How long should I let my truck warm up?

[mike.germann]

This may be a dumb question, but here goes: how long should I let my 7.3L turbo diesel engine run before driving?

So far I've been letting the temp gauge rise into the operating range, but I don't want to burn a bunch of fuel idling.

Should I just keep doing what I'm doing? Thanks.

 

[snicklas]

On my 6.0. I start it up, and let it idle for maybe a minute or two. Then I take off. But I drive it very easy..... like not much above a fast idle until the engine starts to build some heat. That is just the first few minutes. If I leave home and goto the filling station just up the road (Less that a Mile) I am very easy on the throttle, and I let it sit and idle for the few minutes that I am inside. By then, unless it is really cold out the temp guage has started to move into the low side of the range (stock idiot guage, but still a guage that moves with changed in temp, unlike the oil pressure guage. on/off at 7psi....) and then I will drive in a more normal fashion. I will not really throttle on it until it is up to normal operating temp, which for me in all but sub-zero temps is at mid guage. Then I am more generous with the fuel..... I do have the EGR and the VGT that is effected by long idle times, so that is one reason that I limit my idle time. I would say, as you get more comfortable with your truck, you can "feel" some of the things I am talking about... and really don't have to watch of something specific on the guages.......

 

[6.0PSD777]

I let mine idle on high idle for 2-3 minutes in the morning and then take off. I try not to rev it above 2500 until the temps start to come up. Otherwise throughout the day i just get in and drive unless its freezing outside then it will get a couple minutes on high idle. Extended idling just wastes fuel and is bad for any turbo diesel engine and isn't real good for any motor with emissions.

 

[JLDickmon]

if it's hitting on all 8, has quit making smoke and responds to the throttle, drive it.

 

[6.0PSD777]

if it's hitting on all 8, has quit making smoke and responds to the throttle, drive it.

Well Said

 

[wpfd571]

if it's hitting on all 8, has quit making smoke and responds to the throttle, drive it.

+1 thats the way i see it unless its real cold then i let it warm up cause the non heated leather seats are real cold on your butt

 

[JimmyDee]

As soon as it shows oil pressure, it goes. I have never let an engine idle to pre warm before driving.
Jim

 

[BIG JOE]

if it's hitting on all 8, has quit making smoke and responds to the throttle, drive it.

Well Said

+1 thats the way i see it unless its real cold then i let it warm up cause the non heated leather seats are real cold on your butt

As soon as it shows oil pressure, it goes. I have never let an engine idle to pre warm before driving.
Jim

Me 5

Fire'em up.. Oil pressure (?) , Fuel Pressure (?) .. I'm back'n out.





In the Winter.. I'll wait for the Batt needle to jump up though.. Sometimes.

 

[RSG]

Me 6. And I run at a high idle (1200-1400 rpm) within a few minutes of start, if it has to idle in the cold especially if not warmed up. Keeps the voltage up and prevents wet stacking.

 

[mike.germann]

Thanks guys. I was letting my truck idle for 10-15 minutes to get it warm, but it sounds like that isn't the best thing for a turbo diesel engine. I work on aircraft, and the aircraft's support equipment we use runs on turbo diesel engines. Standard procedure is to let that equipment's engine "warm up" 10-15 minutes. Is this doing more harm than good?

Couple more questions:

I did some research on 'wet-stacking.' How exactly does that happen?


Does it make a difference what tune I have the truck set on, when warming it up? I assume to just have it set to stock. I wasn't sure if juicing it up would be good for it...