeks at a time. thanks in advance!

 

5w-40 full synthetic oil, make sure all the glow plugs are working and the relay is good

 

I'm partial to my block heaters. Spent some time in the Clearwater... and a very too long "week" just west of Bozeman during a whiteout... It was getting down to -30 there during that.

Make sure your antifreeze is good. Make sure the batteries are good and your alternator is charging well. Like Bob said, good glowplugs. Have your thermostat checked to see if it's not stuck open. I use a 215 degree thermostat in the winter.

You might have to use a bit of cardboard between the grill and the AC condenser to cut down "some" of the air-flow down. (Not all) If it's going to sit for a while, Put more cardboard to close off behind the grill. It will keep the wind from blowing in to the engine compartment and keep snow from drifting in... I have a friend who had a vinyl snap-on grill cover.

I keep a broom in the cab to knock off snow. A can of silicone, to spray in the locks and spray the door weatherstripping (so it doesn't freeze to the body). In the mornings you want to be able to open the doors.

I also carry a shovel... need more weight in the back for traction? I shovel in some snow. It'll unload itself in the spring. I also have a few can's of starting fluid. Usually never need it.. but still have, to use sparingly, for emergencies. At -40 to -30, sometimes things need help.

I have good deep lugged tires and 2 pairs of chains. I keep all that in my winter milk crate in my cab, with a heavy blanket and a tarp.

If there was one gauge I watch in the winter when it gets real cold... Engine Oil temp. OBS'es have an EBP Valve. That system turns on when the IAT is less than 41F. It closes a valve in the exhaust, until the EOT gets above 170 degrees. That system is supposed to help the engine heat up faster. But if you don't let it warm up before you start driving, it'll act like it has no power. It's supposed to bypass and open up that valve during high-load or high-rpm. BUT, if you lived it mild weather and it didn't get turned on much, then going to somewhere where it might get turned on a lot... You might find that it might stick.

If you pop the linkage loose, then pop the downpipe clamp... then you can spray carb cleaner back at the valve and work the valve free, to make sure it's clean and doesn't stick or catch. That will save you lot's of heart break and frustration. I deleted my EVBP... but I have a commercial AICM and a tuner chip that both provide a high idle for warm-up's.

Fuel supplements- I use a ketone booster fuel supplement. I haven't had to use an anti-gel. Make sure you drain/bleed your fuel bowl to make sure your don't have water in the bowl. Test the fuel bowl heater.