Small gas engine extreme cold start…help

[North to Alaska]

Looking for ideas on a fuel additive that will help my gas wood splitter to start when it’s -10f.
It’s getting older and just doesn’t like to start in such cold weather anymore. Last year I used a propane buddy heater when I needed to. While I have a couple of electric pad heaters meant for transmission and oil pans, there really isn’t any easy places to stick them where it’s needed.

I have not had any problems with fuel lines freezing…yet, I’m sure that would be a bonus. Real problem is the really cold starts.

FYI, I have 0w40 oil in it.

Thank you for any ideas!!!!

 

[fantastic]

87 octane or do you all have less?

 

[fdcg27]

A spray can of either would be your friend.
It will let you get the engine started and will cause no harm, or at least it never has for me.

 

[JavierH19]

Ethanol free gas if possible and a high ignitability spark plug with a tad tighter gap like 5 thousands. If it has an old worn wide gap cheap chinese copper plug it would struggle. They're not as good at igniting like a high ignitability fine wire type, Using a little bit of dielectric grease on the plug connector and coil connection helps. Could also check the timing and see if you can advance it a bit. ecu's typically advance more in the cold and the same would apply. I wonder if it has the correct air fuel ratio as i believe you should go richer than when tuned for warmer so it starts easier too. Also is it a first tier engine like a honda or a second tier cheaper one. The coil, wire, spark plug, and tuning usually isn't the best.

 

[FZ1]

Looking for ideas on a fuel additive that will help my gas wood splitter to start when it’s -10f.
It’s getting older and just doesn’t like to start in such cold weather anymore. Last year I used a propane buddy heater when I needed to. While I have a couple of electric pad heaters meant for transmission and oil pans, there really isn’t any easy places to stick them where it’s needed.

I have not had any problems with fuel lines freezing…yet, I’m sure that would be a bonus. Real problem is the really cold starts.

FYI, I have 0w40 oil in it.

Thank you for any ideas!!!!

I'm sure you are doing all this. Reschedule spitting to times that are less cold. Roll it to a less cold area out of the wind. Cover it completely with a tarp/s. Roll it up next to the heated home. Etc., Etc., Etc.

 

[The_Jeff]

What's it like turning over? I wonder if the hydraulic oil is thick and dragging your cranking speed down. Could use snowplow oil if it's thinner.

Gas is seasonal, has something called Reid Vapor Pressure that's supposed to be appropriate for the weather as far as how well it evaporates and lights off. Buy fresh gas. I have found that coleman fuel (white gas) evaporates very quickly and runs good in small engines. It's low octane so use as much as you dare-- I've gone all in but 50/50 or 25/75 might work for you.

 

[The_Eric]

Which engine does it have?

 

[DemoFly]

if its a flathead put a propane torch on the cylinder head and shoot it with ether if necessary.

If its OHV hit the intake with the propane torch. Gasoline vaporization at -10f isn't really a problem with any seasons gas. The issue is getting it close enough to stoich at those temps.

It's what I do. I second the statement of splitting in warmer seasons though. Hydraulics don't like -10f.

 

[Rob_Roy]

I used to have a generator that started very hard in cold weather. One quick shot of starting fluid in the air cleaner would allow it to start on the first pull.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Home depot sells a $20, 3 foot Water Pipe Heating cable that only pulls about 20 watts. I have never used one but would that work to keep the engine warm?

I don't live in the cold but ALL my small engines and Motorcycles have ethanol free gas with a mix of Sta-bil AND Marvel Mystery Oil. The Sta-bil keeps the gas fresh and the Marvel keeps any rubber O-Rings soft and lubricated. I also keep a can of starter fluid on hand for my first start of the season. I remove the air cleaner and a tiny spay helps... I hit my spark plug with a wire brush before the first start too...

 

[Wireman1987]

shouldn't need anything but 87 octane i would treat the fuel with iso-heet and if it has an air filter installed, remove it during the winter months.

 

[North to Alaska]

I’m just going to try starter fluid. Never used…or needed it before. Supertech has one that is 50% ether.

Answer some questions/thoughts from your posts (by the way thanks everyone):

No hydraulics… kinetic spitter.
It’s a piece of BE engine 5 years old and MANY hours on it since I use it for firewood business.

No idea if it has a flathead…so propane might be bad?

When it gets cold here, there is no changing around when I need to use it.

We don’t Have ethanol here.

Don’t have 87 octane here…that i know of.

I’m actually thinking the coil may be going bad. This one is a swap from another identical engine that the splitter manufacturer (DR Equipment) had to replace under warranty. Swapped coil that is.

Sure I missed a few things.

 

[Wireman1987]

Don’t have 87 octane here…that i know of.

In Talkeetna, Alaska, the available fuel octane ratings are regular at 87, mid-grade at 88.5, and premium at 90 octane. The highest octane fuel available at gas stations in Talkeetna is 90 octane, which is consistent with the state-wide standard where 91 octane is not offered at the pump

 

[maraakate]

Compression? Getting harder to start could be a sign of low compression. When's the last time you set the valve clearances and changed the spark plug? If that is all good (and compression may be impossible to check if it has a decomp and it may for something like this) then yeah, I agree with just using ether to start it.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I would love to live in a area with NO Ethanol but thats too cold to ride my Harley. Trade for a Snowmobil? My Harley requires 91 octane minimum, Wonder is Alaska like Colorado as the high elevation requires less Octane. Never been to Alaska would be nice to see that place.

 

[lilspenny]

Looking for ideas on a fuel additive that will help my gas wood splitter to start when it’s -10f.
It’s getting older and just doesn’t like to start in such cold weather anymore. Last year I used a propane buddy heater when I needed to. While I have a couple of electric pad heaters meant for transmission and oil pans, there really isn’t any easy places to stick them where it’s needed.

I have not had any problems with fuel lines freezing…yet, I’m sure that would be a bonus. Real problem is the really cold starts.

FYI, I have 0w40 oil in it.

Thank you for any ideas!!!!

Not an additive, but Dollar General has starting fluid at a good price. I like it because it evaporates quickly and I use it for various things. Can you use a thinner oil?

 

[Dinoburner]

On a hard start cold air cooled engine choke settings are delicate, usually full choke for two pulls then half choke. Use starting fluids sparingly as the liquid will dry cylinder walls and it can be too much of a good thing.

 

[Snagglefoot]

No one mentioned running 0w40 for the winter.

 

[North to Alaska]

In Talkeetna, Alaska, the available fuel octane ratings are regular at 87, mid-grade at 88.5, and premium at 90 octane. The highest octane fuel available at gas stations in Talkeetna is 90 octane, which is consistent with the state-wide standard where 91 octane is not offered at the pump

Oh good heavens. Not sure where my brain is at
That is what I am running it on.

 

[North to Alaska]

No one mentioned running 0w40 for the winter.

It has 0w40 in it now.