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-   -   Starting the Engine in Snow / Cold Areas (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/71660-starting-engine-snow-cold-areas-2.html)

Actually large displacement DI engines do not need glow plugs, but smaller displacement ones need them. For example 2.2 safari has glow plugs, but 3.0 liter does not.

Some tips here:

• Use antifreeze in your coolant
• Don't idle for too long in cold temperatures. Engines will warm up faster under load than at idle speeds. However, make sure not to rev too high during the first 5-10 minutes of driving.
• Use of engine block heaters is highly recommended.
• Get your battery inspected before your trip, make sure it's holding enough charge.

I've had no problems starting my Mitsubishi Lancer last year when it was -40 C without even a block heater. Everything in the car was frozen solid for about the first 5 minutes of driving. However, a block heater helps quite a bit.

Common Rail engines do not have Glow plugs & just checked yesterday with Mahindra center (Scorpio CrDe) does not have glow plugs in it. The engine check light which comes is for checking the fuel pump / filter functioning.

Do not generalise.
There are more CRD's with glow plugs than those that don't.

To restate what I said earlier, large displacement direct injection engines(CRDI or non CRDI) normally do not have glow plugs. There is no hard limit, but mostly DI engines above 2.5 liters in capacity can do without glow plugs. For smaller engines, like 1.5L etc., cold starting will become an issue if there are no glow plugs.
However, while a 1.4 liter IDI engine, like indica will not start even at 10-15 degree C without glow plugs, a 1.4 liter DI engine can manage even when temperature is 3-4 degrees.

Once when we were traveling to Leh in a rickety old Sumo someone at Pang (was probably a local driver) suggested to pour hot water (if one can manage to get) on the engine and battery. This is suppose to work well. The older army trucks use to light a fire below the engine (now please dont try that) to get the vehicle kicking.
Heating the battery certainly helps.

So would I! Except, it would be October... with the Scorpio anyway.

Surely the Thar is as prone to diesel gelling / freezing and resultant cold-start issues as any other diesel vehicle operating in those temperatures?

are you serious in asking the above question about diesel freezing and resulting in cold starts?

time and technology moves on my friend!

I'm serious about the query.

Each and every one of us here has faced diesel cold start issues in sub-zero weather conditions, and technology has apparently not advanced to the extent in India where winter-grade diesel is available in those parts, to civilians at least.

@ Muzungu: What would you suggest?

Well last September in sub-freezing temps at Tso Moriri, I had issues with the cold start. The engine took about 10-15 cranks before sputtering back to life. Diesel sold in Ladakh and other upper climes comes premixed with anti-freeze, thereby prohibiting its freezing so Doc, you don't need to worry too much. Also the ECU changes the timing based on the altitude, so that helps as well. But since the air is also cold, one needs continuous application of the heater to make the engine start.

Actually, diesel up there is normal diesel, not premixed.
There are two things here. First, if ambient engine block temp is lets say -1 or -2 degrees, fuel is still liquid, however, the engine block is cold. So you need multiple applications of heater to fire the engine. Once engine is on, the fuel return line will ensure warm diesel to the engine. So even if temp drops for -10, its okay,
Second, -10 degree kind of night temperatures. Here diesel starts gumming, and all you can do is heat the fuel tank, prime the hand pump, and then somehow start the vehicle.
Once started you are good to go, as hot diesel will be recirculated into the tank via fuel return lines.

People with diesel vehicles in ladakh have a tough time in winters when temps go to -20 degree C. Diesel gums up, and they cannot start the engine unless vehicle is parked in sunlight for some time.

What does the army do for their vehicles? Aren't they all now diesel?

Actually I only saw Army Gypsies in Ladakh. But I'm sure the other vehicles like the Stallion must be running in winter

@Tanveer: It was confirmed by some Oil Co person that the Diesel is indeed Pre-Mixed

They use boiled water in the radiator, i know that helps. Also leave the engine running through the night in some cases.

Army diesel and civilian diesel is different. They do not fill from regular petrol pumps, but have their own stock. Nowhere in the himalayas I have found a pump selling diesel with anti freeze, even in winters.