Its been pretty cold lately (single digits) in the morning and I've been letting the truck idle for about 10 min before driving. Is this too long/short? After my initial idle of 10 min, it is off to the hwy for a 45 mile drive. Currently have about 1200 miles on the truck (2 weeks old).

any advice or recommendations???

 

No need to wait 10 minutes.
I would idle less than two minutes and many will say even that is too long but I use that time to get myself situated.
Driving slowly will get it warmed up faster than idling.
Once you're on the highway, it's driving as normal but I don't hit high RPM's.
I do my best to keep it below 2,000 RPMs for awhile.

Edit: your EOT should be nearing the 195 degree mark within 15-20 miles at those temps.

 

5 to 10 minutes but it's just to defrost the windshield. I'm fairly certain the engine just needs a minute or so for oil flow. The transmission is always a bit slow to shift for a mile or so.

 

if there is not ice on the windshield I could be off and going in 20 or 30 seconds. other than that it depends. if there is heavy ice and I can't get if off easily 10 mins would be on the long end of how long I let it idle.

 

Block heater would be ideal rather than idling. It's nice to wake up to EOT and ECT over 100 degrees. Now, if they'd start putting heaters in the tranny, that'd be perfect.

 

I appreciate the responses...Looks like I should start using the block heater.

My old 6.0L would barely start w/out the use of the block heater...the 6.7L starts easy, quiet and completely normal unplugged (no block heater). This new diesel is so refined it's like I am learning Diesels all over again...and I have owned them since the mid 90's!

 

3-5 mins on high idle. That way it gets all the fluids moving and warmed up a bit. Plus it's nice to have heat within a couple mins of leaving.

 

I like to see oil temp above 50 degrees before I go. I always have a trailer in tow so I like to be sure the engine is ready to give me the power without me feeling like I am hurting it. Technically, no warm up is necessary (I would think anyway).

 

5 to 10 minutes. My travel to work is less than 5 miles.

 

2 minuts then a slow 2 mile drive at 20 mph out of the neighbor hood, temp gage is up and the heater is putting out by then.

 

With the exception of people like ruschejj who tow every day, you're not doing your engine any favors by letting it idle. Your oil pump is of a high enough volume that the engine oil is circulated within a couple of seconds of the engine starting, and therefore there is no benefit to letting it idle to "warm up" unless defrosting is needed for the windshield.

My truck has started at -10° with no block heater...it saw about 30 seconds of idling before I made it to the road and began to accelerate. As others have said it's important to not give it full power until it's up to temp, but you're best off letting it warm up as you drive.

 

I use my remote engine start about 10 minutes before I leave.

That usually has the windows pretty well defrosted and there is some heat in the cab.

I use the remote start when its 30 or lower, so that there is some heat for the kids when we get in.

 

I usually do 5 mins just to get the coolant to 20C (about 70F I think). I also use a block heater with remote start. I agree with Crazy about idling not bring so good so am going to intstall manual high idle mod soon and increase idle time to 10 mins. I also use a 900W 120V cab heater along with the block heater to take the chill out of the cab and that seems to work ok.

 

RM2738,

It is easy to silicone the KATs battery heaters to the bottom of the tranny pan. Silicone holds for 10+ years at minus 60F to +90 (Fairbanks, AK).

these are the under battery pads not the wrap around models Any auto store in northern climates should have them.

Kat's Battery Pad & Blanket Heaters -22100, 22200, 22400, 22401, 22500, 22600, 22700,

 

Lots of good input on this thread, y'all answered a question I've kinda had in the back of my mind ever since I got this truck! Thanks!