Thoughts on short trips?
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thoughts on short trips?
Read a post on here a few weeks back about short trips with the 6.7 PS. Occasionally, I do need to make a short, five mile round trip trek. I read that that is bad for the engine over a prolonged period of time because the engine isn't warming up completely.
This truck is my every day driver, and I work from home, so it doesn't get run every day, but occasionally, it needs to get me to the store and back (when another vehicle isn't present).
So what's the ruling? Am I killing my truck already, or are the guys that made the posts about short trips overreacting a bit?
This truck is my every day driver, and I work from home, so it doesn't get run every day, but occasionally, it needs to get me to the store and back (when another vehicle isn't present).
So what's the ruling? Am I killing my truck already, or are the guys that made the posts about short trips overreacting a bit?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
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While it’s good to get any vehicle up to operating temp I don’t think its feasible 100% of the time but I try not to make a habit out of it.
There are times I’m stuck making 1 ½ mile trips between office buildings after a 4-6 hour soak on average once or twice a week.
My drive to work, to home or into town allow my truck to reach operating temperature so I feel that cleans things out, so to speak.
If I am forced to make a short trip by myself (say to the nearby fast food place) then I take an extra 15 minute drive along some back roads to enjoy the day and allows the truck to warm up a little more.
I follow the severe duty schedule to keep fluids and filters fresh because of my driving style which is empty most of the time.
That’s my take. Some of the experienced members could provide a better answer.
There are times I’m stuck making 1 ½ mile trips between office buildings after a 4-6 hour soak on average once or twice a week.
My drive to work, to home or into town allow my truck to reach operating temperature so I feel that cleans things out, so to speak.
If I am forced to make a short trip by myself (say to the nearby fast food place) then I take an extra 15 minute drive along some back roads to enjoy the day and allows the truck to warm up a little more.
I follow the severe duty schedule to keep fluids and filters fresh because of my driving style which is empty most of the time.
That’s my take. Some of the experienced members could provide a better answer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 914
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From: New Braunfels, Texas
I never thought of the short trip/daily driver as a severe driving schedule, but I guess if it puts a strain on the engine (as opposed to high temps/dusty conditions/long trips with really heavy loads), it could qualify as such. Interesting idea.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Roll Tide, Roll
It needs to see normal operating temps, as much as it can. Sometimes that's not possible. What will happen short little trips will soon build soot in dpf and will cause a normal regen,now if you continue and it doesn't get cleaned out, it will put a drive to clean exhaust, then you must drive a good long ways to completely clean. Best I would recommend as much as possible get it on highway and let her run.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks... perfect... Thats about what I do... there are weekly runs, including towing... just didnt know how much short trips would screw things up... sounds like as long as i'm running her good in addition to the short trips, her life will be good and long.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
The danger here is repeated short trips that allow many warming cycles without ever letting the engine get up to temp and burn off impurities in the oil as well as the DPF.
They are fine as long as you don't have more than a few of the before a long enough run to get things fully warned up and regenerated. I wouldn't have more than 2 or 3 in a row before a longer drive.
ON EDIT: This is nothing specific to diesel engines, it's bad for gasses, too. But gassers have a much lighter block that's often aluminum and therefore warms up much faster. My Mustang is fully up to temp within 5 miles, but the F350 took more than ether times that long.
They are fine as long as you don't have more than a few of the before a long enough run to get things fully warned up and regenerated. I wouldn't have more than 2 or 3 in a row before a longer drive.
ON EDIT: This is nothing specific to diesel engines, it's bad for gasses, too. But gassers have a much lighter block that's often aluminum and therefore warms up much faster. My Mustang is fully up to temp within 5 miles, but the F350 took more than ether times that long.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: North of Salt Lake City
The danger here is repeated short trips that allow many warming cycles without ever letting the engine get up to temp and burn off impurities in the oil as well as the DPF.
They are fine as long as you don't have more than a few of the before a long enough run to get things fully warned up and regenerated. I wouldn't have more than 2 or 3 in a row before a longer drive.
They are fine as long as you don't have more than a few of the before a long enough run to get things fully warned up and regenerated. I wouldn't have more than 2 or 3 in a row before a longer drive.
My driving pattern is pretty erratic. Sometimes weeks of long hard pulls with heavy trailers and sometimes a whole tank of just running to the 7-11. Hard to tell what my regen frequency is as I don't pay much attention.
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From: Isanti, MN
2 or 3 short trips before a long drive? Yikes! I agree that the truck prefers running hot but I sure hope it can handle many more consecutive short trips. It's easy to have 20 or 30 before getting the truck hot.
My driving pattern is pretty erratic. Sometimes weeks of long hard pulls with heavy trailers and sometimes a whole tank of just running to the 7-11. Hard to tell what my regen frequency is as I don't pay much attention.
My driving pattern is pretty erratic. Sometimes weeks of long hard pulls with heavy trailers and sometimes a whole tank of just running to the 7-11. Hard to tell what my regen frequency is as I don't pay much attention.
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From: at the truck pulls
I can't think it's going to hurt the engine making small trips like stated above. I always hate to start a cold engine, I wish we had an electric pre-oiler to get that flowing.
When I know I'm going to make a short 15-20 minute trip I'll remote start the truck and let it run for a few minutes, well actually I always do that, then when I get where I'm going I just leave it running.
When I know I'm going to make a short 15-20 minute trip I'll remote start the truck and let it run for a few minutes, well actually I always do that, then when I get where I'm going I just leave it running.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2011
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I avoid short trips for this reason also. If I'm going on a short trip to the store, I take my old toyota truck or my wife's lexus. For school I drive the toyota cuz I don't want to get door dings in the tiny parking spaces. For work I have police interceptor that I bring home. Basically I use my 2011 F350 for traveling or longer trips with the whole family. That's why it only has 4000 miles on it in 7 months.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 299
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From: Northwestern Ontario
Tons of short trips for me... I only live about 1 mile from work. Plus I get short trips during the day. I do use the remote start in the winter, but in the -20f temps, the engine don't warm up much.
I have 3 diesel trucks, two with over 300K on them...
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Gordon
I have 3 diesel trucks, two with over 300K on them...
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Gordon
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More Turbo
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Postmaster
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