Automatic Elevated Idle???
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 45
From: Lansing, MI
Automatic Elevated Idle???
I drove over to the parents house today to snow blow their driveway. When I got there the oil temp was at 100 degrees F and the engine was idling around 1000 rpm. Ambient temp was 4 degrees F. I left the truck running while I cleared the driveway which took about an hour. I returned to the truck and the oil temp was up to 138 and engine was still idling around 1000 rpm. When I got home the oil temp was at 158 and the idle down to the normal 600ish rpm. I wonder if there's a target temp that the truck tries to maintain with elevated idle speed.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20,160
Likes: 15,963
From: Wisconsin
I can tell you it's normal. Mine does it as well. I think 8*F external temp will kick it up to 1200 rpm. Mine seems to go back to normal idle when the oil and water temps exceed 160*F or so. It's tough because the truck will loose temp as it idles. So you may have had the truck higher than 158*F and it cooled down a bit as it idled. I could also be off on the temps because I don't pay attention as much as I should. I wait for the "beeps of joy" (minimaxx owners know what this is) at 160*F and start smiling.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20,160
Likes: 15,963
From: Wisconsin
I had mine at 140* until I read this post #19294 from H&S. Figured a few extra minutes to be safe isn't hurting me.
H&S recommends 160*F for cold coolant
H&S recommends 160*F for cold coolant
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Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 538
Likes: 45
From: Lansing, MI
Bought mine new in December 2010. I left mine idling in -4F weather while in the store and it settled in at around 140F. Seems like it will adjust the idle maintain 140F as a minimum temp. I've also noticed the 1200 rpm idle with the extreme cold temps.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 146
Likes: 21
Totally true!!!Mine only seems to auto idle when oil temps are below 100*F(maybe its not cold enough here in Michigan), if I stop somewhere and the temp is around say 140, it will actually cool down. BUT, I did the high idle Mod(SEIC) this past summer and it is great!! Now its nice and toasty inside.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 64
I wish the cold high idle would at least allow the engine to run for a few seconds before elevating.
For the 2 degree morning the other day the truck immediately went to high idle, probably even before the starter stopped spinning.
For the 2 degree morning the other day the truck immediately went to high idle, probably even before the starter stopped spinning.
New User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Central Michigan
Well, I think this is a safety issue.
I've posted this in another thread but I feel it needs to be known;
A friend of mine with an F350 6.7 has this same high idle situation. However, it almost caused a crash for him. He was approaching a stop sign at an icy intersection and applied the brakes. The front wheels slid on the ice as the rear wheels continued to push him into the intersection because the truck was "idling" at 1200 RPM. He put the truck in Neutral so the truck would stop. Sounds pretty dangerous to me.
I know I've seen the rear wheels of my truck spin while I was stopped in an icy area with the brakes on. Not hard braking, just enough to keep the vehicle from moving.
I'm seeing this as a pretty serious safety issue. If the dealer that has my truck right now can't come up with a satisfactory solution - I'll be escalating the issue.
I've posted this in another thread but I feel it needs to be known;
A friend of mine with an F350 6.7 has this same high idle situation. However, it almost caused a crash for him. He was approaching a stop sign at an icy intersection and applied the brakes. The front wheels slid on the ice as the rear wheels continued to push him into the intersection because the truck was "idling" at 1200 RPM. He put the truck in Neutral so the truck would stop. Sounds pretty dangerous to me.
I know I've seen the rear wheels of my truck spin while I was stopped in an icy area with the brakes on. Not hard braking, just enough to keep the vehicle from moving.
I'm seeing this as a pretty serious safety issue. If the dealer that has my truck right now can't come up with a satisfactory solution - I'll be escalating the issue.