I'm moving from Oregon to Alaska and I'm looking for advice for getting my truck ready to drive the Alaska highway during these cold weather months.

Specifically in watching the engine temps, I notice at only 37 degrees, it takes a good 20 minutes of operating to get the coolant temp up into the normal operating range. I think I'll need to block off part of the radiation. Is blocking the radiator part of normal for people living and working where there are below zero temps?

 

No. If thermostat is work correct you shouldn't need radiator cover. Make sure your battery is in good condition. Running 0 w30 on a tight engine is ok there. 5w30 if it's a little loose. (high mileage) Block heater? I dated a girl form Eagle river for a while. Her Apartments had plugins in there parking spots. She ran 0 w30 mobile 1 syn in her dodge neon. I would make and run a Bra that snapped over grill that had a zipper in the middle for quicker warm ups and those sub 0 nights. just a thought. Good luck up there and make sure you get your" I survived the Alaskan hwy" sticker .

 

."" Good luck up there and make sure you get your" I survived the Alaskan hwy" sticker .[ <----------Sounds like it's one heck of a road trip. Also make sure you have spare tire , survival items if you break down, tools, food water, warm clothes blanket, chains, something for traction,,extra oils, antifreeze,maybe extra gas, never know just prepare for the worst . Good luck have fun.

 

Yes get yourself a good winter front or make one out of a piece of cardboard or something, you just need to block the cold wind from coming in, it also will warm up better. Take your spare tire out from under your truck and put it in the box as it will tend to freeze up under the truck and makes removal a bytch. Make sure your antifreeze is good (should be rated for about -45 celcius i don't know fareinheight). Use 5W-30 it will be fine. Make sure you have a block heater and it works, when you plug it in if you put your ear by the front grill you will hear it sizzle when plugged in. Some guys like a magnetic oil pan heater, it will warm your oil at night.

 

Last I hear it is always under construction and they have dirt roads to should be fun! knew a lady at one time who took her VW bus that way . She spoke of bears.... so its not a place to break down.

 

Some things I would add:
Block heater and a circulating anti-freeze heater, battery blanket/heater, possibly a heated dipstick or a magnetic heater, 195 thermo stat, I would go with the 0-30 oil, synthetic gear oil for the diffs, tire chains. The front of the trucks going to have more plugs then a pc. A winter front is a very good idea I think lund used to make some snap in ones. Interior heater not a bad idea as well.

 

In addition to the winter front, block heater, etc. it wouldn't hurt to install a trickle charger for the battery, and hook it up so it gets power when the block heater does -- that way you can't forget to plug it in. I used a 12AWG molded 3-way power splitter, myself, so I had only one plug hanging out through the grille. Every bit of charge matters when you're cranking the engine in sub-zero weather.

Using a tank type block heater I never felt a need for additional engine warmers where overnight lows fell to -20F to -30F, and had no trouble in -45F the few times I saw it. When it was forecast to go below -10 I always put a tarp over the engine, under the hood, so the heat of the block heater kept things warm. (I also left a piece of it hanging out so I wouldn't forget to remove it before starting the engine.) Still, a magnetic heater stuck to the oil pan wouldn't hurt if you can keep the total load no greater than 15A (1800W).

If you want to go nuts, swap out the mechanical engine fan for electric so no air moves over the radiator/engine while you're warming up in the morning. I was always glad for mine, which very rarely turned on in the winter.

Don't forget to carry tire chains, traction aids, de-icer, shovel, tow strap, extra batteries and bulbs for your flashlight, heavy work gloves, and so on in an easily accessible location in the vehicle. If your tire chains are new to you, put them on a time or two before you leave so you're ready to put them on quickly in the dark with sticky wet slushy snow being blown by a biting wind right down the back of your neck. You don't want to be that guy who finds out the hard way that brake lines don't stand up to being whipped with a chain.

 

Wow, thanks for all the responses everyone.

I'll try to answer everything. Things I've done to prepare so far:

Flushed radiator and filled with 2/3rd glycol, good to -60
(Note: Battery and washer fluid will also freeze below -60)
New thermostat, 195 degree
Electric seat heaters
Quadzilla Max Mileage chip. (May upgrade for power later)
Remote start, that is programmable to warm the engine periodically
Block heater is standard on all Cummins
Picked up a block heater cord that lights up, to confirm it's got power, it will take 3 plugs.
I have a trickle charger, so I'll take that in the truck. (Thanks for the reminder!)
Tow strap
Chain for pulling
Shovel and Axe
Snow tires and tire chains to be picked up immediately before leaving.
Multiple flashlights and batteries
Work gloves, driving gloves, extra gloves.
Blankets, sleeping bag (-10), extra food & water
New brakes and cross drilled rotors
(Don't ask what happened to the old rotors!)
FASS stock replacement fuel pump (old one died when changing fuel filter!)
Synthetic oil
Lubed differential and all bearings
Changed transmission fluid (With I'd bought a manual!)
Definitely going to block the radiator with cardboard to help it warm up faster.

Things I'm considering:
Swapping the engine fan for electrical
(3,000 miles it would help the mileage)
Oil pan heater
Circulating heater? don't know where to get one. Suggestions?

The road is paved all the way, no more dirt and gravel
Bears hibernate in the winter, but still I'm putting my entire gun safe in back. Picking up the transport license for Canada for my small arsenal.

Note: Got a flat yesterday and found out my spare tire is smaller than the others, so I'm glad that happened and I can get it fixed before leaving. Good suggestion to get it out, so it doesn't become packed with snow and ice!

 

Kat's makes a couple of different models. I wouldn't think you would need to circulate and heat all night long, just maybe a few hours before you head out, you can plug into a timer. Will also limit wear and tear.

Kats Tank Heater

 

Don't waste time or money on the Quadzilla thing. All it does is reinterpret your MAP sensor. O2 sensor will quickly make it useless.