Are you suppose to let engine idle for time period after running it hard to cool down turbo? If so, what conditions after driving it or restarting? How do outside temps play into this? Length of driving and speed? Summer vs. winter problem? Novice at this diesel game.

 

Seems to be lots of opinions on this. I don't recall reading anything in the owner manual about this. But, if you have been towing and running at freeway speeds or running hard. I would let it idle no more than two minutes to let the turbo cool down to prevent "coking" of the oil in the turbo bearings. Of course the higher the ambient temperature, the closer to two minutes you should wait.

 

SBV45,

Why do you say NOT to idle for more than 2 minutes?

Letting your turbo cool down is key after towing, long highway driving, or hard driving in general!!!

This is why people buy aftermarket gauges and monitor their turbo inlet or exhaust temps. In the winter, cooler ambiant temps will cool your turbo bearings down quicker than in the summer. On hot days, it will take longer for the intercooler and oil to effectively cool the bearings down. I have read on a previous post that on a hot summer day after towing, it took one guys truck over 12 minutes to cool down according to his gauges.

Idling for this amount of time is NOT going to hurt your truck. Overnight might and carbon may build up on the intakes, but I have also read where guys let their trucks idle all day while working in Alaska.

I have also read on this site where extended idling in the winter (several hours) is not good since the engine cools itself faster than it can generate heat to operate???

Personally, I coast down my street before turning off in the garage. If I have been driving hard, I let it idle 5 - 10 minutes. If I am on the highway, I let it idle while refueling, then park it to eat... it's already cooled down while you refueled... you'll see truckers doing it this way.

On a normal day... 2 to 5 minutes is OK. Coast into Walmart when shopping and just turn it off.

Good luck and SBV45, I am curious why your 2 minute max rule.

Take care,

 

Musta had a brain cramp or 4th beer. I use two minutes as a guideline not a limit. Two minutes is what I was taught with turbo powered gassers in aircraft. In two minutes, temps are stabilized enough to prevent excessive coking.

 

I read in the owners manual, no lie and I'm 100% positive that it is there somewhere, that you should let it idle up to nine minutes or seven...I saw it...hmm

 

I installed a EGT before the turbo about 2 weeks ago. I have heard that it is best to let the engine cool down to 300 degree's before shutdown. I live in FL and temps have been around 70, most of the time after comming off the higway (not towing or loaded) I usually have to wait about 2 min to get down to 300. Since this is a major inconvienence I will be installing the aftermarket kit that lets you turn the key off walk away and set the alarm while the engine continues to run until it is cool. Seems like the 300.00 they want is well worth it! EGT is a must!

Dam good truck.

Stay Cool

 

You can get the "turbo timer" as its called with an alarm...But you can also buy individual timer w/o an alarm for ~90-$100...

You dont NEED an alarm as when the TT is activated the vehicle cant be driven....the minute someone touches the brake it dies and wont restart..

FWIW I just had ford add on a factory Alarm/Keyless/Autostart.. It has the Timer function built in...They are definately worth it...

I adding Timer on my GTA Race Car for a year because I dont want to Destroy a $2000 turbo ..

 

add a pre/post luber and not have to leave the motor running.

 

Kenwood - what did it cost to get your alarm installed? How long did it take for the dealer to install?

 

Mine was ~420 out the door...that included parts and install...A little more salty than the same Viper system but better warranty and fit to the vehicle..

It was the alarm/keyless/remote start.... I already had all power options so that saved some coin on the kit.... The price depended on what options you already had...

It was somewhat strange because its FORD parts...But Ford calls in an Outside person to do it...The regular dealer techs dont do them...

I had to schedule the Appt a week and a half in advance...the actual install time was about 3 hours....

I likes it over say a viper alarm because #1 it is blanketed under your warranty on your car so if something goes wrong ford fixes it..#2 if something like my power door lock goes bad they cant BLAME it on an aftermarket install#3 It looks more professional because everything is made to fit in an existing place in the vehicle...plus you get ford transmitters just like if I purchased the truck that way...

 

I too am looking for that, it does say it.......ug......still cannot find it

 

Its not in the Owners manual...its in the diesel manual under the driving section...Ill find the page tonight...Its like a MATER of Fact statement....

Kind of like Change the oil every 5000 miles and By the way let the engine run for 7-10 minutes after hard driving to let the turbo cool down...

 

oh ok, diesel manual...

 

Page 11, of the Diesel Supplement, under Stopping the Engine.

 

Page 11

STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition to OFF. To prolong engine life (after extended high
speed or maximum GVW operation), it is recommended that a hot engine
be allowed to operate at low idle for about 7–10 minutes which would
allow sufficient time for the turbocharged engine to cool down.