FordExcursions.com Forums
RS-TX
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• Little River, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 11/22/2002 |
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• 298 posts |
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 Posted:2/6/2004 08:47 |
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| Quote: | Look out for the ice! You Texans probably don't realize that water freezes at 32 degrees and that can cause slippery conditions on the roads!!!!    |
Back when I was in high school we had a teacher who, rumor has it, had once lived "up North". Somehow this guy slipped through the background checks and was allowed to teach us all manner of ridiculous theories, one of which is the "water freezes at 32 degrees" "theory". Of course after this blasphemy, he was tarred, feathered and sent packing back to that dreaded land of which I spoke earlier, "up North"! We all know that the temperature never gets below 40, because no body in these parts ever leaves the house if it gets below 45 or so. So be careful there, sonny, or I'll have to call in the Texas Enforcers and send them to pay you a visit. Naturally, they won't leave Texas until the temperatures are in the 80s or above, so you might have time to make your escape if you start now. If you keep spreading these false ideas about such low temperatures you can expect a knock on your door some time in July!
You've been warned!!! 
Actually, the rumors you've heard about Texans on ice are largely true. We don't get frozen precipitation often enough around here to learn how to drive in it. When it does happen every third or fourth year or so there are numerous wrecks and everything shuts down. And snow, well, that is considered a state holiday when it happens because the next day it will be 65 and all the snow will be gone. And I'm thankful for that!   I like the heat. It makes for good bar-b-que! 
Rick
2004 VW Jetta TDI |
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Boar-Ral
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• Edmonton, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 8/20/2003 |
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• 56 posts |
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Posted:2/27/2004 16:11 |
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| Quote: | | You are just damn lucky. Thank your vendor for the good quality fuel..... |
Do they not add fuel conditioner to the fuel in the winter in the U.S.? It needed to be -60F here before I began to experience gelling problems and even at that, everything ran, it was just sluggish and surging. For weeks it was around -50F and the truck ran like a champ without any additional fuel additives. I am just curious, is all, when I see people asking questions about -20F or -10F, which I find rather mild. |
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Boar-Ral
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• Edmonton, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 8/20/2003 |
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• 56 posts |
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Posted:2/27/2004 16:13 |
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| Quote: | | At what point do we switch from plug in & additive to running the truck all night? I read that Cummins recoomends it at -20 deg F but could not get an answer on the PS. I called Ford Fleet and they did not get back to me. Supposed to be -10 tonight. CCCCOOOOLLLLLLDDDD |
If your gas station does not add additives to their fuel in the winter, I would add it at that temperature. (Here, the fuel additive in the tanks at the station is good for around -60 - -50F.) As for plugging it in, my manual states that the Powerstroke will start without plugging it in as cold as -25C (-15F). At temperatures near that, I would plug it in. |
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Boar-Ral
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• Edmonton, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 8/20/2003 |
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• 56 posts |
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Posted:2/27/2004 16:18 |
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| Quote: | Back when I was in high school we had a teacher who, rumor has it, had once lived "up North". Somehow this guy slipped through the background checks and was allowed to teach us all manner of ridiculous theories, one of which is the "water freezes at 32 degrees" "theory". Of course after this blasphemy, he was tarred, feathered and sent packing back to that dreaded land of which I spoke earlier, "up North"! We all know that the temperature never gets below 40, because no body in these parts ever leaves the house if it gets below 45 or so. So be careful there, sonny, or I'll have to call in the Texas Enforcers and send them to pay you a visit. Naturally, they won't leave Texas until the temperatures are in the 80s or above, so you might have time to make your escape if you start now. If you keep spreading these false ideas about such low temperatures you can expect a knock on your door some time in July!
You've been warned!!!
Actually, the rumors you've heard about Texans on ice are largely true. We don't get frozen precipitation often enough around here to learn how to drive in it. When it does happen every third or fourth year or so there are numerous wrecks and everything shuts down. And snow, well, that is considered a state holiday when it happens because the next day it will be 65 and all the snow will be gone. And I'm thankful for that! I like the heat. It makes for good bar-b-que! |
There were a few times over the past few years where we have yet to receive snowfall and Texas has received some. It is great fun to watch the disaster unfold on television.  The university I went to had a large number of American students attending and you could always tell which ones were the ones accustomed to warmer climates the moment the first snow hit. They would be in the ditch or sideways - or upside-down - in the ditch. Not to poke fun, I just find it amusing. |
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Boar-Ral
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• Edmonton, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 8/20/2003 |
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• 56 posts |
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Posted:2/27/2004 16:21 |
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While we are discussing Powerstroke diesels and cold weather, does anyone know of or has anyone heard of any 'recommendations' for driving with this engine? i.e. I wait until the temperature needle has begun to rise, and drive slowly until the temperature is above the C, trying to keep the RPMs beneath 1500 or 2000. Is this dumb, or am I just paranoid? I just don't want my engine to crater or start pushing blue too soon. (I understand it is a natural thing about diesels that I will eventually start pushing blue exhaust, but I would like to delay it and treat my engine as nicely as possible.) Ford states that 25 seconds of warmup is all that the engine needs, even in the winter, mainly to stabilize the oil pressure. But as others have mentioned, they don't make the engine, they just use it. Dad is an 'old school' diesel engine person, and so taking his advice, I let the engine warm up nicely in the winter, and even for a couple minutes in the summer. But others have told me that new diesels really don't like being idled, even to warm up the truck. I'm just trying to work out a 'code of practice' for using my diesel. |
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Dave Sullivan
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• Kitchener, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 2/27/2003 |
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• 199 posts |
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Posted:3/30/2004 16:37 |
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| Quote: | | Quote: | | At what point do we switch from plug in & additive to running the truck all night? I read that Cummins recoomends it at -20 deg F but could not get an answer on the PS. I called Ford Fleet and they did not get back to me. Supposed to be -10 tonight. CCCCOOOOLLLLLLDDDD |
If your gas station does not add additives to their fuel in the winter, I would add it at that temperature. (Here, the fuel additive in the tanks at the station is good for around -60 - -50F.) As for plugging it in, my manual states that the Powerstroke will start without plugging it in as cold as -25C (-15F). At temperatures near that, I would plug it in. |
Finally a real Cold Wx Thread.
