Cold Weather Operations for Geoprobe® Machine owners

* Park machine inside a building overnight, if possible.

* Use Glow plug pre-heater at temperatures below 50 degrees F.

* Do not use Glow plug pre-heater more than 20 seconds.

* With the ignition switch held in the pre-heat (counterclockwise) position, the glow plugs remain on even after light goes off.

-- Even if red light is on, this does not mean the glow plugs are getting 12 volts.
-- Check 30A fuse if engine will crank but not start.

* Do NOT crank engine more than 10 seconds at a time.

* Do NOT use ether as a starting fluid.

-- Ether is highly explosive and is used in many diesel engines but is not recommended by Geoprobe® for any Kubota engines.

* Allow engine to warm up at a low to medium idle speed.

-- Avoid over-revving any engine too soon upon start-up. Oil needs time to reach its operating pressure to ensure that everything will be properly lubricated.

* Hair dryers and electric blankets can also be used to warm up fuel tanks and fuel lines.

* Space heaters can be used if they are kept a SAFE distance from flammable fluids.

* Oxy-acetylene torches are NOT recommended for heating an engine on cold mornings. They are too dangerous.

* Anti-freeze/coolant

-- Mixed with water at a ratio of 50/50:

freezing point is – 34 degrees F
boiling point is 226 degrees F

* Keep battery fully charged in extremely cold weather.

-- Battery capacity drops as the temperature drops. A fully charged battery at 80º F will have less than half its charge at 0º F (about 46% of full capacity).

FUELS AND ADDITIVES

* Diesel gels around 0 ~ 5 degrees F.

-- Gelling is caused by wax forming solids in the fuel.
-- Gelling will clog fuel lines, filters, pumps, and any other small passages.

* Never mix gasoline or alcohol to diesel fuel.

-- Improper additives will strip away oils necessary to lubricate parts in the engine.

* Keep fuel tank at or near full in cold weather to limit condensation on tank walls.

-- This helps to prevent rust from forming inside the tank.

* If you run an engine out of fuel:

For machines that are equipped with a 12V fuel pump such as 6610, 6620, and 7730…

• Turn the key to the “on” position.
• Open the bleeder screw located beside the injector pump.
• Crank the engine for 5 ~ 10 seconds if necessary. This will allow air to escape from the lines as the 12V pump pushes air and fuel through the system.
• Close bleeder.
• Repeat as necessary.

For machines not equipped with a 12V pump such as 54LT, 540UD…

• Open the bleeder thumbscrew beside the injector pump.
• Prime the engine using the hand-operated lever located beside the injector.
• Crank the engine for 5 ~ 10 seconds.
• Close bleeder.
• Repeat as necessary.

Option 1 for COLD WEATHER

-- Use a mixture of No. 1 diesel mixed with No. 2 diesel

- No. 1 contains less paraffin wax to gel and ignites easier. It also has fewer BTU’s of energy available and has less lubricity than No. 2.

Option 2 for COLD WEATHER

-- Use a fuel additive to prevent gelling. It also helps keep injectors clean and disperse any water in the fuel.

Option 3 for COLD WEATHER

-- Use both blended fuel and an additive to remove water from the fuel.

-- Most fuel sold in colder climates is already blended at the pump.

Feb. 2005