I successfully installed a Temro Zerostart inline radline heater in my 1991 Subaru Sambar NA 4WD a couple of days ago. The temperature dropped to -35C (-31F) the night after installation, but the truck started after only a bit of coughing. There is a trick to the installation, so I thought I'd share it here. The Zerostart heaters don't use a pump. Instead they use natural convection (ie. hot fluid tends to rise). So the heater has to be installed in a part of the line that is sloped upwards, at 15 degrees or better, and the line must not slope down at any point between the heater and the engine. This is key. Using the following method, if for some reason you must park your truck facing up an incline, the Zerostart heater may not be for you. (But you probably could just back up the incline.) I believe my truck is stock as far as the radiator lines go. On the driver's side, there are three stainless pipes that run from the front of the truck back almost to the engine. Each pipe then connects to a 16" or so length of hose that connects to the engine. The centre line feeds into the bottom of the engine and is a return. Confirm this by warming the truck up and (careful not to burn yourself) feeling the lines. If the line is cool compared to the others, you're in business. On my truck, the hose on the centre line droops sharply down a couple of inches, then back up sharply before levelling somewhat and running slightly upwards to the engine. The centre of the sharp upwards slope is a decent place to mount the heater. In fact, installing the heater increases the length and incline of the sloped section of hose. That's the trick. If your truck doesn't have this little droop on the return line, it is simple enough to manufacture one by installing a section of hose that is too long to make a straight-line between the pipe. Dry-fit the hose, pre-bending it to ensure that you get a favourable curve. Installing the heater is simple. There are two hose clamps that fasten the hose to the pipe and the engine inlet. Remove them. Remove the hose, paying attention to how it was oriented. With a sharp knife cut the hose in the centre of the sharply up-sloped section, and install the heater according to the instructions it came with. You shouldn't have to remove a section of hose to make room for the heater but you will definitely want to dry-fit everything so that you can orient the heater so that the hose curves properly, doesn't kink, and the heater doesn't touch any of the other lines (not really a big deal). You'll also want to decide whether you want the electrical line from the heater to come out the back of the truck, above the bumper/"hood", or forward and out the side in front of the fender and behind the spare tire. Either should work, but going out the back requires that the line is routed around the alternator. Either way, three or four tie-wraps make routing the electrical line a piece of cake. The whole process should take 30 minutes at most. I've found that it takes about two-and-a-half hours of heating when really cold (-25C or worse) to get the engine warm enough that it starts without too much effort. Your truck is probably more forgiving than mine.
It was -1 yesterday with a wind-chill of -30, Our "96" started right up! Of course it was garaged, but still, not even a "moan".
zerostart I just finished installing a heater today. I pushed the truck out the door and plugged it in. Hopefully all goes well. i ended up cutting out a little bit of hose. It made it a little smoother going back together. I shall see at 4:00 if it will start any easier. I have not had trouble starting my truck yet this year, but this heater should ease the wear on my engine. Do you notice that your speeds decreae when driving at -30? Two days in a row I came to work in - 33 and i could not get it into fifth gear. Not enough power. That, coupled with a bit of a head wind. Good truck though. Hope you enjoy yours. Merry Christmas. Derek Borne
It could be a jetting issue, not enough fuel for the amount of oxygen on the cold, dense air. Or maybe the carb is starting to ice up. Are the hoses off your catalitic conveter to feed warmer air to the carb connected? Lighter oil in the crankcase will make quite a difference too. Is the choke coming off all the way? Is the exhaust dark? Could indicate the choke sticking?
I definitely notice that I've lost about 10-15 km/h of top speed, but hadn't really attributed the problem to the cold. But the cold is as likely the issue as anything else. I am very interested if this is a problem as far as wear-and-tear on the engine, or something I shouldn't worry about. Any success in improving the situation would also catch my eye.
Geez guys, I don't know how ya'll do it, -31 degrees. I t is supposed to get up in the mid 70s all week here in the south. But it is a might chilly this morning at 35 degrees. Hang in there.
I sometimes wonder how we do it too. Always staying active, but not so active that you sweat, is important. Proper clothing is a necessity. So is just staying inside, sometimes. I spent most of the day-light hours this weekend hoofing it around our remote rural property. Moving sheep and electric-fencing from here to there and there to here (beginning of breeding season). It was around -25C (-13F) most of the time. My feet got a little cold at one point, as did my hands whenever I had to take off my mitts to apply fine motor skills. Except for that, I was comfortable most of the day. This actually amazes me. One thing is for sure, I don't get much work done on the truck when the temperatures are below -10C (14F).
Do the sheep mind -30 when it comes time for breeding My hands would'nt be the only thing getting cold,I just hope your velcro does not get ice build up
It might surprise people to learn that the shepherd with velcro gloves and rubber boots joke never gets old. To the contrary, it just gets better and better. For a while, there was a bit of a plateau in my enjoyment of the joke, but then it took right off and has continued to climb ever since. (Not that it bugs me either.) Seriously though, the cold doesn't bother the sheep unless there is a wind. They've got a couple of straw-bale wind-breaks, but that's it. Both rams went straight to work. They are machines. I've been thinking of bringing them a couple of big round straw-bales for further wind-breaks with my little truck (one at a time), but I'm not there yet. Soon.
Just to pass on my experience and gratitude. I installed my inline heater and it really made a big difference. Here in montana we get fairly extreme cold, so good testing ground. Post heater install, I start normal at -5f. Starts hard at -15f and wont start at -30f. Would not really turn over well at -25 before heater install and battery upgrade and would not start. Afterward it turns over fine but will not start. I suspect a fuel issue of some kind. But do not know yet. Any info on what would keep it from starting in extreme cold even though it turns over fine due to inline heater install would be helpful. I will post if I make progress. Above 0 this week so no good testing.
Next time its cold out try to push your truck in neutral.....pretty hard to do eh! The fluids in diff gel up and rob massive amounts of power,try synthetic
Tinytoy might be on to something. I can't really imagine what else would be affected by low temperatures other than the fluids. Low temperature synthetic differential, transaxle, and engine oils would seem like a smart move. I've changed the oil in my transaxle, but the only appropriate gear oil I could find was a cheap brand at Canadian Tire. It gums up nicely at -25C. I'll be changing all the oils once I've got this fuel issue dealt with or eliminated. (By the way, I've got the tank off, dumped, rinsed with methanol, and just have to get a broken bolt out before putting everything back together.) WhatThe, my experience is very similar to yours. At -5C my truck will probably turn over if the inline heater isn't plugged in, but it will take some work. At -15C, the heater is required and the truck will start up fine. At -25C, with the heater, it's like at -5C without the heater. Much colder and it may not start at all. Now, I have noticed that a new fuel filter made the truck behave much better at cold temperatures. In fact, I started it at -35C once, with the inline heater on for about 3 hours. It just roared to life to the amazement of my unsupportive wife. That was after an attempt at cleaning the carburetor too. So that may have helped. Lately, the truck has been acting up again. Stalling as I came to a stop after a drive on the highway. Seems to me like it could be the fuel (which is almost eliminated now), the carb, or maybe electrical. One thing at a time.
