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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
00:03:38
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 Subject: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Hello, can I get any tips for winterizing my truck which is supposed to arrive in a few weeks? The cold (Western Montana) is going to be here in another couple months and I was wondering if you all had any really good tips for keeping this low mileage truck in shape in the cold? I plan on this truck getting me thru college and many years after, thanks!
Right now I got this on my list:
Block Heater (factory)
Dipstick Heater
Battery Blanket
5W30 Mobile1 Synth. (any other suggestions?)
Replace/change any other fluids?
Aftermarket spark plugs; suggestions?
Should I still do any kind of cold air intakes?
Anything else?
Also, how do I get heated seats! Always wanted those.. ;)
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Jeff
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
10:26:21
|  RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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If its brand new, I wouldnt worry about most of it. Your fluids would be brand new from the factory. Unless you are talking about next winter.... Even then just follow the scheduled maintaince.
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andrew
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
11:07:34
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I f your driving through alot snow and ice, have you thought about studded tires?
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Blckdak
Gen III
10/01/2001
12:12:23
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Carry a small bucket of some sand or cat litter, and a small shovel. RainX (or similar) all your windows.
Erin
2000 CC 4x4 Sport
Magnaflow Exhaust, Z-Tube, Runnin AMSOIL
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
15:28:41
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I love studds, always! I did plan on putting bagging the bed this winter and I always carry a shovel in all my vehicles, so I guess I'm fine.
BTW, I use Zaino on everything including windows.
Thanks!
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G.Morrison
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
20:34:37
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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If your truck is new, you cannot use synthetic oil. You need dino oil for at least (my opinion) 3000 miles to seat the rings properly. Syn makes a real difference in cold cranking, but wait for 3000.
Don't know how cold it gets where you're at, or how long you will leave it out in the cold. A recirculating block heater puts out a lot more heat than a standard block heater. Or, you can also add a second block heater (like on the other side of a V8). Dipstick heaters are flakey.
If it is a pickup, there is very little weight on the back end. I would get maybe two bags of construction sand from HD, and put them over the rear wheels.
I've heen to Kalispell, and I know it can get godawful cold there.
GM
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
21:30:08
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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"If your truck is new, you cannot use synthetic oil. You need dino oil for at least (my opinion) 3000 miles to seat the rings properly. Syn makes a real difference in cold cranking, but wait for 3000."
I have wondered about that actually. I know the seals need to set, but I also like synthetic in the cold. I don't win! 3000 miles shouldn't be too hard to hit, only a couple-a months -- half of winter.
Dipstick heaters dont work eh? For their price I wasn't going to expect much. So I guess my best bet would be to add another black heater -- a recirculating one -- to the truck and I should be fine?
"I've heen to Kalispell, and I know it can get godawful cold there."
*DING!* That would be exactly where I am :)
Thanks for the replys, I'll be sure to just add another block. Have any suggestions on what kind?
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
22:12:29
|  RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I would not worry about block heater. If this is a new truck just change all the fluids to synthetic. Redline makes an excellent synthetic c+ATF fluid that is cheaper then the dodge oem fluid. Switch your oil and diff fluid to synthetic as well. you ought to be ok just running all synthetic fluids. How cold does it get their without windchill. If anything a small battery charger and battery blanket would be all I would use if you drive around town only. Most good synthetics will flow at -35 to -65 degree's F. Where do you plan on pluging in all of these heaters on campus? Save your money for gas!
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/01/2001
23:48:38
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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"Where do you plan on pluging in all of these heaters on campus?"
Good point, but I will probably not be living on campus and I have no idea where I am going to college yet. That's in another two years.
"would be all I would use if you drive around town only."
Heh, when you drive around here, it's mostly highway to get place to place and even around town.
"Save your money for gas!'
Block heaters help on gas too BTW, not much, but like 10%.
I should still wait for my seals to set with the good ole dino oil, correct, then switch out to syth.?
I can just see how it does with the factory heater, and if I decide it needs more, I can just add one, but I think a battery blanket and the block would probably work for now -- and hopefully for a long time after.
Are there any other fluids I should replace besides from the diff. and engine? Stick to mopar on the antifreeze correct? It's a manual too, anything I should be aware of concerning it in this vehicle.
Again, thank for the help. Quick as hell responses.
