Running A Psd Cold
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
When in doubt 
From the 2006 Diesel Supplement:
Starting
1. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without turning the key to 5 (START). Do not start the engine until the glow-plug pre-heat indicator turns off.
2. When the glow plug pre-heat indicator turns off, turn the key to 5 (START), then release the key as soon as the engine starts. The glow
plugs will continue to be activated for two minutes after the glow plug pre-heat indicator has turned off. If the engine is not started before the glow plug activation time ends, the glow plugs will need to be reset by turning the key to 3 (OFF).
3. After the engine starts, allow it to idle for about 15 seconds. Do not increase engine speed until the oil pressure gauge indicates normal pressure.
COLD WEATHER OPERATION
The following cold weather idling guidelines must be followed:
• Avoid idling the engine for more than 10 minutes at a time.
• Use Motor Craft Cetane Index improvers of a non-alcohol based from a reputable manufacturer.
• Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
• Do not shut the engine down after an extensive idling period (10 minutes or more). Drive the vehicle for several miles with the engine at normal operating temperatures under a moderate load to burn off any accumulated carbon and varnish.
• Consider using an engine block heater.
• For extended idle times use an approved idle speed increase device.
So basically, start the engine, let it idle for 15 seconds and you're OK. If you let it warm up, don't let it idle for 10 minutes or more unless you do a high idle modifcation.
From the 2006 Diesel Supplement:
Starting
1. Turn the key to 4 (ON) without turning the key to 5 (START). Do not start the engine until the glow-plug pre-heat indicator turns off.
2. When the glow plug pre-heat indicator turns off, turn the key to 5 (START), then release the key as soon as the engine starts. The glow
plugs will continue to be activated for two minutes after the glow plug pre-heat indicator has turned off. If the engine is not started before the glow plug activation time ends, the glow plugs will need to be reset by turning the key to 3 (OFF).
3. After the engine starts, allow it to idle for about 15 seconds. Do not increase engine speed until the oil pressure gauge indicates normal pressure.
COLD WEATHER OPERATION
The following cold weather idling guidelines must be followed:
• Avoid idling the engine for more than 10 minutes at a time.
• Use Motor Craft Cetane Index improvers of a non-alcohol based from a reputable manufacturer.
• Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
• Do not shut the engine down after an extensive idling period (10 minutes or more). Drive the vehicle for several miles with the engine at normal operating temperatures under a moderate load to burn off any accumulated carbon and varnish.
• Consider using an engine block heater.
• For extended idle times use an approved idle speed increase device.
So basically, start the engine, let it idle for 15 seconds and you're OK. If you let it warm up, don't let it idle for 10 minutes or more unless you do a high idle modifcation.
Last edited by redford; Dec 3, 2007 at 09:29 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 851
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From: N. Georgia
I warm mine up for about 5 minute and then have to pull out onto a main state highway. I just try to ease it out on the road and then ease it on down the road. If a tractor trailer comes around the curve and I have to gouge on it I would but I try to take it easy for a couple of miles. If you plug it in it will help a lot.
Joe
Joe
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 343
From: Breckenridge, TX
Its been freezing-ish here lately, and I let mine idle for a couple mins then baby it down the road until the coolant gauge pops up.. I know the gauge is a lie-o-meter and doesn't mean a whole lot numbers wise, but once it pops up I can get into it and feel fine about it. I'm lucky cause I have an open mile of two lane road before I need to go anywhere fast, so I can just chug along and normally its up by time time I get to the stoplight.
If he did hammer down on it freezing cold, what would go wrong? Lubrication system, head studs, crack something maybe?
