Engine Warm Up
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Engine Warm Up
I have a question concerning engine warm up time. I generally drive my truck every three to five days. Therefore, the truck is not running everyday of the week. However, when I do drive my truck after starting it up how long should I let it idle before driving? And the second part to the question would be is it ok to take off as soon as I start the engine. I also do know that it is not good to get into the turbo right away. Usually I drive rather catiously until the engine is warmed up, is this the right way to go about it?
Thanks
Ryan
Thanks
Ryan
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Eastern Oregon
There's lots of opinions on this. This is what I do now and will do this winter. Warmer temps out I'll let it idle for 2-5 minutes. Then drive easy until temp gauge is almost at the halfway mark. When it gets colder out, idle for 5-10 mins., then I'll drive easy until temp gauge rises to half. But, I haven't read the "official procedure" in the manual yet, so I could be way off.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Snohomish, Washington
I let mine idle in warm or cold weather for 2 to 5 minutes. The colder the weather the longer I let it warm up. I don't exceed 2000 RPM's until the temp gauge is at normal operating temp.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 920
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From: CA
Some warm up time is always good IMO.. How much? Well, what I do, is just go out in the AM as I'm getting ready for work, (if I can get up early enough 
) and give it a crank, idle a couple minutes then drive it a few miles with care.. And THEN, look out commuters!!! Winter temps, it usually gets a few more minutes to defrost which works as a good timer!! Some folks just drive'm like cars..
A little 'foreplay' never hurts!!
...................HP.......................
) and give it a crank, idle a couple minutes then drive it a few miles with care.. And THEN, look out commuters!!! Winter temps, it usually gets a few more minutes to defrost which works as a good timer!! Some folks just drive'm like cars.. A little 'foreplay' never hurts!!
...................HP.......................
Post Fiend
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Youse guys are WAY more patient than I 
I treat this one just like I've done for all the many cars, trucks, and motorhomes, etc... either diesel, gas, whatever... I've driven...
I start it and put it in gear and go easy....
Many experts (which have the same opinions as us )
say it is more harmful to the environment to idle and
no more wear on your engine to just go easy as it is to idle....
and given our truck has so much low end torque...
it's not like it can't go less than 2000 rpm and not get the job done...
like stated - let the debate begin
(having said all that... the remote start is used all the time...)
I treat this one just like I've done for all the many cars, trucks, and motorhomes, etc... either diesel, gas, whatever... I've driven...
I start it and put it in gear and go easy....
Many experts (which have the same opinions as us
)say it is more harmful to the environment to idle and
no more wear on your engine to just go easy as it is to idle....
and given our truck has so much low end torque...
it's not like it can't go less than 2000 rpm and not get the job done...
like stated - let the debate begin
(having said all that... the remote start is used all the time...)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Great State of Texas
I don't know JD...mine has a very diffuclt time staying under 2,000 RPM 
I start her up...give her a good 30 seconds to wake up a bit...then off we go.
I'm easy on her...but I'm not watching my RPMs either.
I know others that crank and go with no issues.
With that said though, one of my 7.3 buddies here in Dallas starts plugging his in once the nights get below 40 degrees. I think he does it more for quicker cab warm up than engine protection. He has a 2000 dually with around 160,000 miles. He drives his truck like it was a gasser.
I start her up...give her a good 30 seconds to wake up a bit...then off we go.
I'm easy on her...but I'm not watching my RPMs either.
I know others that crank and go with no issues.
With that said though, one of my 7.3 buddies here in Dallas starts plugging his in once the nights get below 40 degrees. I think he does it more for quicker cab warm up than engine protection. He has a 2000 dually with around 160,000 miles. He drives his truck like it was a gasser.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 790
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From: Fort. Lauderdale FL,
I know some of you are in hot temps as i am here in Fort Lauderdale. I start mine up in the monring give her about 30sec as well to get her act together and then its off. Just enough time to get situated in my seat and get some tunes going. I do take it easy on her till temps get to normal but here in Fort Lauderdale in the summer time at 8:30 in the AM when im going to work its 85degrees out. Trucks temp starts to get up as i go down my block. If it was really cold out maybe ideal longer. But our winters are cold at around 60 which is nothing for the truck. I have 19,500Miles nothing compared to others but i havent had a problom doing this.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Hendersonville, NC
Originally Posted by kw5413
I don't know JD...mine has a very diffuclt time staying under 2,000 RPM
I start her up...give her a good 30 seconds to wake up a bit...then off we go.
I'm easy on her...but I'm not watching my RPMs either.
I know others that crank and go with no issues.
With that said though, one of my 7.3 buddies here in Dallas starts plugging his in once the nights get below 40 degrees. I think he does it more for quicker cab warm up than engine protection. He has a 2000 dually with around 160,000 miles. He drives his truck like it was a gasser.
I start her up...give her a good 30 seconds to wake up a bit...then off we go.
I'm easy on her...but I'm not watching my RPMs either.
I know others that crank and go with no issues.
With that said though, one of my 7.3 buddies here in Dallas starts plugging his in once the nights get below 40 degrees. I think he does it more for quicker cab warm up than engine protection. He has a 2000 dually with around 160,000 miles. He drives his truck like it was a gasser.
Not so much due to lower temps; but during the week mine gets cranked in the morning, idles for about 10 mins, 5 mile trip to school, and is then parked for 8 hours only to return to a cold truck, start up, and go... I don't like the idea of this (the engine not getting up to temp before being shut off again, and being run in the process) so I plug it in and the temps come up pretty fast in the mornings...it is actually fully warmed about halfway to school.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
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From: Carlsbad, California
In the cold San Diego mornings here where it sometimes gets down to 50 I start it up in the morning and then give it a few seconds until the oil pressure has had a chance to come up and stabilize, and then put it in gear and roll out of my driveway.
I put put the one block I need to go to get out of the neighborhood and then clank my way down the hill to work. It is down hill for two miles and then up a bit the remaining two miles to work. I try to take it easy the whole way.
Don't usually put my foot in until the tranny gauge is showing 120 deg or more.
I start it up in the morning and then give it a few seconds until the oil pressure has had a chance to come up and stabilize, and then put it in gear and roll out of my driveway.I put put the one block I need to go to get out of the neighborhood and then clank my way down the hill to work. It is down hill for two miles and then up a bit the remaining two miles to work. I try to take it easy the whole way.
Don't usually put my foot in until the tranny gauge is showing 120 deg or more.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,539
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From: Snohomish, Washington
Originally Posted by jdadamsjr
Youse guys are WAY more patient than I
I treat this one just like I've done for all the many cars, trucks, and motorhomes, etc... either diesel, gas, whatever... I've driven...
I start it and put it in gear and go easy....
Many experts (which have the same opinions as us )
say it is more harmful to the environment to idle and
no more wear on your engine to just go easy as it is to idle....
and given our truck has so much low end torque...
it's not like it can't go less than 2000 rpm and not get the job done...
like stated - let the debate begin
(having said all that... the remote start is used all the time...)
I treat this one just like I've done for all the many cars, trucks, and motorhomes, etc... either diesel, gas, whatever... I've driven...
I start it and put it in gear and go easy....
Many experts (which have the same opinions as us
)say it is more harmful to the environment to idle and
no more wear on your engine to just go easy as it is to idle....
and given our truck has so much low end torque...
it's not like it can't go less than 2000 rpm and not get the job done...
like stated - let the debate begin
(having said all that... the remote start is used all the time...)
