DT466 Engines Die Hard

The DT466 Engine has come a long way from the Mechanical injection systems to today's electronic versions. They started like clockwork in cold weather and reminded me of the Duracell Bunny you see in commercials. The video below is a typical cold start scenario and these engines don't take long to get going even in 20 degree weather.

A good set of 800 CCA batteries will get you going in any kind of weather. The DT466 electronic engines are much harder to start in the cold because of the high pressure oil required to run the injectors which are hydraulically actuated. So thick oil has enough resistance to hold back one of these models from firing up.

Plugging them in is essential (as with any diesel engine) and even throwing in an oil pan heater is a great help. I found a magnetic oil pan heater that gets up to 200 degrees and makes quite a difference with cold starts.

I found from experience that when the engine starts to fire but still struggles to give it a short rest before cranking it over again. The Delco starter (most likely a 37 MT Model)is earning it's keep in this type of weather, you can only imagine the amount of load it's going through. What a machine!



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Top 3 Tips For Mechanic Troubleshooting

Many have succeeded at mechanic troubleshooting using their experience or step by step procedures following a troubleshooting guide while many others have not. The differences between good results and poor results can often be found in the way anyone carrying it out approaches the challenge.

Listed below are three guidelines to help you be on the list of winners, as an individual who succeeds.  

Follow these tips and you can be sure that you'll get better results!

First, you have to think about the turn of events before the trouble started. It will be most important that you get the story on the exact sequence of events and do this correctly. If you undertake mechanic troubleshooting in this manner, you can logically come up with a starting point and end up in a good position. In the event you neglect it or forget to pay attention, you'll probably be facing a frustrating process. If you undertake it wrong by not listening or using your common sense then you could have problems going down the right path from the beginning.

Second, you really need to check the source of the problem. This is essential, it's going to be crucial in determining whether you succeed or fail. It's necessary for these reasons:

1. Without the source i.e Fuel In The Tank / Healthy Batteries etc. you're screwed from the start. It's so simple but this step has been skipped many times....

2. Skip this step and you are headed for major complications, expense and embarassment.

3. It's by far the easiest step to take first, to reassure yourself that you're on the right track without second thoughts. Failing to perform mechanic troubleshooting in this way will almost certainly mean not getting to the problem quickly. Therefore you eventually fail at saving yourself time, vehicle downtime and money, depending on your situation.

Third, you have to remember to use the best resources available. Manuals and the right tools will give you a much better chance of succeeding. If you happen to neglect this or fail to do it, get ready to guess and take blind stabs at a system that you aren't thoroughly keen on.

Follow these three suggestions for mechanic troubleshooting and you'll more than likely succeed and enjoy all the rewards and benefits that taking the right troubleshooting steps would bring you. Ignore them and the prediction isn't good. It's up to you... follow them and come out ahead; ignore them and you simply will most likely not succeed. That's the brutal truth.....