Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Can you fast idle a Cummins to warm it up?

[WadePatton]

Whether I idle it or not (yes the cut-a-stick works) it takes the coolant just about the same amount of time to open the thermostat.



I always idle for a minute or two just because I don't like pushing stone cold oil. It takes about four miles for the 180 t-stat to open. I then consider it warm.



I'm going to get a winter front kit and may plug it in if it ever gets cool here in the South.



In the summer I let it idle 5-20 minutes at a time to keep the A/C running and the DOG from overheating. If that wears out my engine, then I'm a little miffed at Cummins. I feel that their "official" position on idling is EPA biased.

 

[exfuzz01]

how long to idle

I have been told that when you idle and the transmission is in park, the oil does not circulate in the transmission. My source said to put the trans in neutral and let the oil circulate then drive slowly until the transmission is warmed up.

 

[JR2]

exfuzz01 - I see you have a DTT valve body, if I am not mistaken it has a mod to it that cirrculates the transmission fluid in Park. Call Bill K to be sure but I believe that is the case.



I have a the PS high idle device and it works great, before that I used my ice scraper and my power seat to do it. Put the seat all the way back, insert ice scraper so idle comes up a bit, then move the power seat foreward till you get to 1200-1300 rpm. The only thing that can go wrong is if you lean in the truck to get something and push on the bottoms or seat bottom... then you idle up to 2500 real fast

 

[pkennedy]

Extended idling is the most miss understood concept on this web site lets go over this issue realisticaly. 1 Helena MT gets as cold as Anchorage AK or Sundre AB unlike Columbus OH, 2 the guys who build these things test them in controlled simulation facility where if it dont run the company drives them home, 3 if it ain't runnin it don't make heat, 4 if it is white gray smoke it is NOT burning the fuel it washing the cylinders 5 if the water temperature in your engine is not 160f + you are not at OPERATING TEMP, 6 by idling up to 1200-1600 you are increasing your ability to produce heat and maintaining OIL pressure to your main bearings and top end ( ie piston rings), 7 getting your cab hot takes heat away from your cold engine. These engines cost us $18000 CDN to replace and my 91 CTD went 412k no problems, 1982 KW 3406/380hp 1. 35 million k no problems 1976 Pete 960k Cummins NTC350 no problems all these idled continiously throughout the winter months. We do a lot of things the manufacturers don't like including blocking the intercoolers, 25000k oil changes on synthetic oil and extended idling but my costs of replacement are by far more important than their profits and most important I HATE being towed home 300-800 miles at $5. 50 per mile out the bush. As far as the gentleman parking in his nicely heated garage the condensation produced into your diesel tank is far more detrimental if your water separator fails than high idling, use common sense if it is -15 F or above and your going to be 20 minutes to an hour shut it off. Anything below this and your asking for trouble, the fuel you guys get is also not automaticly blended for winter. A warm engine will get you to good fuel if having problems, stone cold your finished. PS I hate walking home

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by pkennedy

I HATE being towed home PS I hate walking home

So what are ya tryin' to say exactly :-laf



I was going to comment on the cardboard thang ..... Just don't. If anything Get a cold front that EVENLY reduces flow SLIGHTLY. Cardboard can be bad to the radiator but also blocks airflow completely to the intercooler. Casen point Last year I was trailerin some sleds up to Canada and I noticed halfway thru VT my get warning Indicator was scrolling messages across the screen on the bluechip and was defueling. EEk! 1400+egt trailering 6 sleds in 15* weather at night = bad. I pull over and my grille was completely frozen inches thick with ice. No flow .



tcourse

Also the AC compressor will add load to bring EGTs up.



Exactly.

I'm done and this is to bed for me

 

[illflem]

What has worked the best for me is removing the fan for the winter, but then I'm in the banana belt part of Montana, it was only off for ten months this year. Just plug it in a couple hours before I need it, wait for the oil pressure then drive. Cardboard is a bad idea and a winter front doesn't do jack.

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

well guys i thought my truck had done the 3 cylinder shut down thing, i was wrong. this morning it was about 5 outside and i fired her up it idle slow for a couple of minutes and then ramped up to 1200. after another minute or two my motor started banging and clanging, it sounded like pistons were going to change holes. i looked at the pyro it showed about 950. she warmed up in a hurry. trust me you will know if your motor turns off 3 holes. it scared me at 1st.



jim

 

[dpetre]

Cold Weather Idling

One thing more be sure and check your belts for cracks and change them out if you find any it will save you from loosing an engine. Also they make cold weather fronts that snap on and you can open or close them depending on outside weather. At 50below let your vehicle get warm before driving. Your tires are like rocks and your windows will freeze over with out heat. Be safe and happy holiday wishes to all.

 

[rogerblind]

I never have warm-up problems. I just start it up, switch on the AC and drive-off, 12 months a year.