First time diesel owner winter tips

My first diesel pickup. 2020 Chevrolet (yeah the ugly one) duramax. Any tips for cold weather? I take the family ice fishing in the wheelhouse almost every weekend after Christmas through March. -20* to -30* is quite common and no reason to stay home. I’m thinking an additive like Howes, with winterized #2 diesel. It’s got a plug in, I’ve got a 3k watt generator. Can plug it in for a couple hours before starting. Have a bottle of “911” on hand. I’ve watched videos on how to handle gelled up pickups. Made myself familiar with where the fuel filter is, tools/techniques to remove and replace. I’m going to buy a spare filter to have on hand. Any other tips for winter or in general for a first time diesel owner?

Thanks, Drifter.

There are no additives needed! Put the grill bra on that came with it and plug it in. No issues. Mine gets plugged in for all night. Use the GM fuel filter as it is the best, at least it is for my 2012-LML. I’ve never had a gelling issue yet.
Steel does not know what windchill is.

Buy your fuel from reputable places for starters,but keep the additives on hand.Just in case.

Howes is a good additive… I ran it year round when I had my last diesel. I never plugged in and never gelled up. I do not think I was ever in anything colder than -15 actual temp however. I did carry bottle of 911 and used it several times in buddies trucks that they did not add an additive.

Had 3 Duramax diesel pickups, 2004,2006,2009, and lived just north of Eagle River Wi at the time, on the border of UP Michigan and Wi. Fantastic trucks, and all I did was to change the oil for the winter to 5-40 synthetic diesel oil, usually Delvac Mobile 1. Much easier starting, better and faster cold oil pressure, and much better for your engine in the winter. Very seldom ever plugged it in in the winter, unless it was -15 deg or less, and it was that or colder quite often there. Also always ran the radiator cover in the winter. Always ran an additive, Either Howe’s or the stuff in the white bottle, especially in cold weather. If running 5-40 syn oil, your only problems will be fuel gelling, especially at -25 and below. Pay attention when getting fuel in the winter, if the pump seems to be running sluggish or slow, stop pumping and go to another station. You may need to keep the regular oil in for break in, and in that case you will need to keep it plugged in, I would think at about 15 deg or below. After a couple hundred miles or so, it would help to break it in if you could tow some weight.

Had a diesel when living in Thunder Bay Ont where it frequently got below -40 as mentioned a bra is great and plug it in,its just too hard on the motor to cold start….change your filters often and buy your fuel from a truck stop.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FUEL.

Before you fill up, if there is any doubt at all, walk into the store and ask which pumps are winterized fuel and to what temp.

Learn the difference between #2, #1 and blends.

If you’re at an unfamiliar station and they are closed, just pony up a few extra bucks and blend #1 fuel if it’s available.

Also, don’t assume if it’s a nicer/newer station that they have what you need. Last winter or the winter before I stopped for fuel at the new Quik Trip in Moose Lake in December or January. None of the pumps were marked or labeled as winterized?? I went in and asked, sure as $hit they didn’t have winterized diesel……in winter….in Moose Lake, MN. They did have #1 so I did an estimate and made a 70/30 blend.

To paraphrase:

Never assume

When in doubt, treat it.

If it’s extremely cold (-25+), treat it anyway

Plug in a MINIMUM of 4 hours before starting. Anything less is useless.

Wear your bra

Thanks guys. I already have the bra on. But the owner’s manual says to remove when towing ANY size trailer, since tranny cooler is in the grill. Most often I will be towing a fish house or trailer with atv’s.

First of all CONGRATS on joining the big boy toy world!!

I have run Howes in mine the last 3 years and had no problem. I run it every other or every 3rd tank in the summer, but ever tank in the winter. Buy your fuel from a place that uses a lot of fuel so you know it’s fresh.

Use the generator and plug it in well before you start it.

To be honest though I would be much more worried about the government juice(DEF) freezing than the fuel jelling up. Every single issue I have had with mine has been DEF related, including the DEF heater going bad.

MNdrifter wrote:

Thanks guys. I already have the bra on. But the owner’s manual says to remove when towing ANY size trailer, since tranny cooler is in the grill. Most often I will be towing a fish house or trailer with atv’s.

I don’t know the first thing about a Chevy winter front, but Ram’s have 5 openings. One permanent, and four velcro openings.

If it’s 40 degrees out, I have them all open. If it’s -30 I have them all shut. Usually it’s somewhere in between.

MNdrifter wrote:

Thanks guys. I already have the bra on. But the owner’s manual says to remove when towing ANY size trailer, since tranny cooler is in the grill. Most often I will be towing a fish house or trailer with atv’s.

Just watch your tranny temp. If your getting over 220ish, take the bra off.

I’m just over 20 years of running exclusive all diesel for my trucks. All sound advise above. Know where fleet trucks fill up and follow suit. Treat anyways when 20+ or more below zero, and winter oil change is synthetic Delvac1.

If your spending weekends on the ice, pack an extra fuel filter and a bottle of 911. In 20+ years, I’ve had 3 times I’ve had fuel gel. All 3 times I was in remote places and had bought fuel from unknown stations that I was not familiar with. Pump said it was winter blend and I say BS.

Cummins guy here.
Never had an issue and I haven’t done anything different in the winter. At the cabin when it gets in the -20’s or colder I plug it in when I remember to, that’s it.

