2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How long to warm up?

[DMather]

Running solo, from a cold start, how much time or miles should the CTD take to come up to temperature? Will this vary greatly with outside temperature?



My gas burners come up to temp in about 3 miles but it takes 20 miles for the CTD in my 02 2500 to get above 170.



The reason I'm asking is that I suspect the thermostat but I've been told a long time to warm up is normal.

 

[Bartman#1]

the outside temp will make a difference. all that cold air blowing at your radiator keeps it cool.



it was -15 in maine this morning and it took my 99 25miles to come up to temp at 55mph.



If you leave the A/C on hot it will warm the cab up quicker.



Good coolent helps also.

 

[Joe Mc]

It's been in the teens here for a while. I plug in @ home and have a lamp timer that comes on at about 4 AM and goes off about 7:30 AM. In the morning I cycle the grids 2 times and it fires right up. After the oil pressure builds up I let it run for about a minute, then I'm off easy down the road. Takes less than 3 miles (3 mile trip to work) to start blowing warn air, and the gauge is up just under the 1st hash mark of the peg. I have the 198* stat.

 

[EKlem]

As stated above, the outside temperature does play a large role in how long your truck will take to get up to temp. A lot of people like to block a significant portion of their radiator to deal with this problem. On my truck, I have the lund cold fronts and it makes a large difference in the warmup time. For that matter, I don't get heat when it gets really cold without them. For a cheaper solution, you can put a piece of cardboard in front of your radiator to block some of the flow.

 

[ScottLewis]

Several factors are also involved including the fact that you have a very large chunk of iron (engine) and twice as much cooling liquid, both water and oil, as most gassers. More mass, longer warmup time.



Dan

 

[DMather]

OK, I guess I'll go with the fact that the thermal mass is large enough to account for the difference but it still seems a long time if the thermostat is working properly. Thanks for the info.

 

[GAmes]

I left Kankakee at 10 in the morning on Wed. The temp was about -4, and I had no trailer. My heater was pumping heat within 5 miles of leaving the motel. My radiator isn't blocked, I have no winter front and the fan is installed. I think you need a thermostat.

 

[Joe Mc]

I see I'm not the only one that makes heat soon. However, a good deal depends on the driving situations in those first 3 - 5 miles. Me, I drive a few hundered yards from my driveway to the stop sign, then about a 1/4 mile (40 mph limit) to a traffic light (yep usually red when I get there) then about 3/4 mile to another light (need I say) then on down about 1. 5 miles to another light, 100 yards to another light and so on until I get to work. My total drive is 3 miles and usually never over 50 mph.



So I'm sure if my conditions were 200 yards from my drive to a stop, 1/4 mile to a hi-way entrance and right up to 60 or so it might take a while to start pumping heat. Alot depends on conditions. I have also found that if you stop for coffee and leave the defrost on it does warm up quicker. The compressor is sending high temp gas to be condensed so the heat disapated from the condenser is pulled through to the radiator and smoe transfer to the coolant takes place. Hey, every little bit helps when you're freezing your - off.

 

[Cummins724]

I have a exhaust brake & it cut warmup time in half..... I just engage it when I start the truck... . go in the house & hit the throne & go out to a toasty truck. Another good thing is the 3 cyl. high idle feature... . warms up in about 5 minutes. I never tried both together & don't think that I could do that anyways.

 

[DonTX]

Three cylinder high idle feature? I never heard of that one, tell us more!

 

[DWeiler]

Three cylinder high idle feature? I never heard of that one, tell us more!

its a program built into the smarty,once your truck sits outside for a while in a certain COLD temp condition,your Cummins will warm up by only firing on 3 cylinders. Doesn't hurt anything but it will scare the Sh%T out of you when it engages ---sound like she going to blow. Do a search for 3 cylinder high idle---there is a posted clip of one running on the feature---video+sound---Later david :-laf

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Two reasons diesel engines take a lot longer to warm is their higher thermal efficiency. . . a higher percentage of fuel goes into making power than heating the engine than a gasser.



The second is the higher airflow through the engine at light throttle. . . the throttle plate in a gasser reduces airflow and lets the engine retain more heat instead of pumping it out the exhaust.

 

[DMather]

Another good thing is the 3 cyl. high idle feature... . warms up in about 5 minutes.

When I let idle long enough to kick into the 3CHI it warms up nicely. I usually am underway before that point.



I put a temperature probe in the radiator today and found the radiator was warming at the same speed as the engine. I'm picking up a new thermostat tomorrow, roll out the shop vac and do a quick change. The weather forecast says I should have lack of temp to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Cummins724]

I just got my 3 cyl. working this week & love it..... heats up fast, but I only use it when I forget to plug it in. I like to plug it in & use the exhaust brake for a quick warmup.

 

[DMcLeod]

DMather, a few years back, I had the same questions. I placed the thermostat from the engine along with a new thermostat in a pan of water on the stove and cranked up the heat. They opened at the exact same temp (as specified). At our winter temps, I had to gently work the engine to build heat. My solution was an espar heater and an exhaust brake.

 

[Cummins724]

DMather, a few years back, I had the same questions. I placed the thermostat from the engine along with a new thermostat in a pan of water on the stove and cranked up the heat. They opened at the exact same temp (as specified). At our winter temps, I had to gently work the engine to build heat. My solution was an espar heater and an exhaust brake.

I've seen espar heater in guys sigs & always wondered what that is... ... can you enlighten us?

 

[Skydiver]

How long to warm up ? Almost 1000 lbs. Engine Over 900 lbs, 6 gallons coolant, 3 gallons oil. Thats a lot of mass to heat, considering the small amount of fuel being burned.



At 25 F mine takes 6 miles to reach 170.

 

[DMcLeod]

Cummins724 - You'll find lots of info searching previous posts on Espar and Webasto heaters. Also visit www.espar.com. Basically, it is a vehicle engine and/or cab pre-heater that operates on your vehicles fuel and battery. It will pre-heat your engine and cab allowing easier starts and quicker warm-up. There are all kinds of applications including marine, trucking industry, heavy equipment, etc. I often find myself in places where no AC power is available to operate the more common heaters: engine block heater, battery blanket heater, transmission pad heater, etc. Hope that helps... PM me if you need more.

 

[JasonCzerak]

I can get my 3rd gen warmed up in under 6 miles more more then 40mph. Cold winter front + block heater all night + 10 minute idle in the morning (in gear, with the T-case N).



This is -5 at the lowest. . sometimes I go outa my way and hit a few miles on the highway.

 

[Whiskey]

On all of my vehicles it would take 5-7 miles to warm up,also it wold take 15 -20 minutes of idling @ 1100 rpm's.



just my 2cents worth



whiskey