Winter Warm Up Time?
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Winter Warm Up Time?
This will be my first winter owning my 2002 F350 4x4 7.3 S/C.
In Maryland the winters can get pretty cold. I was thinking after starting my truck during winter, should I let it idle for at least 3 minutes before driving slow for the first mile?
Thanks
In Maryland the winters can get pretty cold. I was thinking after starting my truck during winter, should I let it idle for at least 3 minutes before driving slow for the first mile?
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Denton,TX
During cold operating temperatures you are prone to wet stacking which results in fuel in your oil. In cold temperatures I would recommend plugging the truck in on a timer which comes on 2-3 hours before you use the truck. That's what I did when I lived up North. I would let it idle for about 1 minute and then drive easy until it's warmed up. A diesel will never really "warm up" idling anyway.
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From: Elverson, PA
For once - I gotta disagree with ya John.
A 2002 PSD will idle up automatically and make that horrible (straight piped exhasust - can't wait to hear what it sounds like this winter with stacks!) hissing noise when it's cold. I have an '02 and it will be warm enough to melt a good frost off the windshield in about 10 minutes. I usually go outside and start mine (when it's freezing or below) then come back inside and get my lunch together and then leave for work. I have nowhere to plug mine in at all - never have yet.
A 2002 PSD will idle up automatically and make that horrible (straight piped exhasust - can't wait to hear what it sounds like this winter with stacks!) hissing noise when it's cold. I have an '02 and it will be warm enough to melt a good frost off the windshield in about 10 minutes. I usually go outside and start mine (when it's freezing or below) then come back inside and get my lunch together and then leave for work. I have nowhere to plug mine in at all - never have yet.
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Denton,TX
You don't have to plug it in, but it does help. I've started mine at 10 below zero without plugging it in with no problems. The main issue is that even with the high idle in the factory electronics it is still not enough to prevent wet stacking in very cold temperatures. It will warm up enough to make the defroster work, but it won't truly warm up. I'm talking about winter temps, not fall weather. If you want to idle your truck to warm up it's best to use an auxiliary idle controller to raise the RPM higher than the factory high idle.
Last edited by johnsdiesel; Sep 4, 2004 at 04:50 PM.
Posting Guru
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From: Elverson, PA
O yea - huh? Sorry I wasn't trying to be ignorant. I thought as long as they were idled up it was ok - good to know.
Yea I wished I could have plugged mine in a couple times last winter. Almost didn't get it started one cold windy worning ( temp below 0, wind chill on the weather 30 below) I glowed it 3 times - didn't even TRY to catch. Glowed it 5 times and it started but man did it lope and carry on for a little while!!!
Yea I wished I could have plugged mine in a couple times last winter. Almost didn't get it started one cold windy worning ( temp below 0, wind chill on the weather 30 below) I glowed it 3 times - didn't even TRY to catch. Glowed it 5 times and it started but man did it lope and carry on for a little while!!!
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Denton,TX
Have you considered buying/making an auxiliary idle controller? If you use something like Stanadyne Performance Formula in the winter it will help prevent gelling as well.
Last edited by johnsdiesel; Sep 4, 2004 at 04:53 PM.
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From: Elverson, PA
Yea I run the Diesel Kleen gray bottle in the winter almost every tank 'cause I don't put that many miles on my truck.
I haven't really even thought about an aux. controller 'cause I don't let my truck sitting around anywhere idling - just to warm up on a very cold morning. But then I thought that the factory idle-upper thingy was enough....
I haven't really even thought about an aux. controller 'cause I don't let my truck sitting around anywhere idling - just to warm up on a very cold morning. But then I thought that the factory idle-upper thingy was enough....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Denton,TX
You're better of idleing for a short period of time and then driving it easy until warm then just letting it idle to warm up anyway. Just don't use all of your 307 HP when cold!
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Posting Guru
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From: Elverson, PA
Originally Posted by johnsdiesel
You're better of idleing for a short period of time and then driving it easy until warm then just letting it idle to warm up anyway. Just don't use all of your 307 HP when cold!
Never ever!! I always drive it with the chip on the low setting until it is all the way warmed up - and I dog it until it get's warm enough for the ebv to shut off - trying not to shut it off by the boost sensor way!
Thanks for the info John - I always thought it was hard on 'em to start and drive when cold - even taking it really easy. Like normal - learning something new every day around here!!
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