A question for you diesel guys....

[genew]

Am looking for an answer from you diesel guys in cold climates. How does the BMW diesel do in cold weather?? Does it come with a cold package that includes a fuel heater of some kind?? Last week we had temps below zero and almost every over the road truck was down with gelled fuel. I don't think it was that people weren't prepared as there was even a rumor that UPS had almost 500 trucks down because of this problem. I wonder if the BMW would have been down beside the road somewhere under the same conditions. Some people say it is the result of the new lower sulfur fuel.

[Craig]

I guess I'm going to find out in less than two weeks. My diesel is at the dealer now, but I'm not taking delivery until Jan. 2nd. We have about the same weather you have. It's 6 degrees here now with wind chill of -15.

Craig

[Fastbuck]

Haven't had an problems in the UK. We automatically get winter diesel when we fill up during the winter months which contains something to stop the diesel conjealing.

[Penguin]

How cold does it get in Scotland? Those temperatures mentioned are Fahrenheit, not Celsius, e.g., when we say "below zero," we're talking more than 18 below zero Celsius.

[soldmystang]

gelled diesel? i could be completely wrong on this, but i do believe a tank of 22 -25 gallons isn't going to gel. my F350 has seen 20 degree temps and colder without any issue. 38 gallon tank.

should it become an issue, there are plenty of additives available to avoid this. biggest issue i see would be a block heater. does the BMW diesel have a block heater?

[grover432]

I don't think you will see any problems with starting and/or drivability in cold weather. Winter diesel does the trick. As for interior heat; BMW uses an electric ceramic heater to get the heat going as soon as you start the engine. I haven't tried it yet (later this week), but I'm told you get warm air faster than in a gas version.

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by grover432

I don't think you will see any problems with starting and/or drivability in cold weather. Winter diesel does the trick. As for interior heat; BMW uses an electric ceramic heater to get the heat going as soon as you start the engine. I haven't tried it yet (later this week), but I'm told you get warm air faster than in a gas version.

while the the added advantage of a block heater is quick interior heat, the purpose of the option is to keep the water in the block from freezing as i understand it.

so again i pose the question, does the new BMW diesel come with a block heater?

[nynd]

Isn't a block heater more for keeping the oil warmer for quicker lubrication to moving parts? As a side benefit, you may get a warmer antifreezer quicker - hence interior heat quicker?

[soldmystang]

Originally Posted by nynd

Isn't a block heater more for keeping the oil warmer for quicker lubrication to moving parts? As a side benefit, you may get a warmer antifreezer quicker - hence interior heat quicker?

makes more sense since anti-freeze would keep the water from freezing. when it gets temperate 'round here i just plug the truck up.

but the question still remains, does the new BMW diesel have a block heater?

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by Penguin

How cold does it get in Scotland? Those temperatures mentioned are Fahrenheit, not Celsius, e.g., when we say "below zero," we're talking more than 18 below zero Celsius.

Yeah, I knew that. That's specifically why I said I was in Scotland.