Trying to decide whether I want to do the high idle feature on my truck. I had it in the past, of course these were kit that you purchased installed and went on your merry way.

That's been a number of years ago and I'm trying to remember why I did it. Was it for keeping the idle up to keep the A/C cooling? It is not a feature that in Texas works much for the other direction of keeping the idle up to warm up the truck. Of course there was the idle up to idle down before shutting the motor off times.

What do the masses say, is it a needed feature or is it a feature you added because you could.

 

I am new to trucks, but I thought that high idle was for helping with towing? But I could very easily be wrong. I thought that it was pretty easy to wire the high idle to one of your uplifter switches. Not sure how to do it without those?

 

BD Diesel also sells a kit that wires in to your factory harness for those who don't have the upfitter switches. Of course the BD Diesel kit is around $73 but then the idle level is adjustable.

I guess the feature would be nice in keeping the idle up if winching to keep the alternator pumping out power.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-pictures.html
Have you seen this? Just making sure you know the information was available.

 

I have everything to do mine, just have never done it. I enjoyed it on my 6.4 as it was much simpler to install. Although the guys that have done the 6.7s before can do it in about 10 minutes.

 

Thank you for the link. My biggest issue with working under the dash is me being the big issue.

I do recall now that on the older trucks it was a simple plug and play installation, I love it when my memory warms up after a few cups of coffee.

 

if you want a high idle kit i can hook you up. I've got all the supplies on hand. if you want an adjustable one heres on i just made for a buddy of mine

i made it to fit that little storage box on the driver side. i have the one from BD diesel and this one is the exact same except this one needs a switched power source.

 

IMO I am not sure you really need it HI option unless there is a commercial use for it. Idle on these trucks is a mpg killer. So maybe the guys who use it all the time can weigh in and its use and worth.

Where I do see a use for it is if you are using the PTO from the trans. Not sure about the Ford trans but having used PTO I know I have to get the rpms up to around 1200 or so to max out the oil pressure for use in the PTO.

 

What do you want it for - quicker heat up or cool down?

I recall reading somewhere that the high idle feature is already available with remote start. Just set the parking brake before remote starting.

 

[QUOTE=Rattler1;15126220]What do you want it for - quicker heat up or cool down?

QUOTE]

I don't know really. I do recall that I would use it when we would stop to take a bread and stretch our legs at a rest area. I would set the high idle to keep the ac blowing cold. I also used to at times to warm up the truck faster.

Too many times with I have used my remote start to start the truck the HAVC doesn't work correctly until the truck has been turned off and then back on with the key.

I kind of also figure that is using the winch it wouldn't hurt to have the alternator running at a higher RPM.

Truth being however, it may never get used. But, if I wanted to use it I would have it. I am taking another great forum members (Blapensee ) offer to have a high idle harness setup made for me.

 

I use mine nearly every time I drive the truck. If I'm going to stop for 5-10 minutes (get fuel, etc) I flip the switch and let the truck run at 1200 rpm. Mine is adjustable, though I just leave it at 11-1200. A hair lower and it will vibrate, as others have also run into. For using something like a winch, its a great idea, or as you said just to run into a rest area.

 

Just curious what your reasoning is to let it high idle for 5-10 minute breaks? What are you accomplishing with high idle vs regular idle?

 

It really doesn't do much for warming up the truck on a cold morning. I've watched my Coolant and EGT temps on a 20° morning at both normal idle and at high idle. Very little difference in 5 or 10 minutes warm up.

To warm the engine up, You need the turbo to push some extra air into the combustion chamber increasing the combustion temps. In other words put a load on the engine.

For me high idle would be to run the PTO or Alternator

 

I did the high idle mod to my 6.7. It took about 20 mins lying upside down on the driver's floorboard, rigging it to upfitter #4. Painted Horse is dead on regarding the warm up potential of this mod. Doesn't have any effect that I've noticed, and it won't work with the upfitter left on and a remote start until you insert the key (which kinda defeats the purpose if you were looking for more heat when you finally went out to the truck). The truck does have an "idle-up" feature for extreme cold weather based on ambient temp, coolant temp, etc. I've never had it kick in, but I'm guessing it would need to be MUCH cooler than the temps we get in Alabama. The HVAC system, if left in "Auto", will set the heated seats on and the heater to high if the ambient temp is below 32 degrees and the truck is started by remote. These settings revert to their pre-shutdown settings once the key is inserted. It works the same in the summer with cooled seats and A/C. I installed the high idle to combat the "wet stacking" I read about on this forum and others. I've used it a few times while waiting for fuel or taking a rest stop break, but don't much anymore. I haven't had any oil growth, and haven't noticed any improvement in air conditioning or heat regardless of idle RPM.

 

Moogal78 mentioned the biggest reason I have it installed, "wet stacking". It is not good for these newer diesel engines to idle for long periods of time at a low RPM. These engines do not burn fuel efficiently when they are cold. This condition "Wet Stacking" happens when a diesel engine operates below the rated output level the engine starts over-fuel or "wet stack". Diesel engines are designed to operate with a load and operate more efficiently in the 70 to 80% range of rated output. When a diesel engine operates for a long period of time at a low output range it begins to over fuel. This can eventually cause engine problems. So even though it may not warm up the engine a great deal on a cold morning I like to let my truck idle for a couple of minutes to get the oil flowing, start the defrost process and get my butt warmer going before I take off.