I do not recommend doing this. You will not find an engine that can keep warm idling at those temperatures. Many times the engine will could down faster while idling because it's pumping unrestricted amounts of cold air through and burning very little fuel. It's not good to run the engine for longer than necessary below operating temperature.

In a nutshell, I would shut it down unless you have concerns about it not starting back up.

 

What about CAT engines and Izuzu engines (Hitachi excavators)? At work in the winter we keep all equipment at 1200 RPM when it's not in
use and they keep their temperature just fine.

 

Or any semi engine for that matter. Whenever you leave one idleing for a period of time the first thing you do is set your idle for 1200 RPM. I understand it's also for lubrication purposes and they are completely different engines but the principles the same. Right?

 

I'm glad you mentioned Caterpillar engines as well as semi trucks. I bought my first diesel pickup truck while I was driving OTR with CFI. I had a 2007 Kenworth with a Cat C15 engine. Put over a hundred and thirty thousand miles on that engine within a year.

When asked this before I pulled out the operator's guide for the engine and read what Caterpillar recommended concerning idling. Here's the direct quote from the operator's guide:

If you HAVE to idle a high idle is best; but otherwise it's always best to shut it down.

 

I have about 10,300 miles and 33 idle hours. I believe the engine hours is around 260. I did my oil change Saturday at 258 engine hours, 33 idle hours, and 10,143 miles.

 

29,828 miles with 267 idle hours.

1000 engine hours

Shane

 

The Service Manager at my dealership told me that the idle time clock is running anytime you have the key on and running at 35mph or less.

 

That's interesting. In my book idling involves the engine on, but not moving.

 

I would think idling would be no throttle input and very low RPM's, whether in drive, neutral, or park. If you are coasting down a hill in drive (tow/haul off) and your RPM's go back to idle with no throttle input I would count that as "idle" even though the vehicle is moving.

Heck, anyone that drives around town is likely always going to be at "idle" the whole time based on the 35mph standard.

I would be curious as to if there is any weight placed on the idle hours. It has been mentioned that the oil monitor timer thingymawatchacallit is based off the timers but what does Ford spec in their diagnostics procedures or anywhere else this number may be in question?

 

Key on, yes, but I have a hard believing anything under 35 mph. If that was the case I would have well over 100 idle hours by now just from my commute to and from work every day.

 

I have a great, very knowledgeable Service Manager and I believe him. Maybe a Ford diesel tech can chime in confirm what I was told. He also said that Ford considers the 20%+ idle time figure "excessive".

Don't shoot me, I am just a messenger,

 

44500km 384 idle hours almost 1200 running hours.

 

Doesn't matter what they think is excessive. I bought my truck to use it how I NEED it.

Shane

 

I have 656 hours and 168 idle hours with 17,528 miles. The diesel mechanic at my dealer said that the idle hours are based on a certain RPM. He said the truck with rack up idle hours if you do a lot of bumper to bumper traffic.

 

You guys have some interesting ideas on how the "idle hour" figure is determined. I for sure don't know. If the wife wouldn't have stayed in the store as long as she did I doubt I would have found it on the screen. Too much time on my hands. I'm not saying "idle hours" could be a problem, just thinking out loud and wondering if you guys had an answer.