The 5.9 Cummins engine, a powerhouse known for its reliability and longevity, utilizes grid heaters to assist in cold-weather starting. However, some owners opt for a grid heater delete. This modification involves removing the grid heaters and potentially bypassing their associated circuitry. This guide explores the reasons behind this modification, the potential risks involved, and viable alternatives.
Why Delete the Grid Heaters?
The primary motivation for a grid heater delete often stems from troubleshooting issues. A faulty grid heater can cause hard starting, especially in colder climates. Replacing the grid heater itself can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, some owners view a delete as a simpler, albeit potentially riskier, solution. Other reasons might include:
- Cost savings: Removing the grid heaters eliminates the need for future repairs or replacements.
- Simplified system: Removing the grid heaters simplifies the engine's starting system, potentially reducing the number of potential failure points.
- Improved performance (perceived): Some owners believe removing the grid heaters might slightly improve performance, though this is largely anecdotal and unsubstantiated.
What are the Risks of Deleting Grid Heaters?
While a grid heater delete might seem like a quick fix, it carries significant risks, especially in cold climates:
- Difficult cold-weather starting: The most significant risk is the inability to start the engine in cold temperatures. The grid heaters are designed to preheat the combustion chambers, making starting significantly easier in freezing conditions. Without them, starting can become extremely difficult or impossible, potentially leading to costly repairs from excessive cranking.
- Increased wear and tear: The increased strain on the starter motor and battery from hard starting can lead to premature wear and tear on these components.
- Engine damage: Repeated attempts at starting a cold engine without grid heaters can cause damage to the starter, battery, and even internal engine components.
- Voiding warranties: Modifying the engine's original design could void any existing warranties on the vehicle.
What Happens if You Delete the Grid Heaters?
Deleting the grid heaters removes the supplementary heat source used to preheat the combustion chamber before starting the engine. This means the engine relies solely on the ambient temperature and the battery’s power to initiate combustion. The result is a significantly harder start in cold temperatures. The engine might crank slowly, take multiple attempts to start, or fail to start altogether.
What are the Alternatives to Deleting Grid Heaters?
Instead of deleting the grid heaters, consider these alternatives:
- Replacing faulty grid heaters: This is the most straightforward solution. Replacing a faulty grid heater resolves the issue directly, restoring the engine's cold-weather starting capabilities.
- Troubleshooting electrical issues: If the grid heaters aren't functioning correctly, there could be underlying electrical problems. Thorough diagnostics can pinpoint and resolve these issues.
- Using a block heater: A block heater is an external heating element that plugs into the engine block, providing direct heat to the engine coolant. This significantly improves cold-weather starting and mitigates the need for grid heaters to work as hard.
Is a Grid Heater Delete Worth It?
For most owners, deleting the grid heaters is not worth the risks. The potential benefits are minimal and greatly outweighed by the possibility of engine damage, increased repair costs, and difficult starting in cold conditions. Addressing underlying issues or implementing alternative solutions, such as replacing faulty components or installing a block heater, provides a much safer and more reliable approach to resolving cold-weather starting problems. Consider the cost of potential repairs against the seemingly minor cost-saving of a delete before proceeding.
