3720-winter starting
- Thread starter ezrydr
- Start date
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dirtworksequip
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,463
- Location
- Wheeling, WV
- Tractor
- 2006 JD 3520 w/cab & 300CX loader. 1995 JD 870 w/440 loader & 8b backhoe.JD 455 w/54" mower deck.
Don't have any experience with starting at that cold, but did notice this weekend that my 3520 has a fast idle when its cold until the engine warms up. The only other diesel I've owned that had a fast idle feature was an 87 Jeep Cherokee 2.1 turbo diesel.
A block heater would definately be a plus for cold weather starting. I bought one to install on my 3520, but can't get the threaded plug out of the block. I have not felt like fighting it, so I didn't get it installed yet.
A block heater would definately be a plus for cold weather starting. I bought one to install on my 3520, but can't get the threaded plug out of the block. I have not felt like fighting it, so I didn't get it installed yet.
I had the dealer install a block heater on my 4120 prior to delivery (talked him into throwing it in at no charge). I plug it in 1-2 hours before starting when it is below 40 degrees and the tractor starts faster and smoother than in the summer. I would definitely reccomend it in cold climates. Also, it has to cut down a little on engine wear by thinning the oil to get it to the bearings faster.
KennedyDiesel
Veteran Member
It's not so much a question of if it wil start, it's more a matter of how hard do you want to be on the poor machine. I couple of hours of heating will go a long way towards a long happy engine life.
As for fuel, winterized #2 fuel should cover most situations. Additize it well, and if it really gets cold, 20% #1 diesel will get you a long way.
As for fuel, winterized #2 fuel should cover most situations. Additize it well, and if it really gets cold, 20% #1 diesel will get you a long way.
I don't know how well my new 2320 will start this winter. I did speak to my dealer about hard starting and he said it's not a problem and that he's gone out after several days of zero degree temps and had them start right up. I guess I'll know myself soon enough!
3720_Owner
Member
Bob, I have tried both ways. When I went to buy my 3720 last December the dealer said don't bother with the block heater. Some posters here have said yes and some said no, but I thought it would be easier for the dealer to install it before I got it, rather than have problems and have to get the tractor back to them to install it later. First time it got around 0 outside I plugged it in for a couple of hours and it started right up. Next time it was real cold I did not have 2 hours to plug it in and it started after a second or two of cranking.
What KennedyDiesel said about being better for the engine makes sense, and I will probably plug it in when it gets real cold and I know I will have to start it a couple hours in advance. It was good to learn that it will start either way.
Steven
What KennedyDiesel said about being better for the engine makes sense, and I will probably plug it in when it gets real cold and I know I will have to start it a couple hours in advance. It was good to learn that it will start either way.
Steven
My 4400 starts right up in the winter and I don't have a block heater either. Our dealer also said it doesn't need one. But what you do when it doesn't start up easy is turn the key (not to crank) and it heats up a little glowplug for the fuel and that will get her going real good.
ezrydr said:
No worries... I was looking at a used 3 pt snowblower last winter on a local dealer's lot. It was BITTER cold... low single digits and the wind chill kept us at negative temps for several days in a row. I looked at the salesman as he climbed onto a 4110 to run the blower for me and asked him if the tractor would even start in the temps... without hesitation "of course, why wouldn't it start?"
He smirked and fired it right up. On the way in he said they hadn't started that unit up for a several days and that it's rare now days to have problems starting one. Winter reliability was a concern of mine going from a gas tractor to a diesel... I wouldn't go back to a gas tractor for anything now. I'm sold... these babies are SOLID KennedyDiesel
Veteran Member
I've started a 4310 rental tractor after sitting overnight in the woods with sub zero temps. No issues at all really, but again, it's hard on things. Startup is the hardest thing on an engine and cold starting compounds this.
I didn't get the block heater option for my 2320. I don't know what will happen this winter but my dealer told me they don't have starting problems and he's gone out to tractors on the lot in sub-zero and had them kick right over.
My thinking is that if you're concerned about wear then go with synthetic oil. They are the best. Merc., Aston Martin and Corvette come out of the factory with Mobil 1. That's good enough for me. I've been using synthetic for years and in my cold winter my cars start without any problems. More importantly, they turn over fast and that means your engine is getting lubrication faster too.
I had a friend who never could get her car started after work on a long cold day. She wanted a block heater and I told her that's great to get you to work but how do you heat up your oil when you have nothing to plug into? I put synthetic in her car and she went home when lots of other people with block heaters with no place to plug them in didn't.
My thinking is that if you're concerned about wear then go with synthetic oil. They are the best. Merc., Aston Martin and Corvette come out of the factory with Mobil 1. That's good enough for me. I've been using synthetic for years and in my cold winter my cars start without any problems. More importantly, they turn over fast and that means your engine is getting lubrication faster too.
I had a friend who never could get her car started after work on a long cold day. She wanted a block heater and I told her that's great to get you to work but how do you heat up your oil when you have nothing to plug into? I put synthetic in her car and she went home when lots of other people with block heaters with no place to plug them in didn't.
Many mistakingly believe that synthetic oil does not increase viscosity in cold conditions like regular oil. "Less thermal breakdown" just means you can go longer between changes and has nothing to do with cold temperature viscosity increase. A block heater is still a good idea in cold climates to reduce start-up engine wear when your synthetic oil will take just as long to reach the moving parts as regular oil of the same weight. Of course changing to a lighter weight oil of either type will improve cold weater performance.
I disagree. One of the aspects of synthetic is its ability to maintain its viscosity in varying temperatures.
I’ve started cars in 10F and 20F below and I can personally attest to it. Don’t take my word for it put two quarts of 10W-30 oil in your basement food storage freezer for a couple of days and see which pours more easily.
I’ve started cars in 10F and 20F below and I can personally attest to it. Don’t take my word for it put two quarts of 10W-30 oil in your basement food storage freezer for a couple of days and see which pours more easily.
jcmseven
Veteran Member
I have had no problems with my 3720 starting. I keep it inside but have used it recently in unseasonably cool conditions. I did the drive with it today and just put it in about one hour ago. It is currently 18 degrees F at my house and the tractor started like it always does. My opinion is to stick with the stock oil, stock parts and only invest in a block heater if you keep the tractor outside or not in an enclosed area. My garage has a space heater and it rarely gets below 50 degrees even when really cold outside. If I were consistently keeping the tractor outside here I might get one. Interestingly though, my neighbor has a 4320 and prior to that a 4410 (Yanmar). He keeps his tractor outside in a work area behind his house. He lives about 300' higher than I (4100') and has consistently 2-3 degree cooler temps. His newer 4320 sometimes struggles to start when really cold, but his former 4410, which he traded in with well-over 3000 hours on it, never had one problem starting--with no block heater.
John M
John M
