What would happen if I let my truck idle for a week?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 851
Likes: 14
What would happen if I let my truck idle for a week?
2015 King Ranch, all stock. What would happen if I left my truck idling for a week straight in arctic temps?
Ford did a test at -20 *F for 3 weeks straight but didnt say what happened with the DPF system.
Ford did a test at -20 *F for 3 weeks straight but didnt say what happened with the DPF system.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 6,801
Likes: 7
From: DFW, TX-GoldCanyon, AZ
Adding to what Scott mentioned ---
Three weeks straight represents a single heat cycle.
While the idling is not good for any vehicle, at least it was brought up to a temperature and held there. Running multiple heat cycles would introduce condensation as well as thermal expansion and contraction into the mix and that has a much heftier price to pay.
If you want to let the vehicle idle for long periods, I would recommend that you look into the fast idle mod that can be done (I hear it is easy) to these trucks...
Three weeks straight represents a single heat cycle.
While the idling is not good for any vehicle, at least it was brought up to a temperature and held there. Running multiple heat cycles would introduce condensation as well as thermal expansion and contraction into the mix and that has a much heftier price to pay.
If you want to let the vehicle idle for long periods, I would recommend that you look into the fast idle mod that can be done (I hear it is easy) to these trucks...
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,762
Likes: 115
I've started my truck in plenty of -20F temps without an issue. I usually try to plug it in if I know I am going to need to drive - but a couple of times I didn't. And this was in Alaska too.
When it is really cold out the truck will automatically high idle - but if I was going to let it idle for that long I would do the high idle mod.
What will happen? Most likely you will burn a lot of fuel. Your idle hours to drive hours will be off that if you have a warranty issue they may not cover it.
I don't think that Ford would run a vehicle without EPA equipment on it to test it. That wouldn't prove that the truck they sell can last in the arctic. Interestingly enough, in the manual for the 6.7 it doesn't recommend a front cover for this motor - because apparently it can handle the extreme cold. I don't neccesary believe it, since I have seen my temp gauges go all the way to 'cold' from the middle when driving on the highway in sub zero temps.
When it is really cold out the truck will automatically high idle - but if I was going to let it idle for that long I would do the high idle mod.
What will happen? Most likely you will burn a lot of fuel. Your idle hours to drive hours will be off that if you have a warranty issue they may not cover it.
I don't think that Ford would run a vehicle without EPA equipment on it to test it. That wouldn't prove that the truck they sell can last in the arctic. Interestingly enough, in the manual for the 6.7 it doesn't recommend a front cover for this motor - because apparently it can handle the extreme cold. I don't neccesary believe it, since I have seen my temp gauges go all the way to 'cold' from the middle when driving on the highway in sub zero temps.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
At a minimum you would want to run the high idle. It will burn through fuel at a very high rate. My EGT1 temps during the summer with a 1,400 RPM idle are around 300°F and drop below 300 in the winter. The next thing you would need is the Edge Insight so you can monitor the DPF and run manual regenerations if you won't be driving long distances to get that DPF cleaned up. The EGR is the part you can't control, I would think that would be in bad shape after a few days but that's only a guess.
I would think a generator would be a better option. Have the generator run the block heater for the truck and safe heaters for yourself. But only you know your exact situation.
However, I bet someone (fleets) do this (long idles) with their trucks in those places so it's probably not unheard of.
I would think a generator would be a better option. Have the generator run the block heater for the truck and safe heaters for yourself. But only you know your exact situation.
However, I bet someone (fleets) do this (long idles) with their trucks in those places so it's probably not unheard of.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Sounds like a great question to present to Ford Customer Support. Especially, if you have some reasonable use case (like, I need this for my job this winter). I am curious whether they specify that high idle mod is required or not.
As far as I know, warranty does not specify any engine time or idle time constraints. Which means that in theory I could run it for 3 years straight and only drive 100 miles and Ford should foot the bill for any repairs.
