I decided to use a stick to get my RPMs to 1200 --- I'm too cheap to spend $120 for a reflash (seems to be consistent from the few dealers I called).

In any event, here's my question: Can I use the stick immediately after a cold morning start up (after being plugged in) ? Or do I wait for a few moments before I use the stick?

Does the elecrtronic high idle immediately engages if the parameters are met? Thx.

 

You might check around to see if someone in your area has a Smarty. If you were up here in Anchorage I'd only charge you a six pack!

To answer your questions, the computer doesn't start ramping up rpm until at least 60 seconds (I think--it seems like that's right though). You definitely want to give it at least that time to make sure oil is flowing well. With an engine that's cold-soaked from 12+ hours in frigid winter temps, you do want to give it some time. The fact that it's been plugged in overnight actually doesn't mean much here because that heat really doesn't get down to the oil.

 

Ramping up to 1200 RPM isn't going to harm anything but giving the oil at least 10 seconds for circulate at idle after it starts is always the best choice, no matter if its been plugged in or not. If the trucks been plugged in all night then the maximum temperature the engine will reach is 100*. And the longer its plugged in the more heat soaks into the block, crank, oil, etc..... I'm not sure how cold it gets where you live but it has to get pretty cold for the 3 cylinder high idle to even kick in.