Cold weather precautions

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

Having spent a long time in The Canaries....I’m not much used to all this cold!
And we are moving further north in Scotland soon, where its even colder! So I wondered if I might pick your collective brains on cold weather precautions for my old series 3, ...I wondered about adding a bit of petrol to the derv and maybe a block heater ? Biggest problem is slow starting in the cold, as it sometimes it stands for a week or two. Am planning on replacing the glow plugs soon to see if that makes any difference. I use the rover for pulling my log trailers now and for tree work, in Spain I used it on my banana farm for years without any starting problems even though we did get snow and ice in the winter ( on Tenerife) thanks all, any advice appreciated

jamesmartin · Feb 11, 2021

even when new the diesel series were hard to start in freezing conditions ,id fit as block heater and large as battery as possible

Colthebrummie · Feb 11, 2021

Mine is petrol but it still suffers from cold starting in the winter and if left for a couple weeks or so, the petrol flows back to the pump. I tend to disconnect the battery when I'm not using it cos there seems to be a parasitic drain, even with the new alternator. They are helped if they are started and left to warm up every few days. Also a thin engine oil helps in the cold weather

Col

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

Thanks guys, I do disconnect the batt as Ive got a slight drain somewhere, something to do with the charge light which comes on intermittently when switched off!
Was thinking about a block heater, i think that would make a difference.
Just been out in her today and she started second turn but yesterday I needed a power pack and several attempts, she had been standing for a month !

jamesmartin · Feb 11, 2021

Fatrover said:
Thanks guys, I do disconnect the batt as Ive got a slight drain somewhere, something to do with the charge light which comes on intermittently when switched off!
Was thinking about a block heater, i think that would make a difference.
Just been out in her today and she started second turn but yesterday I needed a power pack and several attempts, she had been standing for a month !

that will be an alternator problem id think or the wires slightly shorting at the switch or elsewhere

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

I think its at the dash, I had it out to replace the washer motor and had to wire a new wiper switch in. Alt is brand new I replaced it last week, new connections etc, although to be fair, the battery post connectors are looking a bit shoddy ..must redo them

jamesmartin · Feb 11, 2021

alts are most common ,and you cant guarantee new means good now, disconnect the warning light wire at the alt and see if light appears intermittently, or disconnect alt wires altogether and leave over night

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

Ok, will do. It was doing it before with the old alt ( which was def. knackered).
I suspect the wiring to the bulb is shorting its all original!
Thanks for the tip

Ole blue · Feb 11, 2021

I am living in Finland where its common to have temps -20° to -30°C. The coldest I have tried to start mine without plugging the block heater was -15°C. I cycled the glow plugs twice, it turned over about 4 times and started. After starting I let it warm up a few minutes before driving. If its -10°C or lower I would suggest driving something different until the cabin heater is improved or changed. I drove mine today as it was sunny and -20°C. I had several layers of clothes on and it was cold inside but not too bad with the sun shining in. The inside temp never got above freezing.

A few things I have done,
0W-30 motor oil,
Largest CCA battery that will fit,
Block heater but I only use it in an hour or so before I want to start it,
I use the original glow plug system, I heat for 30 seconds then start but if its really cold I might heat another time for 10-15 seconds.
I asked where I get my fuel what temp their diesel is treated to. Here its -20°
The original cabin heater is very bad so that is something that might need improved. If there is any snow, ice or frost on the windows the heater will not do anything to it. So be prepared to clean them well before driving somewhere. Lots of info about improving the heater on this site.
Install a "winterfront" in front of the grill. I used cardboard until I get something better.
Mine turns over slowly but has always started. Have been thinking about a gear reduction starter to see if it helps.

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

Excellent, thank you! We had something like minus 17 in Scotland last night although where I am on the West Coast it was about minus 4.
Ive got a rad muff, which seems to help.
No cabin heater but I do have a heated windscreen which is fine.
Am thinking about a cabin heater but all options are quite expensive !

tottot · Feb 11, 2021

If you want a realy good heater get one from a Royal Marine winterised landy, more or less an engine radiator in the cab.

Fatrover · Feb 11, 2021

Yes indeed, hve some experience of winterised wolfs i recall they were v warm

Scalleys Dad · Feb 12, 2021

Blimey. Some of the temperatures being mentioned are quite scary. By comparison the night time temperatures in Devon are just a tad chilly but the landie does get iced up inside and out and over the last couple of weeks she has coughed and spluttered a bit on starting. I suppose a good run out would do her the world of good but of course we are not supposed to. “Alright Officer. Just taking her for a spin to clear the pipes as it were. HOW MUCH!!”
I do have the luxury of a small camping stove which does quite a good job of warming up the windscreen and the canvas enough to take the edge off. I put a combination of a blanket and a thick cardboard sheet in front of the grill if the weather forecast is bad but I feel a bit pathetic now. If it ever goes towards a minus temperature the local news goes into panic mode so good luck to all of you with ‘proper weather’.

Fatrover · Feb 12, 2021

I like Devon, Mrs Fatrover is from Torquay! Cant beat a bit of rovering up on the moors to Princetown......

Scalleys Dad · Feb 12, 2021

Exeter to Plymouth via Mortonhampstead and Princetown was made for old landies............ takes a while though and if you leave the return trip late it is very very dark in places.
Back to the cold weather thing she took a while to start this afternoon and coughed quite a bit which quietly annoys the neighbours. I think I will have to do ten laps of the ring road tomorrow.

Fatrover · Feb 12, 2021

Havent been down there for a while, getting a caravan this year, so might take a wee trip down! My old girl started second turn again today and is was about minus 10 here last night. I do think a lot of these problems can be avoided by just using them! In Spain I used the Landy every day moving stuff about, never a problem.

northern scot · Feb 12, 2021

Fatrover said:
Having spent a long time in The Canaries....I’m not much used to all this cold!
And we are moving further north in Scotland soon, where its even colder! So I wondered if I might pick your collective brains on cold weather precautions for my old series 3, ...I wondered about adding a bit of petrol to the derv and maybe a block heater ? Biggest problem is slow starting in the cold, as it sometimes it stands for a week or two. Am planning on replacing the glow plugs soon to see if that makes any difference. I use the rover for pulling my log trailers now and for tree work, in Spain I used it on my banana farm for years without any starting problems even though we did get snow and ice in the winter ( on Tenerife) thanks all, any advice appreciated

minus 18 up here on wed night , but landy [ petro] started ok

nickjaxe · Feb 12, 2021

TBH....if the heater plugs are ok....and the batt and starter motor are good it will start easy....I have had many years on 2.25d Landover use in cold weather.

My tip....push in the engine stop....dont use any heat....fully throttle.....crank the engine over for 5 seconds.

Stop....give it 10 seconds of heat....sometime more is req....time will tell....then full throttle and crank again....the unburn fuel pumped it at first will still be in there and help lots for it to fire.

If the engine is in poor condition....low compression...you may struggle....there is a cold weather aerosol for diesels....Easy Start....I dont like to use it if possible....never needed it on mine....but with low compression engines you may have no choice.

Its a 2 person job to have the best chance....with off the air intake hose at the inlet manifold....get a helper to squirt some spray in the as you crank....only a second or 2 max....put quite a strain on the engine.

Good luck...I often used to leave the batt on charge over night to ready to start....remove before cranking.

Nick.

Fatrover · Feb 13, 2021

Excellent, thanks Nick, will give that a go and see what happens.

Blackburn · Feb 13, 2021

Upgrade your starter motor to a 200 or 300tdi version geared so uses less current and turns engine really fast so starts better.

Cold weather precautions

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