782d oil?

[Ewilliams]

Hello. I just picked up a 782d the other day when it was warm and it started easily. I changed the filters and oil because it was sitting in a garage for a couple years without being used. I used 15w40 diesel oil and it started just fine. Well the temperature dropped below freezing yesterday and I had a very hard time starting it. I have another one that has a block heater so there is no issue with that one. Should I have put a lighter oil for starting in these temperatures below freezing? If so, what is recommended?

Thanks,
Earl

[Mountain Heritage]

I am thinking yes, but those who "know" for sure will chime in.

BUT....

I am thinking we need pictures of your tractors. I think you have been stock piling them and NOT sharing pictures!!

[Matt G.]

I use that oil year-round. You need to use the glow plugs longer. If you aren't getting smoke when cranking, try another 5 seconds of glow plugs. On a cold day with the stock glow plugs you may need 40+ seconds of glow plugs unless you have a coolant heater, which really helps a lot.

[ol'George]

Not to belittle anyone’s knowledge, but
A diesel compresses air only and the air has to get hot enough in the combustion chamber to ignite the diesel fuel that is sprayed into the combustion chamber at TDC (approx).
That is pretty hot!
If you ever tried to light diesel fuel cold, it takes a while, to say the least.
That is why it is important that the glow plugs are really hot to heat the incoming air to assist the heating done by compression.
In the old days some manufactures recommended using kero or #1 diesel in the winter, as we know it ignites easier.
I use to hear the guys talk about heating the intake manifold with a cutting torch on the construction sites to get them going. Or a lit rag soaked with gasoline held over the intake.
Guess we got it pretty easy with glow plugs!

[TheSaturnV]

You picked the right oil, and ditto on using it year round. The battery/starter is really the achilles of the early Cub diesels, but there are a few workarounds. Some folks install a giant car battery to overcome issues with colder starts. I went the other route and did the starter conversion. Search these boards for the procedure, because you can convert the starter to a newer type that I believe has much more cranking umph to it.

Also, if your machine still has the glow plug indicator hooked up, that is a draw on power when you need it most. There are also modifications you can do to the glow plugs and there is a relay that can be added to better deliver power to the starting circuit.

Last, and possibly most important, check and recheck your ground wires. Confirm that the factory service bulletin (issued back in the day) has been carried out. An oversize ground wire should have been added alongside the existing ground to help with this very issue.

[dsmithjr]

The BRS has most if not all the mods and upgrades for the D600 including a block heater. If I dont plug it in on cold days like MattG said it will take 30-40 seconds on the glow plugs to get a good start. My dads 1572 is bone stock and even at 30-40 secs it is still sluggish to start on cold days.

[Ewilliams]

thanks for all the suggestions. The other diesel I have the PO trim the dash tower to put a larger battery in it which works great. I didn't like the idea of cutting the dash but it works. It also has the coolant heater installed. I'll go try some of the suggestions. It may be time for new glow plugs because it takes at least a good 45-60 seconds to get the indicator red. Again, thanks for all the help

Earl

[Matt G.]

The more modern glow plugs available will help a lot, but only if you eliminate the glow indicator and use a solenoid to run them. I don't have the NGK number for the new plugs handy, but I'm sure someone on here does. Or do a search.

[Oak]

Here ya go.