As far as I know, warranty does not specify any engine time or idle time constraints. Which means that in theory I could run it for 3 years straight and only drive 100 miles and Ford should foot the bill for any repairs.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
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Sounds like a great question to present to Ford Customer Support. Especially, if you have some reasonable use case (like, I need this for my job this winter). I am curious whether they specify that high idle mod is required or not.
As far as I know, warranty does not specify any engine time or idle time constraints. Which means that in theory I could run it for 3 years straight and only drive 100 miles and Ford should foot the bill for any repairs.
As far as I know, warranty does not specify any engine time or idle time constraints. Which means that in theory I could run it for 3 years straight and only drive 100 miles and Ford should foot the bill for any repairs.
In the arctic a warm truck can be a difference between life and death.... nd ain short order when it's -40 out. Lots of places where plugging in is not an option nor is running a generator to warm the block heater.
I've had my 7.3 running for about 3 days straight before (high idle) with no ill effects.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,762
Likes: 115
From the manual on a 2013 - I can't imagine it is any different for a 2015.
The following cold weather idling guidelines are recommended:
•
Motorcraft® cetane improvers or non-alcohol-based cetane improvers
from a reputable manufacturer may be used as needed.
•
Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
•
Avoid shutting the engine down after an extensive idling period. Drive
the vehicle for several miles with the engine at normal operating
temperatures under a moderate load.
•
Consider using an engine block heater.
•
For extended idle times use an approved idle speed increase device.
Starting and Stopping the Engine
11
2013 Diesel
(67l)
Supplement, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)
Winter Operating Tips for Arctic Operation -20°F (-29°C) and Below
The following information is provided as a guideline only, and is not
intended to be the only source of possible solutions in resolving extreme
cold temperature issues.
Starting Aids:
WARNING:
Do not use starting fluid, such as ether, in the air
intake system (see air filter decal). Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible personal injury.
The use of the factory engine block heater assists in engine starting in
extreme cold ambient temperatures. Refer to
Engine block heater in the
Starting and Stopping the Engine
chapter of your Owner’s Manual.
Idle Control:
•
Your vehicle may have a factory option for a stationary elevated idle
control (SEIC) through dash-mounted upfitter switches which allows
the operator to elevate the idle rpm for extended idle periods, as well
as aftermarket equipment such as PTO operation. This feature must
be configured even if ordered from the factory.
The following cold weather idling guidelines are recommended:
•
Motorcraft® cetane improvers or non-alcohol-based cetane improvers
from a reputable manufacturer may be used as needed.
•
Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
•
Avoid shutting the engine down after an extensive idling period. Drive
the vehicle for several miles with the engine at normal operating
temperatures under a moderate load.
•
Consider using an engine block heater.
•
For extended idle times use an approved idle speed increase device.
Starting and Stopping the Engine
11
2013 Diesel
(67l)
Supplement, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)
Winter Operating Tips for Arctic Operation -20°F (-29°C) and Below
The following information is provided as a guideline only, and is not
intended to be the only source of possible solutions in resolving extreme
cold temperature issues.
Starting Aids:
WARNING:
Do not use starting fluid, such as ether, in the air
intake system (see air filter decal). Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible personal injury.
The use of the factory engine block heater assists in engine starting in
extreme cold ambient temperatures. Refer to
Engine block heater in the
Starting and Stopping the Engine
chapter of your Owner’s Manual.
Idle Control:
•
Your vehicle may have a factory option for a stationary elevated idle
control (SEIC) through dash-mounted upfitter switches which allows
the operator to elevate the idle rpm for extended idle periods, as well
as aftermarket equipment such as PTO operation. This feature must
be configured even if ordered from the factory.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 19
From: Louisiana
So if you ever read back on one of my old threads, I have accidently LET my truck idle all night. I would say probably like a good solid 12 hours straight....... I was bringing in groceries and the truck was running and I didn't turn it off for some reason, it was when I first got the truck. When I went out the next morning for work at 5:00, my truck was running and I was like WTF!!!! Somebody is trying to steal this joker.....NOPE. Just me being dumb and It burned like 1/4 tank of fuel 
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