If he did hammer down on it freezing cold, what would go wrong? Lubrication system, head studs, crack something maybe?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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I installed a temp probe in the block and wired it through a selector switch so I can read it on my tranny temp gage. It reads about 120 at the C mark, around 140 at the bottom mark of the "Normal" range, and when up to operating temp it reads around 185*F. Since the tranny temp gage has a range of 100-280*F, you can monitor any parameter that falls within that range. I have mine set up to read both differentials, the tranny and coolant temps, with engine oil soon to be added.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
if you arent towing somthing real heavy, a cold idle does much more harm then driving off and getting the combustion going. a cold diesel does a real poor job of burning all the fuel. this unburnt fuel washes down the cyinders and rings causing lots more wer to them. im not saying to hammer it, just drive normally. the only time i ever drove very slow in 40 years of driving big rigs was when it was 55 below zero in cnada. and this was to slowly wrm up the running gear. it would be best to plug in a block heater and have it on a timer to turn on maybe an hour before you nleve for work etc. even hot ideling is bd for diesel. its one thing to idle it so you cn sleep without freezing to death, but another when yoou idle it just becuse its a diesel. i see it all the time. an ideling diesel pisk-up truck. yers ago the truckers used to idle thm because the strters were so troublesum,,,and the out series paralel switches on the 24 volt starters just magnified the problem, so the drives left them running until they got home. remember , a psd ford will burn about a gallon an hour.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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Originally Posted by oltrucker
if you arent towing somthing real heavy, a cold idle does much more harm then driving off and getting the combustion going. a cold diesel does a real poor job of burning all the fuel. this unburnt fuel washes down the cyinders and rings causing lots more wer to them. im not saying to hammer it, just drive normally. the only time i ever drove very slow in 40 years of driving big rigs was when it was 55 below zero in cnada. and this was to slowly wrm up the running gear. it would be best to plug in a block heater and have it on a timer to turn on maybe an hour before you nleve for work etc. even hot ideling is bd for diesel. its one thing to idle it so you cn sleep without freezing to death, but another when yoou idle it just becuse its a diesel. i see it all the time. an ideling diesel pisk-up truck. yers ago the truckers used to idle thm because the strters were so troublesum,,,and the out series paralel switches on the 24 volt starters just magnified the problem, so the drives left them running until they got home. remember , a psd ford will burn about a gallon an hour.
Remember, a PSD burns ~ 1 gallon every 3 hours, and I can't stress this enough.... gauges, gauges, gauges. then you know what is going on.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Baltimore
Originally Posted by texastech_diesel
Its been freezing-ish here lately, and I let mine idle for a couple mins then baby it down the road until the coolant gauge pops up.. I know the gauge is a lie-o-meter and doesn't mean a whole lot numbers wise, but once it pops up I can get into it and feel fine about it. I'm lucky cause I have an open mile of two lane road before I need to go anywhere fast, so I can just chug along and normally its up by time time I get to the stoplight.
If he did hammer down on it freezing cold, what would go wrong? Lubrication system, head studs, crack something maybe?
If he did hammer down on it freezing cold, what would go wrong? Lubrication system, head studs, crack something maybe?
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
Originally Posted by empiretc
Remember, a PSD burns ~ 1 gallon every 3 hours, and I can't stress this enough.... gauges, gauges, gauges. then you know what is going on.
it don't take much idling to drop fuel milage down 2 to 3 mpg
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 457
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From: SW ND
Originally Posted by empiretc
Remember, a PSD burns ~ 1 gallon every 3 hours
1-1.2 g/hr low idle Cold
1.2-1.4 g/hr switch elevated idle
.4-.5 g/hr low idle - elevated idle operating temp
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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Originally Posted by rbaker6336
I keep hearing this but guess my truck don't know about it yet
it don't take much idling to drop fuel milage down 2 to 3 mpg
it don't take much idling to drop fuel milage down 2 to 3 mpg
22.0Gal 18.18MPG(I wish...)
22.5Gal 17.78MPG
23.0Gal 17.39MPG
23.5Gal 17.02MPG(about average for me)
24.0Gal 16.67MPG
24.5Gal 16.33MPG
25.0Gal 16.00MPG
25.5Gal 15.69MPG
26.0Gal 15.38MPG(last week)
It's easy to see why my mileage dropped so much when I was stuck in traffic last Thursday going down the highway in 4X4 and doing 2-3 MPH and taking 3 hours to get to work, normally about 50 minutes....
Last edited by thedaddycat; Dec 17, 2007 at 09:32 AM.