Never reaching operating tempature

[JasonCzerak]

As per my thread about buying a beater since I'm moving real close to work. But I won't be able to purchase one for a few months. . It's still warm out side, so it's not a real big deal yet.



But once it's cold out, what can be detrimental to the motor if I got for say, 4 or 5 months, 20 days a month never getting much above 120 degree water temps, never above 40mph. twice a day... . I can have the block heater plugged in 24/7 at home and work. that will help tremendously when it's 30 or lower degrees for a high... .



So what happens? Carbon build up? rings getting jacked over time? More ware of cylinder walls?

 

[wcjp]

I can't directly answer your question. Installing an exhaust brake would help alot reaching normal operating temp in a short period of time.

 

[bigtoy]

Keep the RPMs up use a lower gear. I'll drop my auto into 2 thats got to help warm it up quicker.

 

[Nate]

The trucks we have at work, 1990 1st gens, get driven mainly 1-2 miles at a time. Fire it up, drive 1 mile, shut it down.



One of the trucks has close to 100,000 miles, the other 2 have ~60,000-70,000. Other than one loosing an injector pump, the engines haven't been touched.



When I was in Alaska, we would fire up the trucks and let them run all night when it was cold... or fire it up and run it WOT in 1st gear to get it to warm up Those were 2nd gens, 12 and 24valve... . some with over 100,000 miles... again, short 3-4 miles trips, always start/stop driving.



The engines are tough, they can handle it.



Plugging in the truck at 30* seems a little overkill don't you think? I normally plug mine in when it gets in the single digits. Sometimes I forgot to plug in the trucks at work, -30* and the Dodges would still fire up. The Fords... hahahahaha.

 

[Radshooter]

I did a winter in Idaho with my CTD a few years ago. I lived less than 5 miles from work. Between the exhaust brake, and plugging in when needed, I had no problems. My truck hardly ever got to the normal operating temp during the week. About once a week, or at least once every other week for sure, I would take the "long way home" and warm it up good. I was lucky because the long way included a couple miles of Interstate, so if the roads were not icy, I could open it up and let it run a little. I would not hesitate to do it again. In fact, here at this contract, I am only 1/2 mile from work. Granted, Arizona summer is warmer than the Idaho winter, but same thing... . take it out once a week and let it run.

Hope this helps.....

Steve

 

[JasonCzerak]

... .



Plugging in the truck at 30* seems a little overkill don't you think? I normally plug mine in when it gets in the single digits. Sometimes I forgot to plug in the trucks at work, -30* and the Dodges would still fire up. The Fords... hahahahaha.

30 degrees, naw. . at work between 8 and 5, power is free she's plugged in when I arrive to when I leave. That re-mounted plug from Geno's on the front bumper is killer for that!



at home, it's like $30/month increase in electric bill in the dead of winter when it's a high of 30 out.



When it's gets int eh 20's and teen's she idles kinda rough if it's not plugged in, and I enjoy a quick start in the AM. when that plug is in all night, the heater grid doesn't even think about turning on.

 

[JCutter]

Thats why i installed a remote starter also. Start it up when i get up and by the time im ready the heater is pushing out warm air.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Thats why i installed a remote starter also. Start it up when i get up and by the time im ready the heater is pushing out warm air.

I've never had a useful amount of warm air until the motor was near 150degrees. I just leave it off until then. In the AM, I get out there and fire things up 15 before I leave,

 

[nickleinonen]

if all goes well for me, i will have an espar or webasto heater for this winter. .

 

[bigtoy]

Definitely plug in at work when you are on their meter. On my beater bonneville I had a frost plug and I wired up ceramic heater inside the car. I was an on-call firefighter at the time and we carried our turnout gear with us and reported right to the seen. I sure felt sorry for those other slobs when it was below zero and they were climbing into that cold gear. I didn't tell anyone that I was heating the inside of my car, I was afraid they (work) might put a stop to it. No one ever noticed that when everyone elses car was covered with snow and ice and had to scrape their windows mine were nice and clear. It was awesome!

 

[Nate]

If you live in places that it gets cold (below zero) , plugging it in is great. Here in Idaho, the lowest I saw last winter was like 8*, barely even worth plugging it in. $30 a month for electric... that's about what I normally pay, so plugging my truck in would double my electric bill.



I just fire up the truck a few mins before I leave, usually while I'm loading up my lunch, tools, etc.







I remember someone running a few heaters in their car in AK, and the car caught on fire.

 

[JCutter]

I can set mine for 15 min or 30 min. I have mine on 30 min run time. It usually takes me about 20-25 min to get ready and thats plenty of time for mine to get warm course it doesnt get to cold in southern indiana and all while not leaving the comfort of the house. Sorry for the gloating but it is the best $70 ive spent. It even work in the summer time if i turn on the a/c.



I know my dad likes his too.

 

[bigtoy]

I rigged my heater up so it was away form all combustibles, and never ran it any higher than medium. It never got very hot. It was my beater car, the one that got to slop around inthe snow and salt while my CTD sat home in the garage. If it did catch fire it wouldn't been to big of a loss.