mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Joined: 05/26/2008
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As I live and work in NW Montana and drive roads that are in less than pristine condition, you shouldn't have problems with fuel there. If you're working out of Mammoth, Gardiner has the fuel supply and those driving back and forth from Cooke City buy their fuel there for the trip back across. In the five years I drove the road, I never got bad fuel. We use Stanadyne instead of Power Service. In the winter - we use winter fronts preferably the zipper type, not the cheapo plastic snap outs. We use the block heater only about 2 hrs before starting up for the day - then we don't shut it down until late in the day, after a cool down. Yes, I've use alcohol in my brake lines.
Dave H M - Zero is warm, it goes to -35F in Yellowstone at least once a week, every week in the Winter. Not just there, but in Butte, Dillon, even warm spots like Idaho Falls & Missoula.
Matt J - 1956 416 Unimog w/32ft Jamco and two mules & 1988 PB379 in MT; Unimog 1750L camper in Guatemala
Bert - '08 Dakota 4.7, 19ft Airstream
My best friend Wolf died in Panama - 16 Nov
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mtlogger
Montana/Guatemala
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Joined: 05/26/2008
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LorraineJohn wrote:I doubt that it gets as cold in Montana as it does up here in Northern Saskatchewan but my advise to you is make sure that it is plug in and depending on cold it is you may need to cycle the glow plugs a couple of times prior to starting the truck. We had a spell last winter when it was -60 C, not sure what that is in American but many diesel as well as gas vehicles wouldn't start if they weren't plugged in. Hope this helps.
I agree it's colder in Northern Sask. NW Montana is where Alaskans come to winter. At -60C LP will freeze in unprotected lines going to a cabin. -60C = -76F. You're breath will freeze on your face. Add 20-30 mph wind stream and you're a dead man.
Once you start using synthetic you should stick with it. It'll require an extra filter change to clean out the gunk, but once you do it you won't need to change oil but every 20,000 miles or so.
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Grizzlvr
Western Montana
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Joined: 08/06/2006
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Take it from someone who knows first hand. Depending on what part of the park you will be living and working, you will have to leave your truck in the closest town outside the park. Assuming you will be at Old Faithful, there are storages places in West Yellowstone that you can store your vehicle. West Yellowstone can easily hit -35F to -40F and is often the coldest place in the lowere 48 on a regular basis. What we use to do was when we knew we wanted to use our truck, we would call the storage folks and they would "plug in" the block heater the night before we would head out of the park. It would be all ready for us when we got there. Then when we were done and ready to go back into the park, we would drop it off at the storage and catch the snow coach back into the park. Good luck, you'll have a blast. There is nothing like Yellowstone in the winter!
Drew, Lora & our boys
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC, 4x4, Duramax w/Allison, and Timbrens
Highjacker Ultra 16,000 lbs Super Slide Hitch
2007 Cougar 289 BHS
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ib516
Up here!
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Mine runs fine at -40*.  Americans and their definition of "cold"  
2004 Cougar 301 BHS 6580# Dry, 9000# wet, 9600# GVWR)
2007 Dodge/5.9L Cummins 3500 SRW Megacab 4x4/3.73
Hypertech Max Energy
"MEGACASPER" 10100# GVWR, 5200# FGAWR, 6200# RGAWR
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Adam-12
Northern CA
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Joined: 03/11/2008
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ktmrfs wrote: ...I did nothing, still had the 15W-40 oil...
Yikes! Your poor crankshaft, piston rings and rods! With the EXTREME cold temps such as were mentioned here, you're better off with a 5w-40 diesel engine oil. A synthetic would even be a plus!
2008 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison DIESEL/4x4/CC/Z71
2008 33ft. TT/BH-Super Slider
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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We usually just plug ours in if it gets 15F or below...you can also cover the front of the radiator in extremely cold weather which does seem to help...
ERIC & BEV
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fith wheel
Built-In Onan 5500W generator
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PA12DRVR
Katy, Texas
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Joined: 09/17/2003
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The need depends on your definition of "..cold, really cold...". Different oil, alchohol in the brake lines, possibly an anti-gel additive will work for all but the coldest temperatures.
"The coldest temperatures" that I've worked in was out of Northway on a remote site. Had a 6-8 week stint of -60 to -70 weather. The best solution for that weather was the old never-shut-'er-off trick...diesel trucks ran from early January to early March and we cycled them through the shop to melt the crud off, to fuel up, and to change oil.
If you are in -30 or colder weather and you leave your rig sit for a long time, you might consider driving a 50 yard back and forth pattern (slowly) to warm up the various fluids in the powertrain before going fast or hard.
CRL
Temporarily (5  years & counting)displaced Alaskan
My Other RV is a 1946 PA-12
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billandcap
Heading to Yellowstone!
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Thanks everyone for your responses. If all works out, this winter will be a very interesting one for us.
Cathy
2004 Arctic Fox 29-5E
2006 Ford F350 4x4 Dually
Visit our Fulltime RVer Web Page
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mcgillagorilla
north pole ak
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hi, just thought i would jump in here. i live at north pole alaska,just south of fairbanks alaska. my duramax came standard with a block plug in and a two piece winterfront from factory also synthetic greases and oils installed at factory, to this the local dealer added a oil pan heater and also a transmission pan heater. all of the plug in cords go to a four square plug in box on the rig either on fender or frame from there one cord goes through grille to be plugged into a electric cord. i use either stadyne or power service brand fuel conditioner on a regular basis. i always plug in the pickup when it sets overnight at +30 or colder as it makes startin easier and helps cut down on wear. i have a cold weather duffle bag that i put in pickup when fall comes and leave it in until spring, in it are a pair of mukluk type boot good to -40 or better a snowmobile suit or insulated carharts also hat mittens candles and gloves and face mask. have nevr needed it but you only need it once to survive in real cold temperatures. hope this helps.
bob mcgill
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BruceStarkey
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 05/02/2004
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Bob, your advice is right on the money. Getting your truck to start is just part of the equation, what if it quits after going 10 or 15 miles from a blocked fuel filter or some other unforeseen thing? Best be prepared to spend an over night in the truck with warm clothing/polar sleeping bag and some sterno or other heat source.
Today is just the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!
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