2017 Kubota RTV X1100C Extremely Cold Start

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

For those who keep commenting the same things, let me save you some typing: First, the glow plug indicator does not extinguish automatically, you have to time it for yourself. As soon as the cranking didn't catch, as you can see I went right back to Glow, so I wouldn't lose heat. Second, my department does not maintain it ourselves nor put in fuel additives or anything, we pull up to a diesel tank on campus and just dispense fuel, which we have been told already has those additives since we have dozens of small diesel-powered vehicles on campus. All other maintenence and fluids (except washer fluid) are handled by Facilities. Third, these are not "worn out" glow plugs or anything like that. This is a brand new vehicle, as you can see it only has 8.7 hours on it. Last, please stop suggesting block heaters, because that's not an option. This vehicle is parked in a reserved spot in a public parking lot, and unless you want to run an extension cord all the way to the nearest building and drape it across a sidewalk, or want to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it would cost to bring power directly there, then stop trying to suggest something without knowing the circumstances first. This is the only time I have ever had to work to crank this vehicle. Every time since then (and the couple of times before, again it was only a month old at that time), it just starts right up after a 10-second glow cycle (if it's cold out, or just starts right up if warm).

[@rancher9625]

Good notes and comments, Kat. I would like to add more notes to those using diesels, cold weather or not. Diesels are designed to work hard; continuously if necessary. But only when they are at operating temperature. The worst thing you can do to a diesel is to not allow a warm-up or to shut it down when it is very hot. Those 5 minutes before and after working it have a substantial effect on wear. And as for a very cold engine, never, never raise the rpm above a fast idle - very cold oil has a hard time getting to and lubricating the valve train. If you want to baby the engine, wait for the temp gauge to show some type of heat.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

@@rancher9625 I absolutely agree with this 100%. I abide by this rule with any of my work vehicles, or my personal vehicles.

[@LIMowersAndMore]

I have the same thing but it’s a 2006 and it has turbo I added and a block heater I love it, the thing works great and it pulls just about anything I put it up against

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

These things are awesome!

[@JohnFrancoNH]

Cool video. But if this is the same start procedure as a my Kubota excavator you are suppose to wait until that glow plug light goes out before cranking it over. My KX121-3 starts in subzero within 6 secs, with one turn of the key this way. Thanks for sharing!

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Actually, the Kubota RTV's glow light does not go out on its own. Hence I just kept holding it and trying it again. In any other vehicle where that is the case, naturally I would have waited for that.

[@gpowerdragon9852]

Lovely the smell of diesel in the morning 😋

[@briancampbell5944]

Two words....block heater. Saves all that wear and tear on your starter. Even if the glow plugs are good, always use block heater in cold temps. Your engine will thank you for it plus you will save your glow plugs.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

We do not have a block heater installed, and this is parked in a public parking lot, nowhere near any outlets. Plus, we rarely drive around campus when it gets this cold anyway.

[@JohnFrancoNH]

A block heater would definitely help speed up warm up and start. But hes not letting the glow plug light go out first before cranking. Thats why it wont start up quickly.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

A block heater would help for sure, but it's not an option because there'd be nowhere we could plug it in. And as another commenter said, the reason it took so long was because I only did one glow cycle before cranking, and cranking it pulls cold fuel into the cylinder. I should have glow-cycled it a couple times first, to get the cylinder wamer before the cold fuel entered. Also, this vehicle's glow plug light doesn't go out automatically, so you have to time it manually.

[@mikemccabe952]

U could plug nto an inverter to run the block heater for 30mins to an hour prior to starting and that way u can run it off a cheap priced jump box I put one together bout $80 total and I get about 2hours of block heater use before inverter shuts down due to draining the jump box but ive found an hour of block heater helps it start right up after 1 cycle of glow plugs

[@blackfalcon6282]

good ole kubota 3 cylinder

[@Atvsrawsome]

I have a kubota 1120 and a Polaris ranger and the ranger went even crank in the cold even though the battery is charged. Although I usually have the kubota on a block heater

[@phantomdiesel8032]

That thing is awesome!

