I drive a F-150 4x2 with the 5sp, 4.2 V6 engine to work and back. It's about 12.5 miles, and about 20 minute drive time.

When the temp dips around 0 it seemed to me that my engine barely reached operating temp by the time I get there, so I set the odometer in HEC test mode and displayed the coolant tempature at the head while I drove.

Here are the results from two cold mornings.

Day one: Truck sat all weekend and I warmed it up for 5 minutes while I cleared snow off all six windows. (temp -2*) The head temp works its way up to 210, and then drops quickly to 196 and stays there.

Day Two: Truck sat overnight, and I warmed it up for 2 minutes while I scraped the windsheld. (temp 6*) The head temp works it way up to 196 just before I shut it off.

I have to wait on the ram when entering and exiting the freeway.


|Mark || mile | time | Day1 | Day2|
|Start1 || 0.0 | 6:55 | -2 | xxx |
|Start2 || 0.0 | 6:58 | xxx | 006|
|Warm || 0.0 | 7:00 | 106 | 091|
|StopA || 0.5 | 7:01 | 124 | 109|
|StopB || 1.8 | 7:03 | 153 | 136|
|StopC || 2.5 | 7:04 | 160 | 145|
|StopD || 4.0 | 7:06 | 172 | 165|
|StopE || 5.0 | 7:10 | 176 | 171|
|@ramp || 5.6 | 7:14 | 183 | 172|
|Freew || 5.8 | 7:15 | 181 | 167|
|MarkA || 8.0 | 7:18 | 210 | 194|
|@Exit || 11.9 | 7:20 | 196 | 194|
|StopF || 12.0 | 7:20 | 196 | 190|
|@Dest || 12.5 | 7:21 | 196 | 196|


Which is harder on the engine and oil, an extended warm up period, or not reaching operating tempature?

If we get another cold morning I'll try it again with the recommended 30 second warm up.

 

I start it it and run it hard with no warm up time to me if you get on the gas hard and are moving it is the fastest way to warm up the engine from the higher revs from mashing the gas.

 

Sounds familiar, that's how my son drove his first year. He once hit a car at the end of the driveway, claimed he could not stop in time because he needed new brakes.

I took it in and had new brakes put on it. When I got home I said: "here's the deal. I'll pay for this set, and you can get the next set."

He drove that car hard through the fist set of tires and brakes. After he saw the two bills he tamed it down a bit.

The strange thing is the extended warrantee expired and was never used once. All we put on that car is tires, brakes, battery, oil, and gas.

 

I just get in and go but keep it under 2500rpm until temp guage gets to normal op temp due to supercharger. I think the effect of a warmup will greatly depend on what oil you run as well, synthetics will be less viscous at startup and do a better job of lubing when cold.

 

HI!... I've been using my block heater every night since it got cold in NOVEMBER. I start mine up while I'm getting ready for work. Usually 15-20 minutes. By that time my AUTO METER temp gauge is reading about 150-160 degree's. Lot's of heat though.

 

i let mine run for around 2 mins in cold weather before i take off. Id rather have oil every part of the engine before i make it work. In the summer warmer temps, 30 secs to 1 min. I always let the engine get going a little before i take off

 

90% of engine wear occurs within the first 2 minutes; but it's not good on your engine (lower oil pressures, etc.) to idle for long peroids of time. In short, don't take off immediately and redline it right after startup, but don't take 30 minutes to warm your truck up in the morning.

-Flea

 

I have to agree with Neal on this one.
Even with my truck in the garage, during NOV to ~ MAR I use my block heater.

I pull the plug on the block heater and start it, pull it out and let it warm up for at least 5 min ( ususally more like 10 by time I get going ) when it is single digits out.

I have always done this with my trucks ( block heater and warm up ) and never had an issue or at least yet I haven't.

I also did the DTM with the odometer, and found that my E-fans vary rarely turn on in temps like this, even when sitting at short lights ( most of the travel through the lights is 30+ mph ).
Then on to the highway and for sure no fans there.

Even in the summer I'll give the engine 2 or 3 min to get going before I take off.

 

Once my idle drops I am out of the driveway and heading to work. Idling for 10 minutes just wastes gas.

 

I'm with Norm on this one. When the idle drops I'm gone. I usually take it out of overdrive though to keep my rpm's up which helps warm things up faster.

 

I take off when the idle drops, but usually take it easy. It's usually around 40 degrees in my garage. I'll give it an extra minute if it is outside in the cold.

 

I agree with Norm also, extended idling on start up is not good for the engine. I crank it up, wait maybe 30 seconds, drop it in gear and drive conservitivley until the engine warms up. I believe in synthetic oil also for protection during start ups.

 

Start up and let the idle settle, usually a minute in cold weather (under 10 degrees F), and I'm gone.

Anything else is just a waste of gas and is operating the engine longer than it otherwise would at low temps. Between the longer operating time and the additional revs when driving, it seems like a wash. I'd rather get somewhere on my gas though!

My last oil analysis using this technique in below zero weather was excellent on the '99 - no main bearing wear and very little iron.

I also don't use a block heater (my 97 doesn't have one) unless the truck is parked outside and temps are expected to be below -15 F or so.

 

How do you do that?




We just came off a stretch of three weeks in which the temps dropped below zero every night. I let my rig warm up while I scrape the frost of the windows, about two minutes. Then baby it until it warms up. By the time I reach the end of the dirt road, about 1.5 miles, the temp gauge is starting to move and I can just begin to feel some heat out of the vents.

 

If it's single digits outside I stay home.

Steve