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A fully charged battery is a must as it must be able to crank the engine fast enough for it to start. Cold weather is hard on a battery so it's essential to maintain a fully charged battery so as to get the maximum cranking in order for the engine to fire up.

The use of glow plugs or block heaters will usually do the trick as the plugs heat the internal chamber to a more desirable temperature for ignition. Use the best diesel fuel such as #1 in cold weather as it is easier to ignite in cold weather.

Anything that you can do to help keep the engine warmer than what normally would be the case such as leaving it out in the cold overnight would greatly increase the chances of an easier start. If you have a garage, use it for storing the vehicle instead of for storage of excess articles or furniture.

Use the proper viscosity of oil as this is important in cold temperatures because if the viscosity is thicker, it's harder for the engine to crank because it will increase resistance on all the moving parts.

Keep the fuel tank full as much as possible as this will prevent condensation which can freeze up the fuel lines, and also use an additive to the fuel to prevent the possible gelling of the fuel which in turn will prevent the engine from starting.

Cold is the number one enemy for starting a diesel engine and anything that heats up the engine a few degrees warmer than the case would be if left to chance. So use the garage if you have one, and use some kind of heating for the engine as mentioned above. Even a heating blanket can provide the extra warmth for an easier start.

If you live in a cold climate, it's best to avoid buying a diesel vehicle as this will always be a problem when the temperature dips really low. Hopefully if you own a diesel, you already know what is necessary to get started, but if not, then perhaps these tips may help do the trick.

Learn more about this author, Richard Serra.
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