Been cold recently in NC and was wondering at what a safe, minimum temperature should the oil and transmission be before operating?

I plug in the block heater overnight and oil temp > 100 degrees in the morning; trans temps in the lower/mid-70s. However, during the day, the 6.0 is parked in a parking deck and the fluid temps may get into the 60s or even 50s after sitting all day. I ususally idle (or high-idle at 1200 rpms) for a few minutes to get the oil and trans temps up some, but don't know what is a relatively safe minimum temp. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

Here in UT temps can get cold. I have seen my temps (not plugged in) under 30*. Things warm up quickly once you start driving. Just don't floor it or go crazy until temps start to climb.

 

The truck sounds really pissed off when the temp readings are below freezing, but it starts and runs fine. I usually only wait until the voltage kicks up then drive it, but I'll try to let it idle extra to get the temps up to around freezing it it's really cold. I'm not waiting until it's 100*f+ unless I'm pulling something heavy right away. I picked 32*f as a feel-good, I don't think it's any different than 20 or 40.

I remember seeing negative numbers for ECT once, but when it's below 0*f actual temps I usually plug it in. I carry a 15A timer on my extension cord in the toolbox, and set it for an hour or two before I think I'll need it, and it's usually up into the 50*s by then. The truck will start well into the negatives *f without the heater, the 50s and 60s are nothing.

Get one of these and stop running the block heater all night:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-1...7?N=5yc1vZc334

 

Thanks for the link. I haven't heard of any problems with keeping the block heater plugged in all night. I do enjoy having the truck pre-heated so I can turn on the floor heat immediately on the cold mornings.

 

Here in MN it has been down to -25 deg lately with a high of -10. I tend to plug my truck in only if I know I will use it the next morning and only if the temps are under 10 deg, but have started it cold up to -15. I typically let mine idle until about 70-80 deg and then drive very very easy until over 100. I live in the country so I can drive 20-30 mph for a couple miles. If I was going to hop on the freeway right away I would warm up to at least 100.

When the temps are 30-40 deg out I just start and warm up a few minutes then ease into it until up to 100.

 

Was -11*f when I started the truck this morning it didn't get plugged in oops fired right up with the remote start as always grumpy for about 5 sec the. Smoothed out. I guess in cautious I like to see it near 100* before I roll out. But again I'm not outside waiting I hut the button then get boots coats backpacks loaded up. By the time we get out there it's warm inside and good to go. I normally have timer for three hours before i leave. Anything over that I feel in just feeding the power company for no reason

 

The trans should be above about -40°F to operate. I've operated them down to -40°F and they are a bit slow when shifting, but they work. You don't have to warm the trans before operating it.

 

With temps at 20F or less unplugged I'll idle until the automatic high idle kicks in and then take-off.

Plugged in I wait until the GP's shut off before leaving.

The only precaution I do is to take it easy for the first moment down the road and keep the boost under 10 psi. After about 120 ECT it's normal driving as usual.

Josh

 

Thanks. That's much lower than I thought but glad to know. Reps!