Hello all. As this is my first diesel I was wondering how long I should warm up my engine. The outside temp on average is in the 40's at night or in the morning (Central California). Should I warm it to a specific engine or transmission temp or tme it for about 5 min? Thanks as always

 

Congrats on the new truck!! From what I understand, Ford doesn't want you to idle these engines very much. I simply get in, start it and drive. If the temps drop into the 20's, I'll hook up the engine heater.

 

I've always given all my vehicles minumum 5 minutes before I drive em...Namely because I'm a heavy footed driver and I like all the pistons to swell to their correct size..as for the diesel I did it to get the oil to thin out..but these new ones run my thinner oil....I still do it for five minutes or so...remote start is handy for this goal.

 

In those temps, there should be no reason to let it idle. I do believe it's good to give it a few seconds though. Enough time to start the engine, put on the seat belt and glasses and put it in gear. That's just about the amount of time required for the Built Ford Tough commercial to finish in the cool driver information display.

 

There are 2 main ideas that you can use to justify what you want to do for the good of the engine.

1. As outlined in your PSD supplement manual, if the engine temperature is low enough for it to cause damage to itself, it will not allow you to drive normally. RPM's will be limited if the PCM does not like the condition of the engine.

2. I don't think Ford has specifically provided idle limitations but you can be sure that IF you ever have an engine failure, idle time on the engine will be analyzed by Ford and a verdict will be made by them on whether or not the engine has been abused. (this is kind of an opinion on my part) Idle time for warming up is specifically addressed in your PSD supplement and it states that the engine needs none, but a few seconds is appropriate.

 

Is this ford talking or EPA telling ford what to say.

 

Where did you get this information?? - I have close to 700 idle hours on my 2011 without trouble using 15W40 oil - I generally idle my truck between 1 and 15 hours a day, sometimes less, sometimes more.

 

Customers can also feel good about their decision to preheat or precook their ride, says Ford powertrain engineers and emission experts. Although remote start systems have been given a bad emissions rap in the past, it’s not true that leaving a car at idle pumps more hydrocarbons, CO and nitrogen oxides into the air.

John Shanahan, manager, Ford Powertrain Feature Calibration, explains: “The vast majority of a vehicle’s emissions are made during the drive-away after the car is started. Once the catalyst is warmed up, it will convert up to 99 percent of the engine-out emissions into less harmful gases. With remote start, along with getting the passenger compartment comfortable, you’re warming the catalyst while the vehicle is in neutral with lighter loads on the engine. We employ engine control features that maximize the catalyst warm-up, even if the engine is only idling. This will result in a more active catalyst when you drive away.”

That warmed-up catalyst can represent up to a 75 percent emissions reduction, depending on how cool the catalyst is and how hard the driver accelerates those first few times after a typical engine start.

READY FOR WINTER? FORD ADDS NEW REMOTE START FEATURE, HEATED STEERING WHEEL TO WARM CUSTOMERS | Ford Motor Company Newsroom