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mwillis61
Dodge Dakota
10/02/2001
00:00:09
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I lived in Fairbanks, AK. I would recommend frost plug block heater, glue on oil pan heater & an under the battery heater pad. This set up worked for me in AK. where I had 60 degrees below zero for 2 weeks straight (that was the days high). Dipstick heaters are not effective and the wrap around battery blankets waste energy(remember heat rises) and the recirculaing heaters use alot of electricity (gotta watch your elec. bill these days) and also tend to start leaking at the tank seams after a couple of years.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/02/2001
00:09:51
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Ahh, such a wealth of knowledge out there, and nice Dakota owners willing to give it! Thanks guys, this post got more of a response than I could have ever expected.
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Python97
Dodge Dakota
10/02/2001
12:06:39
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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My beef is with the answer : " You cant use synthetic oil in a new car" Why does the viper come with it from the factory??? Ive been using synthetic oil in my 2001 since one mile and its fine. I think you have your info mixed up.
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
10/02/2001
18:36:40
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I agree that synthetic is the only way to go. I have been useing it in new and used engine since the late 80's and have never had a problem with break in. Some premium engine builders will void a warranty if synthetics are not used and some actualy specify the brand and weight. This is common with race engines for offshore raceing. There are alot of vechiles that come with it from the factory. Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Lotus,Viper, GM Trucks, Corvete, Cadilac and many more. My Dodge dealer push's Mobile-1 real hard. If you want put 600-800 miles on it then switch it to synthetic. Most of your large wear particles occur by this time. Most modern engines are pretty stable after about 15-20 minutes of driveing. It actualy takes longer for your rear end to break in then it does for a modern engine. Most manufactures use a tapered top ring and cromoly coat it. This coating keeps it from welding micro beads of steel to the cylinder walls. The taper help accelerate break in and keeps the tension on the ring reduced while the engin is breaking in; that way idiots that drive of the lot and hit the highway at 80mph right off the bat do not turn the rings to rubber or crack them. The cam shaft on most overhead cam engines normaly ride in area that traps oil and keeps 1/3-1/2 of the cam covered in a pool of oil constantly. Most manufactures break in oil is loaded with zink and sulfur as anti wear additives to help protect dureing break in. These modern engine still should be broken in but it is not no-where near as critical or complex of a process as it used to be. One thing few people consider about a new engine is that the pistons have alot of stress in them. If you take a forged or cast piston that is new and toss it in an oven and heat it up to 500 degrees and then let it cool. You will find out that the piston will warp as it cools. In the engine the repeated heating and cooling of the piston actualy as to stress relief the piston.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/02/2001
23:10:44
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Wow, impressive answer, thank you. Looks like it's back to good ole Mobile 1.
Also, I have heard of something like getting longer oil filter, but it still fits on there, it's just larger. Has anyone else heard of this or know the validity of this and if this actually helps (or hurts?) engines?
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/05/2001
00:12:28
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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It's now going to be 20 tonight and I don't even have my truck yet! lol, DAMN!
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Jeff
Dodge Dakota
10/05/2001
00:47:03
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Ive run my truck at well below 0 never had a problem. Just make sure you have 4wd so you can have fun in the snow...
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Mar
Dodge Dakota
10/05/2001
18:25:55
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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I wouldnt even touch your truck or the oil. I live in canada and last winter was the worst i ever saw. At my cottage it was -45c some nights and not much warmer in the morning. ANyway my 99 dodge durango 5.9 4x4 with castrol syntec 10w30 started everytime. It was noticably harder to crank but nothing i would worry about. This truck is going to be sold in march i have 200000+ miles on it and never a problem. If your really worried plug in your block heater. Even though i never used mine and its still nicly rapped up beside the rad.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/05/2001
20:06:21
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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WOW, that is a lot of miles!
