HaHa, Cummins fire right up in any temperature. But in all seriousness they are some cold temps for a diesel, they will run rough with out being plugged in. Also not sure how Powerstrokes are set up, Cummins at those temps. start and run on 3 cylinders to generate heat and boy do they sound terrible.
Modern European diesels will start right up at temperatures much colder than that, -20 to -30+ depending on the fuel. These videos are of old tech engines that really need block heaters, and drivers who don't seem to be very smart.
I love the second one. You know it is cold and you know the battery is already nearly dead, so instead of charging it or jumping it, why not keep cranking and see if that might help? WTF? And it looks like he is not so mechanicly disinclined that he couldn't charge a battery or change a tire. He seems to know a lot about the truck and yet still be incredibly stupid. As you said, almost seems on purpose.
Dear Husband was in a hotel in Casper Wy ~~2004. He got his room and almost got in a fight with a semi driver desperate to steal the glow plug pole that was assigned to hubbys room. He called me the next morning, the F250 barely turned over from the -30's overnight despite being plugged in, while we were talking on the phone early the next morning I heard a huge POP almost like a gunshot. The windshield had cracked all the way across from the defrost running.
those older powerstrokes need to turn the engine over till the high pressure oil pump makes enough pressure to fire the injectors. that was high tech back then(90's). but dependable.