A lot of people have different opinions on this. I live in Michigan, and it's getting cold here too. Personally, I give mine 20 minutes or so in colder weather. Whether it's plugged in or not. I kind of look at it like the engine may have been plugged in and warm, but the rest of the truck isn't. But I also warm up our gas powered vehicles too. Two things let me know when it's time to hit the highway speed. First is the back pressure valve. Mine will cycle a few times even if the truck has warmed some. But it will stop after a few blocks. Second is the sound of the engine. Mine is as loud as a jack hammer for a few minutes, but usually quiets down shortly too. I guess it's whatever you're comfortable with. Warming it up and cooling it down certainly can't hurt.

 

I let mine idle for about 5 minutes at these temps and once its below freezing about 10 minutes. When it is ultra cold I let it go a bit longer. Either way I ease her down the road until the temp gauge is at normal operating temp.

I have the 7.3 'cold knock' but hope to correct that before it get too cold this year with the cross over line. Well maybe at leat help it a little.

 

I use a dfuser idle controller...'bout 5 mins at 1200 rpm in the interior of BC...cost was around $80...its nice to have the heater warm the cab on winter mornings...hth

 

hey mojoman, how does the dfuser work for you? i read that sometimes after idling, you have to shut the truck off and restart so the computer will unlock the pedal.
i've been wanting on, but haven't gotten any input from someone who has one yet.

 

never had a prob...ya start truck....turn knob about 3/4 turn and the truck idles up to about 1000rpm...3 mins later its at 1200...2 mins later I turn the dfuser off and I'm gone in a warm truck...hth

 

Its stock for now but i have ts chip with high idle sitting in garage. Waiting foy my tymar intake n 5"turbo back its in the mail. Id imaging that would help....ive been told abiut some kinda additive for the fuel? True or no?

 

I have a Ford auxiliary idle control (AIC) that wasn't much more than that $80 and works fantastically when u don't want to let the automatic high idle kick in.


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I dont have auto high idle. 97obs.

 

There is no stock high idle on our trucks. You need to install a AIC or do a DIY one or get one burnt into a chip if you want a higher idle.

Personally I'll let my truck warm up while the glow plugs are on and then I'll start to go. If it is real cold I'll take it easy to give the oils time to get circulating for at least a couple of miles until I hit the freeway and then it is up to speed.

 

OBS 7.3 and SD 7.3 always confuse me, my mistake. I always think they are the same with different body's, I forget they had some different features too.


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Im a last minute kind of guy, when the truck gets started, it takes off, as soon as I get where im goin, I shut it off. If theres a heavy frost or snow Ill let it melt that off before I take off. My dad lets his warm up for 10 or 20 minutes if its colder that 50 out. Guess its just personal preference.

 

as a kid my dad always told me u must let a diesel warm up in cold temps. we had a small dairy farm and every morning round 6am dad would go start his ford and let it idle for at least 30 mins while he ate breakfast. i remember one morning he had to go check cows for claving ones in january, -30 that morning he started the truck at 3am went back inside and fell asleep till 730 when i woke up for school, needles to say the truck was warm... lol but yes i say alwasy warm up a diesel in cold temps, and after running them let them cool down before shut down. even at the mibe where i work we warm up our trucks, dozers and shovels a good 30 mins or more before we even move them. lost a few engines years ago cause some people just started the cold diesel and floored them to warm them up, threw a rod on one the D10s..

 

I have a power inverter inside cab. Do yall think i could plug block heater in to that? Would there be any problems with the constant drain on the battery?

 

I don't think that would work. The heaters have a big draw on them and would drain your battery very quickly. It is like plugging in a 1000 watt bulb.


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Running a lighter weight oil will help. I'm switching from 15w40 to 5w30. Made a huge difference in other trucks I've had. Also a properly working glow plug system will make a huge difference in warm up times.

I believe Ford recommends plugging when ambient < 0 degrees per the manual? Anyone else recollect that?




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Running a lighter weight oil will help. I'm switching from 15w40 to 5w30. Made a huge difference in other trucks I've had.

I switched to 5w40 synthetic and it helped. I didnt know you could run 5w30? Isnt the viscosity too low?

 

thanks mojo...i may have to idle my truck for a couple hours at a time, so do you think after it's good and warm, i can set the idle and it will stay where it's set?
i'm guessing that when it creeps up to 1200 on you, it's cause the engine is warmer.
thanks for the input...i've been on the fence about one, but it sounds like it will do what i need!

 

its believed to be better to idle these trucks around 1000 or more...prevents wet stacking apparently...hth

 

I've lived in Michigan all my life and have been driving diesels for almost 30 years. A block heater and glow plugs have always worked just fine. I actually plug my heater into an all weather timer. Similar to what you would use for Christmas lights. I bought it from Grainger. It's a 20 amp unit. I have it kick on about 3:00 am. I usually start my truck around 6:30 am. Works fine.

 

Haha lol. No that fuel block heater aint for me. And good thing i asked b4 i tried my inverter out.... dont need 2deadto batteries. Guess the colder it gets wile on this shift ill just have to drive my mustang. That thing dont like to start sometimes on cold morns either but warmz up faster.... damn carberators.... but i have also changex to a lower weight synthetic oil. Actually every fluid it has in it was changed out to synthetic first week i bought it. I just didnt want to damage nothing so thought id ask yall. My dad is a 30yrproper diesel mechanic he knows his stuff but is very biased with things. So i ask him then ask it here....he is all about "the best modification to anything is factory stock parts" ....damn old timers lol

 

....he is all about "the best modification to anything is factory stock parts" ....damn old timers lol

Three words for him: dual-mass flywheel.