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
10/06/2001
18:11:05
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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xplikt, where are you at? I'm in Missoula and this will be the frist winter with my R/T. I have a heated garage so I'm not worried about cold starts but if I was I've heard great things about the Wolverine oilpan heater. I'm am searching for a set of cheap wheels for studded snows and chains when really bad and will put a bunch of weight in the bed for traction. I have 11,000 miles and switched to mobil full synthetics but I'm of the school of thought those rings need to seat before switching. If exotics run synthetics from the factory I bet they use a different material in the rings or get some kind of break in done at the factory. I don't think it would take 3000 miles for the rings to set but I personally would wait at least 1000 miles. So what exactly do you have on order, and who did you go through. I really like Ronan's Dodge dealer but I ended up buying used and the only R/T even close was in C.d'lane ID. I'm sure I'll miss my Jeep as soon as the snow flies but really that's only about 1/4 of the time the other 3/4 of the year the Dakota is 10X the fun.
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Erik
Dodge Dakota
10/07/2001
15:23:43
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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i live in Canada too and have a stock '96 318 4x4 sport. it came with a factory block heater and i run regular 5w30 oil but i do have a HD 940 cca battery and last winter i almost never plugged it in and it always started fine. but when it was-32 celcius it turned over a little slow but this motor starts really well.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/11/2001
00:10:25
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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"xplikt, where are you at?"
Kalispell.
My truck's going to be parked out on the street, too much crap in garage. Too many cars in front of house anyways -- I think it bothers the neighboors.
"I'm am searching for a set of cheap wheels for studded snows and chains when really bad and will put a bunch of weight in the bed for traction."
Up here at Big MT Tire, a guy sells studdeds to the skii yuppies that come up here for their SUVs and then buys them back at at like 20 bucks, then sells the used ones -- about 3 months used or so on actual snow/ice, so they are good condition -- for about 40. My dad just bought some from him for his GMC and I plan on buying a set and some rims for them maybe the end of this week or this weekend. I can let you know how it goes.
"I really like Ronan's Dodge dealer"
I emailed them twice and they never got back to me. Kari Dodge here was dumb and wasn't honest enough. I went with Dave Smith actually -- which I can easily say %80 of the trucks up here are from.
"So what exactly do you have on order"
Regular Cab, 2WD, STD, SLT+, 4.7L, LS, 3.92, buckets, patriot blue.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
10/11/2001
19:04:29
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Well I found a set of used steel 15" wheels for $118 and bought the 4 BFG studded snows new at Costco, 235/75/15's for $287 mounted and balanced. I got 10 50# plastic bags of sand from Home Depot for $25 so now I'm set. I was going to go with Dave Smith but they wanted $1000 non refundable deposit to order a 2wd and Ronan only wanted $400 refundable. The final price from all places (even Missoula's Grizzly) was within $50 of each other. Of course I never did end up getting the new one...
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/12/2001
01:17:26
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Heh, actually for Dave Smith it was 2500 for me, but it goes towards the actual total cost off he vehicle, so it didn't bother me, because I had it.
Many of the dealers thought they had an easy sale because of my age (just turned 18) and this was my first purchased vehicle, HELL NO, I was making deals with Oakley reps a couple weeks before that. Dave Smith was very helpfull and I finally decided to go with them. Best service, best cost, and WILL make sure that all warranty repairs are done at Kari Dodge (they had earlier told me that they couldn't when I was dealing with them sicne I didn't buy it from them -- liars!)
Heh, damn your Home Depot, we shall have one too soon enough -- no more mom and pop price gouging.
Only a couple other places were really willing to work with me. Missoula never got back to me either, lol. Great Falls did however, and so did Bozeman.
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Hersbird
Dodge Dakota
10/12/2001
19:28:58
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Not only do we finally have a Home Depot but Lowes bought the Chevy dealer's lot and is going to build right across the street form Home Depot, I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Ace! We even have 2 Walmarts now, I don't understand why Missoula supports such a large amount of retail stores. My dad own's a little mom and pop music store up in Libby (Rocky Mountain Music) look him up if you ever find yourself in Libby, that town is really starting to hurt.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
10/30/2001
17:22:55
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Yeah, I don't hit libby, plains, ronan much, just passing through, but mom and pop stores are starting to go down around montana. I think the internet would be a good way to help themselves if they offered some sort of service or something you can't get anywhere else. Like MNS Meats up here...
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kent10
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/05/2003
16:30:21
| RE: Tips for winterizing the Dakota...
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Broken piston problem.
I bought a 92 dakota off Ebay , #5 piston broken.
Bought a 2002 3.9 replaced the motor using my manifold , drove 1/2 mile , #1 piston broken.
Any ideas.
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