What do you guys think? I have remote start in my 2008 3.0L and last week when it got really cold (-15 C), I set my automatic timer to start the truck every three hours for 15 minutes of run-time. It worked fine until the next day.

The next day my truck started and then died. I went out and manually started it, and it ran for about 20 seconds then died. I tried cranking it a few times and it caught once, and again, died after about 20 seconds (when I stepped on the throttle).

I used my other "4x4" for the week and left the Ranger in my driveway. Today I tried manually starting it, and once again it started for about 20 seconds and then died. I tried a few more times but the battery started to drain and no ignition. It is still -15 and no chance for warmer weather for a while yet.

My thought is that I have moisture in my fuel. What do you think? Should I purchase a gas-line antifreeze of some type? What is the best one to use?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your suggestions.

 

Iso-HEET

It's basically sold everywhere...

http://www.goldeagle.com/heet/faqs_h...uct=HEET&ID=90

It wont hurt to give it a shot....another tip is to always keep your tank as full as possible when it's going to get that cold.

 

Hmm...as stated above, try and keep a half tank of fuel minimum, which should help prevent your fuel pump from possibly freezing if it gets cold enough. Definetly want to dump some gas line antifreeze in there as well and that should help prevent things from icing up too.

If you have a block heater and battery warmer, make sure you use them, and also that you have a strong battery with a high CCA rating.

 

Thank you. I try and keep the tank full, but sometimes it gets a little low. Right now it is down to 1/4 which is very unusual. I will grab some Iso_HEET today and see if that helps.

 

Your best bet is to get the truck into a heated garage for a few hours.That Iso HEET may or may not work.
Good luck.

 

X2. Stick with that and you'll do fine this winter.

 

-15 is way too cold for me. Maybe its time to move to a warmer climate.

 

that is cold

 

-15c is only 5 degrees fahrenheit.. still cold haha

 

Check your inertia switch. Mine broke on me when it got really cold out.

 

Right, I translated it to Fahrenheit, so it is -15F. Not too worry, at -40 both scales are the same. (Got that with wind chill the other day)

 

still freakin cold either way lol

 

think you need to thaw it out and put some gas into it. luckily our trucks don't feel the wind chill factor... but still, -15 is plenty cold

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. Here is an update. The fuel tank was 3/4 full. When I tried to start it, occasionally it would run for about 20 seconds and then die. I hooked up a battery charger, reset my gas cap (off and tried to start/on and continued to try and start) and finally got it to run - poorly. It ran rough and seemed like it was going to die.

I nursed the throttle when I had it running and after about 45 seconds it smoothed out and continued to run without me babysitting the throttle. Took off the battery charger and parked it in a heated garage. Since then it has run fine.

 

call me crazy, but i would never try to start an engine with a battery charger still running on it...not sure why really just seems wrong.
anyhow glad you got it worked out.

 

missed the Update, edited to say glad its running right again. was thinking it sounded like a plugged Cat or something