Maybe this is an old topic, but I have searched, and while there is some glow plug discussion, I found nothing either serious or in depth.
When using glow plugs to preheat for cold starts, does anyone have any better information or knowledge about what is the proper/correct amount of time to preheat before trying to start a diesel engine?
The reason I ask is this. After having had my
B7300 for over 23 years, I had my first cold start issue this past week. In the past, it seems, I really have not had the need to start my engine in really cold weather. However recently, we had a couple small snow storms, nothing enough to warrant clearing the yard and drive, but freezing rain was in the forecast, and following that a much colder freeze. I decided to clear up what was down and around before the rain and freezing rain made a mess, and the forecast deeper freeze turning everything into a rutted skating rink.
As it was about 15F at that time, I put everything in neutral, depressed the clutch, moved the key to preheat, and held it there for 10 seconds, basically what the manual said, and has worked in the past, but I cannot attest to what the temps were when I did those cold starts. However, this time, the engine did not fire on the first try. So, I waited about 1 minute, and repeated the process, and once again, it did not start. So, I repeated it for a third time, and the engine started. I did my clean up and put the tractor away, but I got to thinking about this, as winter here is basically just getting started. I reread my user manual, and confirmed what I had done was what was prescribed.
The next day it was much colder, 7F, and I decided to do a test. I went out and began the cold start procedure, but this time I held the key in the preheat position for 20 seconds, and it started right up. I am now wondering if the user manual is being a bit cautious with the preheat time? Or if maybe there is a more widely used or accepted thought/theory/procedure ?
BTW, Happy New Year 2026 to all!
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