I've found that -16 C is the magic time the Ex starts to have problems with 15w40 oil and with an oil change to 10w30 its still happy at -26. If I use the block heater it runs better right away.
Dave.
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Dave Sullivan
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• Kitchener, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 2/27/2003 |
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• 199 posts |
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Posted:3/30/2004 16:41 |
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| Quote: | | While we are discussing Powerstroke diesels and cold weather, does anyone know of or has anyone heard of any 'recommendations' for driving with this engine? i.e. I wait until the temperature needle has begun to rise, and drive slowly until the temperature is above the C, trying to keep the RPMs beneath 1500 or 2000. Is this dumb, or am I just paranoid? I just don't want my engine to crater or start pushing blue too soon. (I understand it is a natural thing about diesels that I will eventually start pushing blue exhaust, but I would like to delay it and treat my engine as nicely as possible.) Ford states that 25 seconds of warmup is all that the engine needs, even in the winter, mainly to stabilize the oil pressure. But as others have mentioned, they don't make the engine, they just use it. Dad is an 'old school' diesel engine person, and so taking his advice, I let the engine warm up nicely in the winter, and even for a couple minutes in the summer. But others have told me that new diesels really don't like being idled, even to warm up the truck. I'm just trying to work out a 'code of practice' for using my diesel. |
I think your dad is right.. warm the thing up a bit befor you take off. Its gonna get warm anyways and if it drives better, what the hey. One thing is sure.. you will use less fuel if you warm it up compared to if you take of right away.
Dave
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Dave Sullivan
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• Kitchener, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 2/27/2003 |
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• 199 posts |
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Posted:3/30/2004 16:44 |
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| Quote: | | Quote: | | Look out for the ice! You Texans probably don't realize that water freezes at 32 degrees and that can cause slippery conditions on the roads!!!! |
Back when I was in high school we had a teacher who, rumor has it, had once lived "up North". Somehow this guy slipped through the background checks and was allowed to teach us all manner of ridiculous theories, one of which is the "water freezes at 32 degrees" "theory". Of course after this blasphemy, he was tarred, feathered and sent packing back to that dreaded land of which I spoke earlier, "up North"! We all know that the temperature never gets below 40, because no body in these parts ever leaves the house if it gets below 45 or so. So be careful there, sonny, or I'll have to call in the Texas Enforcers and send them to pay you a visit. Naturally, they won't leave Texas until the temperatures are in the 80s or above, so you might have time to make your escape if you start now. If you keep spreading these false ideas about such low temperatures you can expect a knock on your door some time in July!
You've been warned!!!
Actually, the rumors you've heard about Texans on ice are largely true. We don't get frozen precipitation often enough around here to learn how to drive in it. When it does happen every third or fourth year or so there are numerous wrecks and everything shuts down. And snow, well, that is considered a state holiday when it happens because the next day it will be 65 and all the snow will be gone. And I'm thankful for that! I like the heat. It makes for good bar-b-que! |
Something else the Texans should know... Salt water solidifies (Freezes) at 0 deg F.
I'm running some time soon. :-)
Dave.
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FamilyRideII
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• Flower Mound, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 8/7/2003 |
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• 51 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/1/2004 10:15 |
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Now I have to respond to the "Texans in Candian weather" crack
I was up in Ontario at the begining of January and due to a 5 hour delay, were were stuck in Toronto at 2 AM and obviously missed our connection to London. Luckily an Avis counter Agent stayed late and we got a car and drove, in a snow storm, from Toronto to London. We tried to follow trucks etc. so we knew where the road was (couldn't see where the lanes were) but I saw a LOT of Canadian trucks, cars etc. off in the ditches, jack-knifed, flipped as we drove by at 120km.
I admit, I told the guy driving topay attention to the cars and trucks off the road with drivers that were used to this stuff, and not to try to hang with that truck we were following at those speeds. We made it though.
The next couple of days there were bus route closings, people not showing up for work etc., due to weather. It was SNOW, not ICE like we get. ;) People don't realize what driving on 3-4" or more of solid ice it like. Our winters can suck
2004 Eddie Bauer Excursion
4x4 6.0 PSD, all the goodies, Superchips 1704, Magnaflow, Isspro Gauges, 285 REVO's |
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Boar-Ral
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• Edmonton, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 8/20/2003 |
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• 56 posts |
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Posted:4/5/2004 12:59 |
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| Quote: | | I think your dad is right.. warm the thing up a bit befor you take off. Its gonna get warm anyways and if it drives better, what the hey. One thing is sure.. you will use less fuel if you warm it up compared to if you take of right away. |
That is what I have been doing so far. Below freezing, I let the truck warm up 10 - 20 minutes and above freezing, I let it warm up for five minutes. It seems to be happy this way. I also use the remote starter when leaving the truck after highway driving so that the truck continues idling for another five minutes so that the turbo will cool down. I really want to avoid any expensive repairs on my Excursion, if possible. |
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