Fortunately or Unfortunately I have a short commute to work.

I've been concerned with all the talk about it not being good for the engine etc.

So I've been taking the long way to work which enables me to get the engine up to operating temp.

My question is....Does the engine have to be at operating temp for a certain amount of time and if so, what is that time?

TIA

 

lance, the occasional short trip will not hurt it, just once or twice a week, take a good long drive to heat her up, drive out the moisture, and keep the cylinders clean.

 

Unfortunately it's more like 5-6X a week.

I've installed the cold front AND will be plugging it in.

I figure the combination of the two AND taking the long way to work is the most I can do.

When you say keep the cylinders clean what do you mean?

I should note that I run fuel treatment (alternate between PS and Howe's) in every tank and will probably run some Howe's Power Cleaner in every other tank.

 

i dont think it burns off the carbon until its @ op temp is what he meant by keepin the cyl.'s clean

 

Understood.

My question is if it's enough to just get it to operating temp., or do you have do get it there and KEEP it there for a certain period of time.

 

right now, due to my commuter car being totalled in a wreck, i am driving my ctd 5 miles each way to work. on the weekends, i drive it long distance, greater that 1/2 hour at operating temp, and get on it quite often. no problems expected. alot of folks use their ctd's as short commuters, just blow her out every-once-in-a-while.

 

My truck lives for short commutes. But usually on the weekends I will get the temps up and run her hard.

MikeyB

 

I used to have a daily 5-10 minute commute in the morning and evening. It doesn't hurt a thing. Just get that truck out and run it some at least every week or two and get those temps up. These trucks don't have to be pampered as much as everybody seems to think.

Now I have a 30 mile commute, twice daily....which me and the truck do enjoy much more.

 

I have the same situation. 4 miles one way to work. By the time I get there it is usually only half way between 140 and 200 on the guage. I had the high idle enabled this week an I kick it on 5 minutes before I leave now in the morning and that puts it at full operating temp when I get to work. I ordered the block heater cable, I think that will be easier than setting high idle every morning. Even though average lows in the winter are around 40 or 42, I'll plug it in just because of my short drive to work. I do take it on the weekends all over and definitely blow the carbon out.

 

We bought these trucks because the engines are tough... wouldn't be so tough if they had to be handled so carefully, eh?

Drive it as you have to, and blow the snot out of it a few times a week. That covers the practical and the fun.

 

I too drive 4 miles to work. The temp gauge has just started to move by the time I get there. I've never had any trouble. Just drive it long on the weekend. I've heard one important reason is to get the moisture out of the exhaust system. If you don't it will rust sooner.

One huge plus to driving the diesel short distances is the mileage. I've had occasion where all my driving has only been to work and back and I get 17 mpg. My wife has a short 3 mile commute and she gets much worse mileage. Her Honda CRV is rated at 22 mpg but in these short drives she gets about 15 mpg. My guess is gas engines run rich when their cold. Either way it burns her butt that I get better mileage with a tank.

 

I took the long way home from work last night and it was 10.5 miles. It got to operating temp. about 2/3 of the way home.

Temp was mid 40's
Cold front on with all 4 flaps open.

Hopefully when it's in the 30's or colder it will be the same with the cold front completely closed.

I definately do longer drives at least 2-3X a week. In the summer I pull a trailer that weighs anywhere from 4-7K about once a week.

 

Not sure for the CTD, but from way back the rule of thumb was to get an engine to full operating temperature and to keep it there for a minimum of 20 minutes to allow the acids etc to burn out of the engine, oil etc.

 

Buy a beater econo-box for a couple grand and let the high-dollar truck sit until it's time to put it to work. My truck told me it did not like city driving, so I listened.

 

Its more about chemistry than the machinics , and more with gasers , but still its the chemistry of fuel wash , condisation , heat ,
One of the things that help is to change the chemistry , use synthetic oils helps . but 15-20 min. is a minimum .
The pluging in , winter fronts , take out the fan all help , but probubly not as much as the syn. oil .
The acids are a big part of headgasget , seals , rust , oil aditive failure .