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How to Keep a Diesel Engine Warm in the Winter

How to Keep a Diesel Engine Warm in the Winter

When considering the best ways to maintain your semi-truck and make it last, it’s crucial that you also think about what you can do in the winter months. After all, cold conditions can have a large impact on how your vehicle runs and how much stress it’s under when you start it up. If left alone, this can cause unnecessary damage and put you behind for days or even weeks at a time. Learn how to keep a diesel engine warm in the winter to ensure you can make it through the cold months ahead.

Use Additional Heating Systems

Since it’s common for diesel engines to fall victim to the cold, many truck owners have taken the liberty of installing additional heating systems to keep them warm. Some of these items include battery warmers, oil warmers, and block heaters, which provide a bit of extra heat when starting the vehicle. With this additional power, your engine will be able to stay warm for longer in the subzero temperatures and warm up quickly when you need it.

Incorporate Fuel Additives

If you want to take extra protective measures against the cold, you could also consider incorporating a fuel additive. Diesel fuel tends to gel in the cold and, as a result, it’s harder to pump through the engine. You can use certain anti-gelling additives to stop this process and protect the engine from additional strain and breaking down.

Store Your Vehicle in a Warmer Area

You can also help your vehicle escape the cold by keeping it in a slightly warmer location. While it might seem like this won’t have much of an impact, it only takes a few degrees to significantly reduce the amount of stress placed on the engine. Additionally, since it won’t experience direct exposure to the outside elements, your vehicle will also be quicker to start and warm-up.

Keep the Fuel Tank Full

Unfortunately, condensation can build up in an empty fuel tank and freeze—creating more problems than you may be able to handle. As such, you must keep your fuel tank full during the winter to prevent that condensation from building up. If you still have concerns about your tank developing problems, you can also use a fuel additive to keep your fuel itself from freezing.

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