I’d be more worried about ice thickness when you have a diesel and your pulling a
24 x 48 wheelhouse.

I will be trying the Hot Shots Diesel Winter anti-gel after watching this video.

Not all gas stations have blended fuel. If there is a #1 pump as well as diesel there is a good chance it may not be blended. Best to ask. A friend found that the hard way.

plug it in plug it in

I’m sorry, I can’t get past the ugly truck comment. T1’S are beautiful.

All good advice so far but I will warn you as it occurs too often here, when filling up with biofuel make sure it does not contain animal protein in it.

Even at 3 percent content during the winter it will turn to a frozen lard like substance and plug filters tighter than the hubs of hell.
I have heated that garbage to 140 degrees trying to save a new hundred dollar cartridge filter and it just starts melting at that temperature and that is no BS.

Howes, power service,stanadyne,all good additives.

suzuki wrote:

I’m sorry, I can’t get past the ugly truck comment. T1’S are beautiful.

I don’t mind the looks of it or I wouldn’t have bought it. Every one else even my own father says it’s ugly.

Thanks guys for all the tips, and first hand knowledge! Always a good answer here. Thanks guys!

Just a quick note Qwik Trip fuel does have some Bio in it states right on the pump but not how much. For my old 7.3 I like it in the summer as the bio adds more lubricant as the newer diesel fuels are pretty dry.

Start in December, turn off in March.

Let ‘er idle all winter long!

Just do what I saw this morning…plug it in anytime it’s below 40 degrees…super important at 32-40…

Always, Always, Always let motor warm up before driving. Even in the summer, never drive a diesel with a cold motor. Warm isn’t the same as with as gas motor either. In the winter I usually remote start 2 times, all my GMC will allow, before driving and depending on the temps I will start with key and let warm up some more. Also the manual says to unplug block heater before starting, something about electrolysis or something and my shop says yes that needs to be done. Kinda BS that I have to go outside to unplug before starting so I then just use the key. I don’t plug in very often though.

You will find that it takes ALOT longer for the heater to blow warm air in a diesel then a gas motor, I usually don’t start driving until this happens.

I use Howes year round and a stronger mix in the winter. I live in North Central Nebraska. Buy good fuel and never trust that fuel is blended in the winter unless you know the station. When it gets real cold I will use number 1 as a mix, usually try to guesstimate 70/30 blend.

Its what I do and I haven’t had any problems with gelling. DEF is another matter though.

hop307 wrote:

I will be trying the Hot Shots Diesel Winter anti-gel after watching this video.

I watched that video also. I ordered up 4 bottles of HotShots winter blend. Have used Howes in the past.

gizmoguy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>hop307 wrote:</div>

I will be trying the Hot Shots Diesel Winter anti-gel after watching this video.

I watched that video also. I ordered up 4 bottles of HotShots winter blend. Have used Howes in the past.

How does it compare for cost? ($.xx/per gallon treated?)

I always use Power Service and never had an issue.

(3) diesels sitting in my yard right now.

1) always plug them in.
2) always know what you are putting in for fuel.
3) always warm them up.
4) work them like a mule.

Always ask the station about the fuel. Is it blended or treated? Never run biodiesel below 10 degrees.

Dutchboy wrote:

(3) diesels sitting in my yard right now.

1) always plug them in.
2) always know what you are putting in for fuel.
3) always warm them up.
4) work them like a mule.

2 and three are no problem and fully intended. 1 and 4 I’ve got special circumstances. It will be in heated garage 90% of the time. I drive a car to/from work everyday. No need to plug in pickup unless I am on an overnight ice fishing trip in the wheelhouse which is mostly every weekend December 26 – mid March. I’d have to plug into generator. At 1100 watts it will idle my generator up off eco mode. Which I really don’t want to do all night long for noise, fuel consumption and excessive wear and tear on generator. So I’m planning on plugging in 3-4 hours before expected startups, or turning on and letting idle often or even all night on extremely cold nights on the lake. As far as working the $hit out of it, I fully admit for the first couple years it will not be used to its capabilities. It will only be pulling a smaller boat, and the RV/fish house (5k lbs). But I want to get a 5th wheel Camper in a couple years and be able to pull doubles, a boat and 5th wheel. So I bought the “horse” before the “cart”. I’m saving up for the camper in 2-4 years since the fish house works well for us now to camp in.

Thanks again everyone. Input is greatly appreciated!

Was hoping to see a picture of this truck

slipbob_nick wrote:

Was hoping to see a picture of this truck

Only picture I’ve got. Sorry.

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Sweet ride

I don’t have any experience with an 1100 Honda, but my block heater barely puts a load on my eu2000i.

I just set an alarm a little early on the day we’re leaving to make sure it gets at least 4 hours of warming up (if it’s cold).

If it’s single digits or warmer you’ll be fine without, but if it’s -20 or -30 she’ll appreciate the warmth and start a lot nicer.

Also, these new trucks with DEF and re-gen aren’t made to idle for long periods. It’s one of the worst things for them. 20 minutes is the longest I go.

Another note, with my Cummins I can manually set a high idle to warm it up faster like on the big rigs. It’s just like setting the cruise while driving.

The Cummins does it automatically too, but manually you can set it higher for a warmer cab on a -30 morning.

Not sure if it’s possible with a dirty max but I’d look into if I were you.