cold starts and cold weather

[krazy kris]

i can get thru passenger side door but gotta climb over console driver door wont open from inside or out

is the seat belt or anything stuck in between the door causing a bind or is it shut all the way

[Lone Sailor]

15-20 mins of idling every morning? what a waste! i'd also be worried about oil getting to the top end just sitting there. i start mine, let it idle for 10-15 seconds, then i'm off.

i've always heard not to warm the car up by letting it idle, to warm the car up by driving it, i assume the logic is so that you don't take off thinking the car is warm and beat on it when only the motor is warm, the trans and rear end are still cold.

Using that same "logic", if it truly doesn't matter if the engine has reached operating temperature or in this case "warm" then why would you think a transmission or the rear end would need to be at operating temperature or "warm" before getting "beat on"?

[03mustangdude]

is the seat belt or anything stuck in between the door causing a bind or is it shut all the way

its shut fully it has one of those automatic locking actuators that I think might have gone bad with the weather. The only problem is opening the door which I can't figure out how to do

[SSMAN]

Remote start for the win!

[Lason]

it depends on what temp they start at and how long they're plugged in.

generally don't have to plug in a Cummins in TX. You can, and it's nice to have heat sooner, but not something I'd say is necessary.

if you watch the pyro on a diesel in cold weather, the exhaust temps will be below 200* at first... you combine low combustion temps with a huge cooling system designed for keeping a SUSTAINED 300-400hp cool, and it takes a LONG time to idle a diesel up to a warm state. cold idling contributes to ring and cylinder wear and can cause wet stacking

getting them under load ASAP yields far less wear on the engine, and there's nothing worse for a DPF equipped engine than excessive idle time!

Far better to put some load on it (drive it) and let it warm up that way

Im not calling you a liar because you know 100x more about diesels than I do Forrest but I remember all the owner operators at my step dads old warehouse warming up their rigs every morning during the winter.

Maybe the big rig motors are different though??

[SSMAN]

Sec. 545.301. STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING OUTSIDE A BUSINESS OR RESIDENCE DISTRICT. (a) An operator may not stop, park, or leave standing an attended or Unattended vehicle on the main traveled part of a highway outside a business or residence district unless:
(1) stopping, parking, or leaving the Vehicle off the main traveled part of the highway is not practicable;
(2) a width of highway beside the vehicle is unobstructed and open for the passage of other vehicle; and
(3) the vehicle is in clear view for at least 200 feet in each direction on the highway.
(b) This section does not apply to an operator of:
(1) a vehicle that is disabled while on the paved or main traveled part of a highway if it is impossible to avoid stopping and temporarily leaving the vehicle on the highway; or
(2) a vehicle used exclusively to transport solid, semisolid, or liquid waste operated at the time in connection with the removal or transportation of solid, semisolid, or liquid waste from a location adjacent to the highway.

Hrm: The statute doesn't give a defense or affirmative defense to prosecution on remote starts that disable the vehicle.

Law is probably pre-remote start days and has not been updated. But isn't there an emission law about idling vehicles?

[Jyard]

I just start and go.

[GrayStangGT]

if you watch the pyro on a diesel in cold weather, the exhaust temps will be below 200* at first... you combine low combustion temps with a huge cooling system designed for keeping a SUSTAINED 300-400hp cool, and it takes a LONG time to idle a diesel up to a warm state. cold idling contributes to ring and cylinder wear and can cause wet stacking

getting them under load ASAP yields far less wear on the engine, and there's nothing worse for a DPF equipped engine than excessive idle time!

Far better to put some load on it (drive it) and let it warm up that way

I knew it was bad for the DPF, but I figure if that ever clogs I'll just do away with it if it is out of warranty. However I had no idea letting it warm up was bad for the actual motor. Learn something new everyday.

[Cooter]

Im not calling you a liar because you know 100x more about diesels than I do Forrest but I remember all the owner operators at my step dads old warehouse warming up their rigs every morning during the winter.

Maybe the big rig motors are different though??

most large trucks have a high idle option. I have a manual high idle switch on my 6.4, but I still wouldn't use it to warm up.

now, on a big truck like that, I would want some heat in the engine before going full load on it, but still... ideal situation is water/oil heating system and not relying on regular cold idle to warm them up.

You watch the pyro on a cold diesel at idle, and watch how long it takes to actually get one up to temperature, it'll become very apparent.

and remember, most owner/operators still don't know the first fucking thing about how an engine works... they're drivers, not engine technicians

[Cooter]

I knew it was bad for the DPF, but I figure if that ever clogs I'll just do away with it if it is out of warranty. However I had no idea letting it warm up was bad for the actual motor. Learn something new everyday.

I'd just plug it in when you have the option.

as far as bad for the DPF, that's one part of it... the real killer is what frequent regen does to the oil. It dillutes it with fuel. Not nearly as big an issue with the 6.7 as the 6.4, but I do everything I can to be kind to my engines, no matter what make/model