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OK, that helps. Assuming this is an indirect injection engine (like most small diesels are), you definitely need to cycle your glow plugs, preferably twice before hitting the starter.<br />
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You also should be sure your battery is fully charged & fresh.<br />
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At those temperatures, straight No. 2 ASTM D-975 fuel will gel (wax precipitation) so you MUST use a blended fuel and/or an antigel additive. Or you will have a gel-infested fuel filter element and a no-start until replaced. If you have crap fuel cetane like a lot of places, spike with a cetane boost additive also. This will help fuel ignite much better.<br />
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Others on TBN know more than I do, but these are the basics of lower temp mechanical injection diesel engine starting. I think fuel gelling starts around mid 20's F. Plugging in an engine block heater does nothing to fix that - only makes the engine easier to turn over and initial fuel to ignite.<br />
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Most engine manufactures also recommend a water demulsifier additive all the time, but this is especially important in the winter where condensation can happen much quicker on internal metal surfaces.
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Great point made here. The vast majority of America's truckers use fuel additives promoting cetane boost and anti gelling properties, while old school fleet mechanics do not approve of additives, fuel or oil. An anti-waxing additive is what you would be looking for and sometimes hard to find and should say Anti-waxing right on the bottle. I recommend going straight to a large diesel manufacturer service center such as Cummins, CAT or Detroit. Oddly, they cost about half the price, maybe $7 then what is stocked addy all the truck stops and travel centers but that tiny bottle will treat about 150 gallons. A quality #1 diesel is also key. Fuel is mixed and distributed with the weather so stock up in a cold snap or Arctic front from a reliable diesel distribution that moves a lot of fuel.<br />
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In lieu of a block heater I would recommend a quality synthetic oil such as Mobil1. I use 5W30 which has a pour point of near -50. That eliminates the troubling factor. Dino oil at -20, add some wind, and it's thick as molasses..like drying varnish and, cold enough, it'll fuse the plates on a start attempt on a liquid battery. I had this problem on reefer trailer in extreme cold Canadian winters. AGM batteries and synthetic oil in -40 wind chills pounding that unit overnight and it'd start everytime.<br />
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I keep my CT235 in an unheated garage, I use diesel out of my highway truck, no additives, a block heater when really cold, synthetic oil, always allow the glow plug its mandatory 20-30 seconds and in 3 years, I guess this is winter #4, I've never had a problem and I've not hesitated to use it in -30. I allow it a couple minutes idle, then increase rpm to around 1200 and let it warm the hydraulics for up to 15 minutes in extremes. <br />
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Happy Holidays</div>