[@ranger6x660]

Once I got it started I'd gone in and had a cup of coffee and let the engine and hydro fluid warm up.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Actually I was only doing this to warm it up, as we did not end up needing to use it that day.

[@nomon95]

If the engine has indirect injection,the start is more difficult .The indirect injection have all glow plugs,the fuel ignition begin in a little chamber,then go to the cylinders chamber. ajnd all have more compression ratio(20:1 and up)

[@somerandomguy3868]

The owners manual may instruct you otherwise however giving it a little throttle while cranking will help starting when it's as cold as this start was

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

While I didn't try that on this attempt, I may try it in the future. Thanks!

[@450rmaniac]

If it’s like some other diesels, to the floor for cold starts. However, great video of a true cold start. Thanks for the post!

[@ChrisComp]

i dont know why everyone wants to waste time pushing the pedal when the internal govenor has the fuel rate at INCREASED to begin with. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX20imuvrMdnirM

[@CharredSteak]

That's usually what I do with our bobcat with a kubota d722. The manual even instructs you to do it

true that. i have had my share of Diesels. Floor it when its Cold. if u hear it is running lighter on the starter,its working ;-)

[@simplydub]

When glow plugs indicator goes out turn off and back on couple times. Ur loosing cylinder heat when u crank that cold. Just saying

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

The indicator actually does not automatically go out on this vehicle. However you do have a VERY good point that I should have cycled it a few times BEFORE cranking, because the cold fuel will cool the cylinder and basically undo the glow cycle. Actually, that's probably the best explanation as to why it took so long this time, because I did only cycle it once prior to each crank, and every time I've started it since making this video (when extremely cold) I had cycled it more than once first, and it would always start right up. Thank you! :)

[@whorayful9361]

Cranking speed sounded good, I'd suspect the glow plugs are a bit lazy or the fuel is draining back due to a small air leak, when it did begin to fire while cranking it still sounded very mushy.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Another commenter suggested that it's because I only did one glow cycle each time I tried to crank, pulling cold fuel into the cylinder and cooling it right back down. This is probably why it seemed like the glow plugs were "lazy"; since it's a brand new vehicle, I'd suspect that not to be the case.

[@sootrattlerolloff-road1415]

My 2010 1100 with 3k hours on it starts at 0 no problem...you MUST let it glow about a solid minute when it's that cold, and light pressure on the gas. I think this one has either air in the filter or gelling. I've never had to plug the block in.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

You don't want to run glow plugs that long or you'll burn them out pretty quick.....

[@gpowerdragon9852]

I think the summer diesel is still in your tank to make it very difficult

[@stevewarner8880]

I have a 2017 RTV X1120D that starts much easier than that in single digit temps. I preheat for 15 seconds and she fires right up. I continue to preheat for a short time after it starts. Runs great

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

As you can see I used the glow plugs a lot, and it took a long time to heat up enough to start up.

[@stevewarner8880]

Kat the Foxtaur You might consider letting the dealer check it out to make sure all the glow plugs are functioning as they should. As I stated my 1120 starts much quicker with much less preheating

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

It's only ever been difficult this one time, where it was 0° or so, and was even lower the previous night if I recall. Then again it is brand new, thus I've only experienced a couple cold starts with it below 25°F or so. If it becomes a problem, I'll definitely have our maintenence team look into it!

[@stevewarner8880]

Kat the Foxtaur Good deal. It’s got a 1 year warranty so you have time. I’ve only had mine since 12/26 and we’ve had a brutal cold spell since then here in Illinois. I’ve be very pleased with the way it starts. Enjoy the machine, I think they are very well built.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

We got ours on November 15, 2017, to replace a 2002 John Deere Gator. Kubota: photos.app.goo.gl/0SBvXJuqcPi3iQsp2 Gator: photos.app.goo.gl/10Qoupox5oCGPnXY2 I absolutely love our new Kubota, I think it was very well built and is completely LOADED with every feature we could possibly want! That may also be why we already have a dozen or two of them where I work. And enjoy yours as well! :3

[@sethallen2584]

Good batteries

[@fjb4932]

Keep the fuel level topped off. This one shows being rode hard and put away wet, ie: Less than half a tank of fuel. There are several fuel additives for diesel fuel that can really pay for themselves not only in ease of starting but in lubrication and fuel economy. If possible, park where the equipment will be in the sun when you go to start it. As mentioned ( although probably not heeded ) install a block heater .

