Engine Idle Shut Down Timer
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
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Engine Idle Shut Down Timer
When I ordered my 2018 F-350, I neglected to get the engine Idle Shut down timer feature. I'm beginning to learn that Ford programs the trucks with all the options and activates them when you order them.
Has anyone found a tech that knows how to activate this feature or is there someone out there that knows how?
Has anyone found a tech that knows how to activate this feature or is there someone out there that knows how?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 559
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We do.. How do we use the timer?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
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My truck is at the dealer so I can’t verify this but I think it’s under settings in the infotainment screen in your instrument cluster. That is where I have to go to disable the feature as it enables automatically at each start up. I can’t remember but I thought you could change it to 5, 15 and 30 minutes. I could be wrong but mine shuts itself off at 30min but gives me a minute warning to stop the shutdown process if it’s unwanted. I’m pretty sure all the diesel trains had this option as it was an emissions standard. Again, I could be wrong.
Out of curiosity, why do you want an idle shutdown anyways? These trucks only require idling cool down after long trips under extreme load. If you were pulling a heavy trailer for 300miles and wanted to stop on the side of the road, you would need to let it idle before shutting down. If you were doing the same trip but had to stop for fuel, the coasting around town to get to the station would provide enough cool down time or only require a minute or so to safely shutdown.
Out of curiosity, why do you want an idle shutdown anyways? These trucks only require idling cool down after long trips under extreme load. If you were pulling a heavy trailer for 300miles and wanted to stop on the side of the road, you would need to let it idle before shutting down. If you were doing the same trip but had to stop for fuel, the coasting around town to get to the station would provide enough cool down time or only require a minute or so to safely shutdown.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
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Likes: 20
The owners manual shows a different process so maybe that process is for a lower trim level truck. Something to do with 5 min or 15 min if e-brake is engaged. It also states that “your vehicle may be equipped” with the auto shutdown but I’m sure they used that wording because the gassers have the same owners manual.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
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My truck is at the dealer so I can’t verify this but I think it’s under settings in the infotainment screen in your instrument cluster. That is where I have to go to disable the feature as it enables automatically at each start up. I can’t remember but I thought you could change it to 5, 15 and 30 minutes. I could be wrong but mine shuts itself off at 30min but gives me a minute warning to stop the shutdown process if it’s unwanted. I’m pretty sure all the diesel trains had this option as it was an emissions standard. Again, I could be wrong.
Out of curiosity, why do you want an idle shutdown anyways? These trucks only require idling cool down after long trips under extreme load. If you were pulling a heavy trailer for 300miles and wanted to stop on the side of the road, you would need to let it idle before shutting down. If you were doing the same trip but had to stop for fuel, the coasting around town to get to the station would provide enough cool down time or only require a minute or so to safely shutdown.
Out of curiosity, why do you want an idle shutdown anyways? These trucks only require idling cool down after long trips under extreme load. If you were pulling a heavy trailer for 300miles and wanted to stop on the side of the road, you would need to let it idle before shutting down. If you were doing the same trip but had to stop for fuel, the coasting around town to get to the station would provide enough cool down time or only require a minute or so to safely shutdown.
Thanks for the info. I never thought to look in the infotainment screen. I was looking in the vehicle information screen where all the vitals are. Let me know what your Dealer says.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I think I misspoke. It’s in the display on the instrument cluster. I’ll give you the directions when I get the truck back tomorrow. Do you have the 8” screen or the small one?
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
The idle shutdown is only on XL and XLT, it's not a turbo timer. It's for anti idle and emissions compliance. Some people thing it can be set and the keys removed for a cool down and that is not the intent.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 275
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From: Metro Detroit
I was also looking at this as I have a dog and in the hot weather I leave my current truck running on the Diesel Life Timer I installed. That way I can leave the A/C on and take the key. I did read here on the forum that with FORScan you can disable the 30 minute timer and it will just run until you shut it off. I do not know if that only works with the push to start.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 20
I was also looking at this as I have a dog and in the hot weather I leave my current truck running on the Diesel Life Timer I installed. That way I can leave the A/C on and take the key. I did read here on the forum that with FORScan you can disable the 30 minute timer and it will just run until you shut it off. I do not know if that only works with the push to start.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: Texas