Engine warm up time

[gunnar]

Hi everyone, I am not new to Ford Trucks, but I did just buy my first 6.0 diesel. 2006 vintage. We are starting to get a little cold in the mornings and evenings and I have found that the engine takes a long time to warm up to operating tempature. Coming home tonight, it did not get up to temp until I was almost 2/3 the way home. My trip home is about 18 miles all highway driving. Is this normal for these engines to take a while to warm up? Is a winter front in order? BTW great website guys and gals.

 

[hheynow]

Is a winter front in order?

Seeing as you live in Calgary ...I'd say yes.

 

[gunnar]

In hindsight, I do realize I would probably need a winter front, but in the big scheme of things it really has not been that cold. It has only been around the 32 degrees in the early morning. Coming home tonight it was about 40-45.

 

[lvtitan]

plug that SOB in at night.

 

[powerboatr]

plug that SOB in at night.

yep we do even down here when it gets near 40
makes a world of difference , and I hate the cold
starts right up and is ready to roll
cant beleive its that time of the year already

 

[roosterdiesel]

As already stated plug it in.


I plug mine in anytime its suppose to get below 40. Which our first night will be tonight. I use a heavy duty timer from Home Depot and set it for 3 hours before I have to leave in the AM, saves a little on the electric bill. Cold starts are harder on internals and reduce longevity IMO.

If you don't plug it in, I don't recommend going over 2000 rpms until the temp needle has started climbing. Aluminum grows faster than cast iron, easy to score cylinder walls and gauld pistons if you go hot rodding on a cold engine.

 

[gunnar]

Plugging it in no doubt helps with starting and faster warm up and no offense ment to the folks in the south, but here 40 is not really that cold nor is the freezing mark. I was a little off on my temps last night coming home, they were about 50-55 F. The truck starts fine at these tempatures, it is just getting up to operating tempature in a timely matter that is a concern to me. I also have a 96 GM 6.5L that warms up way faster than my new Ford which led to my original question, is it a characteristic of these engines to take a while to warm up. If it is and I will have to plug it in well..so be it. But here in Canada, we don't even think about in a vehicle until about -15C/10F. I always used -10 C/14F to plug in.

 

[powerboatr]

Plugging it in no doubt helps with starting and faster warm up and no offense ment to the folks in the south, but here 40 is not really that cold nor is the freezing mark. IQUOTE]

wanna bet
when it drops to 55 its break out the long johns time -popcorn

 

[gunnar]

Hahaha your right, I am originally from California and moved here with my wife after leaving the military. It took me a good 2-3 years to get used to the cool falls and cold winters. I guess I just got used to the cold.

 

[Kleetus]

I'd say it's taking too long for you... I drive 18 miles pretty much highway in mine, and it's about 2 miles and I have heat, lot's of it after about 5-8 miles depending on traffic.