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

"being rode hard and put away wet" What are you even talking about? Why do you think you need to keep a full tank of diesel in it at all times? We don't have the option of where to park it, it has a reserved parking space in a parking lot. We also can't install a block heater because it's in a PARKING LOT.

[@ReidHenderson]

I watched a barrel of whiskey age before this thing started..

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Sounds like you lead an exciting life!

[@vnogrwr]

Why not install a block heater not expensive or difficult to add. Would be much better on engine also.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Its not that installing one is "expensive or difficult", if that was the case don't you think we would have done that? 1. This Kubota is specced more or less exactly like the roughly one or two dozen other Kubotas on campus, none of which have block heaters, not even the ones they use for plowing. 2. There would literally be *nowhere* to plug it in, hence our main reason for opting not to have one installed when we purchased it. It has a reserved parking space in the parking lot near our office. I can't just leave extension cords running across a parking lot and sidewalk, going through a door with card access and monitoring, and down the hall into a power outlet. We have safety codes to follow.... 3. It's completely unnecessary. The glow plugs do their job, it starts right up every time. This was the only time it's done this so far.

[@cjw.6310]

why do you have a utv on campus? What is a campus anyways? Hospital or school?

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

It's a college campus. We have the vehicle because my department will often have to carry equipment (ie. ladders, boxes of electronics, big heavy UPS battery backup units with four automotive-sized batteries in it, etc.) between our office on one side of campus and a building on the other. Plus it helps in the summer because of the air conditioning, and the heater in the winter!

[@ROTAXD]

What were outside temps when you filmed this ?

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Just slightly above 0°F. That's the temperature when I got to work and this video was all of 15 minutes into it, so probably about 2°.

[@pilskadden]

Glowplugs seem to have no effect. They are probably not working.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

They weren't having any effect here, and I'm not sure why, but they definitely do work.

[@Dieselpower2000]

Nice... I wish I could be behind your exhaust pipe and inhale the fumes when you rev it worm :)

[@4x4texas12]

I remember pulling one of these out of Harvey

[@bandit2426]

you can always bury an electrical cord so you can plug it in to a block heater . I was waiting for the battery to run down.

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Yeah good luck burying an electrical cord under the sidewalk and out into the parking lot.

[@Renatodonadio]

Don't let it rev like that when cold, I bet with that low hours and mileage it's still to be ran-in, best thing it's to let it warm on itself for some time at idle before moving or, since it's a new conception engine, start moving as soon as it runs smoothly trying to avoid to rev it high and exerce it until it warms up ;-D

[@bobl78]

very bad for such a new engine... a modern engine should start better at 0"°F

[@mikkei3532]

wtf this engine hasn't got glow plugs ????????/

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Yes it does...

[@Okanagan48]

Does not like the cold.

[@jpw1490]

Failed give it a bit of juice

[@trentwheeler6161]

Do you have a block heater? Have you been able to use it to see what kind of difference there is?

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Unfortunately we do not have a block heater, and there's nowhere we could plug it in, even if we did - it's parked in a public parking lot on campus. This was actually the only time it gave me any trouble starting up at all anyway!

[@edg6779]

get that thing an oil warmer

[@slowgynman1234.]

How cold was it?

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

Nearly 0°F, I think at this time it was maybe between 2-4°.

[@slew2827]

I'd think bad glow plugs but I dont know a fuckin thing

[@andersnygard4646]

Get a yamaha

[@kalen01]

We've used the rtv 900's in a couple underground mines i've been in. They don't handle the abuse very well. LOL

[@cummins12vrr]

This children is why you always run diesel additive in the winter it has been - 16 and my ck20 starts up without being plugged in

[@KatTheFoxtaur]

We were told our diesel fuel tank (the "gas station" we have on campus, not referring to the tank in the vehicle itself) already had additives put in it.