SECTION 6: TROUBLESHOOTING
VIPER DIESEL
PAGE - 30
090058-OP_r0 (AUGUST-2014)
VANAIR MANUFACTURING, INC.
(800) 526-8817 • www.vanair.com
TABLE 6.3B COLD WEATHER OPERATION
Symptom
Cause
Prevention / Corrective Action
Water freezes in the fuel line
Lubrication oil viscosity
increases
Diesel fuel turns to a gel-like
consistency at temperatures
around 0°F (-18°C)
WATER
Water in the fuel can freeze at tem-
peratures below 32°F (0°C), block-
ing fuel lines.
At an extremely cold temperature,
the viscosity of lubrication oil may
increase and the torque of starter
may exceed its permissible value,
hindering proper starting.
GELLING
The diesel forms wax crystals when
the temperatures drop below 15°F
(-9°C).
As it gets colder, these wax crystals
turn to gel. This thicker substance
cannot pass the fuel filter, so the
engine may run intermittently, or
may not start at all.
• Park the vehicle or equipment indoors
when not in use.
• Use a block heater or glow plugs.
• Maintain the battery; this will make it easier
to start a diesel engine in cold weather.
• In below zero temperatures a fuel line
deicer product may need to be used.
• Check the fuel filter regularly to insure that
it contains no water.
• Vanguard™ Premium Synthetic Oil is suit-
able for use from -40°F to 110°F
(-40°C to 43°C).
• For additional engine precautions, consult
the Engine Operator’s Manual.
• Vanair
®
recommends installation of the
cold weather heater option kit. Consult
Vanair for details.
• Keep the fuel tank full to prevent conden-
sation from forming inside the tank and
lessen the chances of water getting in the
fuel line.
• The standard recommendation of 15W-40
engine oil is suitable for temperatures
down to -4°F (-20°C). If temperatures are
consistently below 30°F (-1°C), it is recom-
mended that 5W-30 oil be used. If temper-
atures are below -25°F (-32°C), a high-
performance, fully synthetic oil, such as
AMSOIL 5W-30 should be used which is
suitable to temperatures of -55°F (-48°C).
6.3.3 HIGH TEMPERATURE OPERATION
Consult the information in
Table 6.3C
for
preventative and/or repair measures. Reduce
load duty cycle to less than 60% when
operating in ambient temperatures above
104°F (40°C).
Extra care should be taken to keep the
engine and air compressor clean and to not
restrict the air flow around the unit. Consult
the Engine Operator’s Manual for fuel,
lubrication oil and cooling requirements under
extreme temperatures.
When operating the machine in high
temperature areas, precautions should be
taken to prevent overheating. At the
minimum, all coolers, including air passage
ways around the coolers, should be free of
debris and dirt. The fan, driven by the engine,
