I’m about 300’ above sea level. But nice views of mountains
Small gas engine extreme cold start…help
- Thread starter North to Alaska
- Start date
Yikes, why would you do that?
What engine and what is the OEM recommended oil?
The gasoline doesn't have any issues at -10*F, but that oil for sure has.
Since you don't have a cold hydraulic system to fight the things that may be fighting you are ignition, fuel, cylinder sealing, valve clearance and too thick of engine oil.
Does it start easy at 40 or 50?
First, unless you're trying to only keep one grade of oil around, then there really is no reason to run 0w40. In fact, if you read the manual, you will probably see that a 20 grade is recommended. This is because the engine temp is completely dictated by ambient temp. You may find that at temps below 0, your oil may never get above 100F.
Spark is easy enough to test.. pull your plug and wing it over. If it's got a good blue spark, you're probably fine. The plug could be an issue? You said DR, so is this a clone engine with a Chinese spark plug? May be worth changing.
After that could be valve clearance - does it have a valve cover? That would make it overhead valve and therefore easy to check and adjust.
If it otherwise runs fine at those low temps then it's probably not a fuel issue - but I would make sure that your choke is fully setting.
Does it start easy at 40 or 50?
First, unless you're trying to only keep one grade of oil around, then there really is no reason to run 0w40. In fact, if you read the manual, you will probably see that a 20 grade is recommended. This is because the engine temp is completely dictated by ambient temp. You may find that at temps below 0, your oil may never get above 100F.
Spark is easy enough to test.. pull your plug and wing it over. If it's got a good blue spark, you're probably fine. The plug could be an issue? You said DR, so is this a clone engine with a Chinese spark plug? May be worth changing.
After that could be valve clearance - does it have a valve cover? That would make it overhead valve and therefore easy to check and adjust.
If it otherwise runs fine at those low temps then it's probably not a fuel issue - but I would make sure that your choke is fully setting.
Hmmmm. I have a 37 ton hydraulic splitter with a Honda engine that I've used down at 0F. Colder than that, it is usually me who doesn't want to start. To be honest I never gave it a single thought. I think I run 5W-30 synthetic in there year round. When it is that cold I do need a quick shot of ether just to get it to kick over since it is hard to get it to turn over real quick by hand.
Just practice good maintenance. Fresh gas, maybe high octane ethanol free if you can find it and have some Stabil in there. Use a synthetic oil that has a low pour point. I think the PAO based oils tend to flow freely at very low temps.
I think the engine probably cares less about the cold than you do. Spray some ether, fire it up and let it warm up before you put it to work. If it tends to sit for a while before a cold snap...maybe shoot a quick shot of fogging oil in the cylinder to make sure its lubed up and ready to go when it fires up.
My snowblower is 30 years old and I don't think it cares when it is 0F out. Starts up first or second pull and is blowing snow at full throttle in about 15 seconds after starting.
Just practice good maintenance. Fresh gas, maybe high octane ethanol free if you can find it and have some Stabil in there. Use a synthetic oil that has a low pour point. I think the PAO based oils tend to flow freely at very low temps.
I think the engine probably cares less about the cold than you do. Spray some ether, fire it up and let it warm up before you put it to work. If it tends to sit for a while before a cold snap...maybe shoot a quick shot of fogging oil in the cylinder to make sure its lubed up and ready to go when it fires up.
My snowblower is 30 years old and I don't think it cares when it is 0F out. Starts up first or second pull and is blowing snow at full throttle in about 15 seconds after starting.
exactly what I was thinking.........time to split wood is not when you need it.
But to the OP, I have had great success with Trufuel gasoline in my older carbed stuff for storage and startup, but I suppose any non ethanol gas, and some stabil marine would help.
I keep Trufuel and run the engine on the last percieved 1\4 tank of the season, never fails to start up next season.
it is not at all irrelevant on a carbed engine, especially a small one.
Funny, been using 87 10% ethanol with fuel stabilizer for 15 years in small engines and motorcycles with small pilot jet passgeways with no issues. Keep believing the hype.
I've been using it since the early 2000s with no stabilizer and nary an issue. It's only been the last approximately 3 years that I've went to straight gas - and that is only to help account for the really lean calibration in my zero turn mowers.
The problem I've seen is the water separation. Sometimes you can crank the living **** out of with throttles wide open for about 15 seconds and get the crap out of the bowls then let it rest for 15 seconds and spray some ether and get away with it. Not always, but sometimes.
I just get the large 32 oz bottle of the Stabil Marine 360 (blue) and that will last me all year in everything carbureted. Just put it in every time I fill up and don't have to worry about it.
I just get the large 32 oz bottle of the Stabil Marine 360 (blue) and that will last me all year in everything carbureted. Just put it in every time I fill up and don't have to worry about it.
AK gets some funky weather, knew a guy who used to live in Anchorage. It would be zero for a week then warm up to 40 and be rainy and foggy. That can get condensation in anything.
Maybe OP has a "summer job" and splitting wood is his winter gig. We don't know until we walk a mile in his boots.
i have
not had luck. 2 echo carbs, one honda carb, and a champion wood splitter carb...........no issues since using trufuel
Spray ether in the carb, and use HEET red bottle in the tank. -10 degrees is going to be tough starting any small engine IMO. I keep my 28 yr old snow blower in a heated garage, and starts no problem. Unfortunately, you don't have that option 
...
...In case it wasn't clear, you want to put low octane gas in it for easier starting. High octane means harder to ignite. Thus the suggestions to use ether in the intake or mix Coleman whitegas in the tank. A platinum or iridium plug also has a small advantage.
With stabil? I can say for sure that Startron and Lucas "ethanol treatment" ones are totally useless and do not work.
If it's getting spark , Starting Fluid should do the trick .
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