How to Maintain Cummins Engine In Cold Weather

It is very important to know how to correctly start diesel engine like Cummins under cold weather. In this way, it not only helps prolong the engine’s service life and also keeps the generator set run smoothly. Take a few time to read this article, and then you will learn a lot.

Cold Weather Starting (Note: A water jacket heater is recommended for stand-by generator set applications installed in a cold climate.)

The cold winter weather currently enveloping a good portion of the United States has people scurrying to purchase new car batteries and fill windshield fluid reservoirs.

Cold weather in these regions is nothing new and the past week has seen sub-zero temperatures in the Upper Midwest and Northeast portions of the country. Whether you love, hate, or even just tolerate it, the season requires more preparation in many aspects of life.

Standby generators sit outside in all sorts of weather, just waiting to wake up and provide power in the event of an outage. In the subfreezing weather, emergency power keeps the furnace running and pipes from freezing during an outage, not to mention keeping families warm.

Keep your standby generator clear of snow and ice and ensure that the air intake vents don’t become clogged or blocked by debris. Perform maintenance on schedule.

Preheater

The glow plug system supplies heat to the cylinders so that compression temperatures are sufficient to ignite the fuel.

To aid in starting the genset engine when the temperature is 50 °F[10.0°C] or below, an intake air preheater is available. Preheater equipment consists of a hand-priming pump to pump fuel into the intake manifold, and a switch to turn on the glow plug which is electrically heated by the battery. Fuel burns in the intake manifold and heats the intake air.

Warning: Do not use vapor in conjunction with the preheater. To do so could result in a fire.

Steps to use the preheater for cold starting:

1. Set the throttle in idle position. Turn the glow plug toggle switch to the “NO” position. The red indicator light must be on.

2. After the red light has been on for 20 seconds, start cranking the engine. As soon as the engine begins rotating, operate the preheater priming pump to maintain 80 to 100 psi [552 to 693kPa] fuel pressure. Use of the primer before the 20 seconds interval will wet the glow plug and prevent heating.

3. If the engine does nor start within 30 seconds, stop cranking. Wait one or two minutes and repeat the cranking operation.

4. After the engine starts, pump the primer slowly to keep the engine idling smoothly. In cold weather this may require 4 to 5 minutes or longer. Do not accelerate the engine.

5. When the engine has warmed up so it does not falter between primer strokes, stop pumping. Close and lock the primer. Turn off the glow plug toggle switch. (The red indicator light will go out.)

6. If the engine gives no indication of starting during the first three full strokes of the preheater pump, touch –check the intake manifold for heat. If there is no heat, check the electrical wiring. If the wiring is all right, remove the intake manifold and check the preheater.

Note: The preheater priming pump, switches and resistor are located at the instrument panel and should be checked during engine starting.

The cold starting aid, approved for use in Cummins Engines, has been based upon starting aid capabilities to -25°F[-32°C].

Cautions: Do not attempt to use vapor compound type starting aids near heat, open flame or on engines equipped with a glow plug system.

Recommended Starting Technique Using Fleetguard Starting Aid

1. Set the throttle for idle.

2. Disengage the driven unit or make sure gears are in neutral.a

3. Open the manual fuel shut-down valve, or electric shut-down valve, whichever is used.

4. Engage the starter and while cranking, apply metered amounts of starting fluid until the engine idles smoothly.

Use of Starting Fluid Without Metering Equipment

1. Spray starting fluid into the air cleaner intake, while a second man cranks the engine

Warning: Never handle starting fluid near an open flame. Never use it with a preheater or flame thrower equipment. Do not breathe the fumes. Use of of too much will cause excessively high pressures and detonation, or over speed the engine.

2. Starting aid fumes will be drawn into the air intake manifold and the cold engines should start without difficulty.

Warning: Fuel oil or volatile fuel cold starting aids are not to be used in underground mine or tunnel operations. If the engine is so equipped check with the local U.S. Bureau of Mines Inspector for use of the starting aid.

A marginal battery during the summer and fall may not seem like an issue. Every week the standby generator wakes up and starts its exercise cycle. All seems well, despite controller alerts that the battery is near the end of its life. Now that winter has arrived, that marginal battery may not have the power to start the engine when temperatures fall below freezing.

A power outage at two o’clock in the morning is not the time to realize your battery can’t start the engine in colder weather. If your battery is near the end of its expected life, or if the controller tells you it is time to replace the battery, purchase a new, quality battery and install it.

Some standby models allow the addition of other accessories to ensure easy starts in cold weather. Oil warmers and block heaters help keep the engine warm for easier starts, but should always be paired with a battery warmer, if one is not included in the kit.

A cold weather kit is a necessity anywhere the temperature falls below thirty-two degrees. If it does not include a battery warmer, purchase one separately. Cold weather kits may change the oil type or viscosity required. Generac’s Extreme Cold Weather kit for their liquid cooled engines require the use of synthetic 5W-30 oil.

Even if you live in the south where temperatures are usually above freezing, ice storms and other weather events that last just a few days can make engine starts more difficult. The cost of a cold weather kit is cheap insurance.

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Created on Oct 18th 2017 20:18. Viewed 360 times.

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