Once a week enough?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2010
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From: West by God Virginyuh
Once a week enough?
I have a 2005 Excursion 6.0, around 370k miles. Bought it in 2014 with 83k miles and basically until 2022 it was my daily driver when I bought a commuter car, but I still drove it a couple times a week. From mid-2023 until Jan 2024 it basically sat as the oil cooler had a small leak into the coolant and I didn’t have time to replace it until New Year’s. Since then I’ve been driving it once a week, basically about a 30 minute drive to the gym, workout for about an hour, then a 30 minute drive home. So it’s at full operating temp for a total of about 40 minutes of driving. When I’m not driving it I have a battery tender on it. Is this enough to keep it healthy or do I need to do a longer drive?
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2004
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I think you'll be fine. Open her up once in a while for hot rod runs here and there to exercise the vanes.
The tender is key 100% and maybe the block warmer once in a while as it sits.
In your area I'd be more concerned with the stagnant fuel sitting. You can add some cold weather stuff and cycle through the tank as much as you can.
The tender is key 100% and maybe the block warmer once in a while as it sits.
In your area I'd be more concerned with the stagnant fuel sitting. You can add some cold weather stuff and cycle through the tank as much as you can.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2010
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From: West by God Virginyuh
Yep, I definitely get the boost/revs up once it’s up to temp. Still runs great!
I worried about the fuel, especially when it sat for quite a while waiting for me to have time to replace the oil cooler. But have been through a bunch of tankfuls since and so far all good.
Thanks!
I worried about the fuel, especially when it sat for quite a while waiting for me to have time to replace the oil cooler. But have been through a bunch of tankfuls since and so far all good.
Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
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From: Foothills, CA
Once a month here as well - have contemplated selling it, but it is so perfectly set up for our slide-in camper, I'd either need to sell them together or the camper 1st. Then I take it for a drive and tell myself I'm nuts! I love the truck... Or the occasional over sized item needs picking up (last was a 12' pasture gate) and I'm thinking no way the tiny bed on the F150 would handle this... I think I'm still under 32K miles... 
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: West by God Virginyuh
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Fleet Owner
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Getting engine oil fully up to a stable temperature can vary based on the drive - slow speed vs highway speed. The more fuel that is burned, the quicker things will get to a stable operating temperature. Usually takes around 10 minutes of highway driving for my oil temps to stabilize.
I would think a 30 mile drive would be more than adequate. I would always sample my oil for the UOA after a 22-25 mile drive and I never saw water, OR any fuel dilution, in my analytical results.
Most of my trucks miles have been 22-25 mile drive in the morning, and then the same drive (in reverse) in the afternoon. Almost all of this drive to/from work was highway miles.
I would think a 30 mile drive would be more than adequate. I would always sample my oil for the UOA after a 22-25 mile drive and I never saw water, OR any fuel dilution, in my analytical results.
Most of my trucks miles have been 22-25 mile drive in the morning, and then the same drive (in reverse) in the afternoon. Almost all of this drive to/from work was highway miles.
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