Hey All You Guys,<br><br>I have read a lot of the posts on idleing, starting &amp; driving cold engines, and all that, BUT, I bought my truck to haul my 32' 5th wheel around and general driving. I would like to hear your expertise about just simply driving as a work vehicle during these winter months. Am I hurting anything by just starting up of a morinig and driving off to work. Then again at lunch, starting up and driving home for lunch then back? Everything I read about these diesels sounds like everything is so critical. I love this truck and do not want to tear anything up. Would appreciate any and all comments for this &quot;diesel dummy&quot;. :-[<br><br>Thanks Guys<br>Grampaw Bill

 

Grampaw Bill:

It's not too complicated, but winter driving with your CTD does require some care. When you start up, don't let it idle more than 10 minutes. I usually start up, wait for oil pressure, and then drive. An idling diesel engine will not warm up, unless you have a an exhaust brake. Try not to rev over 2000 rpms until your temp comes up. If your drive to work does not warm up your engine to normal operating temp, you might want to invest in winter fronts to help it warm up faster. I live in Northern Michigan, and drive about 8 miles to work. Without winter fronts, my baby would not reach normal operating temp. by the time I got to work. If you drive more than 8 miles and you are going 55mph or so, you will probably reach operating temp. That's all I can think of right now.

Good luck with your new ride!

DeWain

 

Ive often had the same thoughts.
Here is my rules for warming up/driving my truck.

In the cold mornings:
Plug the truck in at least 2 hours before you start it.
Once it stats, I'll let it idle at 500 - 750 rpms until the oil gets circulated and preassure builds.
Then I'll use a stick to force a fast idle out of it (about 1100 rpms) for about 3 to 5 minutes before I drive it to work.
The length of warm up time I give it while on fast idle is dependant on how cold it is. However, it really is just how long I &quot;feel&quot; it needs to warm up.
(Long enough for the heater grid to stop cycling and the I can feel a little warmth from the defroster/vents).

Lunch Starts:
Again, we'll consider this a cold day:
I figure the truck has sat for about 4 hours since I shut it down.
When I start it, again, I'll let it idle on its own until the oil gets circulated. I then will fast idle it (usually with my foot) for a minute to four minutes (Again, until the heater grid stops cycling), and off I go.

Until the engine hits 140* I try not to push it. Unitl 140* is reached, I try to keep it under 2000 rpms and I dont &quot;Race&quot; it off any signal lights.

Once the gauge reads 140* I drive it in a normal fassion.

However, I should note, that I treat all of my vehicles this way. Not just my diesel.
I will wait until the oil pressure is up and the engine has a few minutes to warm itslef up before I go driving around. Gas or Diesel.

I guess, in short, the things I consider is:
Heater Grid Cycle.
Oil Pressure.
and low rpms until the 140* mark is reached. (But dont bog down the engine either).

These are just the methods I use. I did not get them from any &quot;certified&quot; guru.
Please dont take this as &quot;The Proper Method&quot;. Many folks on here may have much better methods and much better sound advice.

Rich.

 

I should also mention that I do not haul anything to work and back. It is a daily commuter for me.<br>However, If I were getting ready to haul something of noteble weight, I would approach the warm up time differently.<br><br>I dont think I would try to haul anything heavy until the engine temps have reached 140*.<br><br><br>Just an added thought.<br><br>Rich

 

DPG,<br>I really all the replies I've received and I just picked yours to respond to. I live in central Illinois (probably the same weather) and have had no problem starting the truck as yet. I have plugged it in a couple of times (down to 9-15) for a couple of hours before I am ready to start it, BUT, I really didn't see much difference in the way it started (plugged in or not). As far as the RPM's, I don't think they ever get over 2000. The engine temp usually gets around 140 by the time I get to work. It's all in town driving and about 3 miles. Not really enough to get everything oiled good! This is why I was wondering if I was hurting anything in the truck.<br><br>Thanks Again<br>Bill<br>[quote author=DPG link=board=8;threadid=8543;start=0#82425 date=1040332482]<br>Grampaw Bill:<br><br>It's not too complicated, but winter driving with your CTD does require some care. When you start up, don't let it idle more than 10 minutes. I usually start up, wait for oil pressure, and then drive. An idling diesel engine will not warm up, unless you have a an exhaust brake. Try not to rev over 2000 rpms until your temp comes up. If your drive to work does not warm up your engine to normal operating temp, you might want to invest in winter fronts to help it warm up faster. I live in Northern Michigan, and drive about 8 miles to work. Without winter fronts, my baby would not reach normal operating temp. by the time I got to work. If you drive more than 8 miles and you are going 55mph or so, you will probably reach operating temp. That's all I can think of right now.<br><br>Good luck with your new ride!<br><br>DeWain<br>[/quote]

 

<br><br>Perhaps you should look into a grill cover to help your truck warm up a little quicker. (?)<br><br>Just a thought.<br><br>Rich

 

Plugging it in you should've notice you didn't have the &quot;wait to start&quot; lamp lit for more than a couple seconds. If it sat all night not plugged in, garaged or not, you would've had to wait probably 30 seconds or more before firing it up! I plug mine in every night on a timer that I have set to run for approx. 3 hours. I only have a short distance to work as well, maybe 5 or 6 miles, and I go easy on it for about a mile. It's usually up to at least 140 by then (sometimes more, depending how cold) and I proceed to drive as I normally would. With the auto, drive with the OD off until you get around 45-50, keeps the RPMs up a bit higher and helps it warm up quicker. <br><br>Side Note: I drive with the OD off all the time until I hit around 45-50.... ;D<br><br>Tony

 

Bill, I probably don't take as many precautions as some of the folks here, as I don't follow any ritual when cold starting. I garage my truck every night, and I've never plugged it in yet. I wait for the &quot;wait to start&quot; light to go out, and I crank her over. Always starts on the first crank. If it is really cold (single digits or lower) I will cycle the grid heaters twice before cranking and it always starts on first crank. Only driving 3 miles to work, I would look into winter fronts, I think that they would really help..If the truck doesn't reach operating temps too often, the moisture doesn't get &quot;burned out&quot; of the engine and could cause trouble down the road.

 

Thanks Everyone. I knew I could get good help here. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful &amp; Safe New Year. My wife &amp; I are headed for Gulf Shores, Alabama tomorrow morning for 2 weeks and will share Christmas with those folks down there this year. Then we are headed for Columbus, Ohio to bring in the New Year with friends there.<br><br>Have A Great One <br>Grampaw Bill ;D ;D ;D

 

<br><br><br>Drive safe and take care out there! <br><br>Rich

 

Caution for cold engine take offs which will apply to both diesel and gas. Pay attention to moisture condition of outside air especially if fog is present and temp is below freezing. The moisture can coat your windshield with ice and create serious visibility problems until engine coolant is warm enough to defrost windshield. I know .. I've been there.<br><br>Jerry

 

And enjoy the &quot;Redneck Riviera&quot;

 

One othe tip for us automatic drivers.<br><br>When you first start up and its running put the auto into neutral to get the tranny fluid moving. Put the parking brake on so she does not creep.

 

Srigs, that is a great point and goes for all Mopar auto's. They do not circulate oil in park. It is always best on a mopar to warm up in neutral instead of park, also to check the level in neutral.

 

Thats some good info. I did not know that.<br>I'll be leaving it in &quot;N&quot; to warm up now.<br><br>Thanks<br>Rich