Engine Warm up?

[troverman]

diesels do not warm up unless they are reved up and are under load.

Totally false. I started my Kubota MX4800 today and let it simply idle for about 10 minutes. The temp gauge moved to the half-way position. Why wouldn't it? It has a thermostat and burning diesel in the cylinders creates heat.

 

[DK35vince]

Totally false. I started my Kubota MX4800 today and let it simply idle for about 10 minutes. The temp gauge moved to the half-way position. Why wouldn't it? It has a thermostat and burning diesel in the cylinders creates heat.

Yes, So does my tractor, and so does every diesel I run every day at work..

 

[RalphVa]

Never gave this a thought on our VW TDI. Just started it and immediately moved it out of the garage.

Only thing I'd worry about on the tractor in really cold conditions is the hydraulic system. In the frozen north, I think I'd go for an underneath heater put underneath the HST about 15 minutes or so before starting. I'd not worry about the exhaust system catalytics at all.

You're in Maryland. I'd just start it at something like medium idle and then go.

Ralph

 

[Boondox]

Depends on conditions. I move a lot of snow in winter. We don't get the house-burying lake effect like some areas, but snowfall is pretty steady from late November till late April. It usually comes a few inches at a time to refresh the snow pack, which is why members of the US Olympic Nordic Ski Team train here. When the temps dip into the single digits the snow is light powder and the wind blows it around making me plow the 500 yard driveway a few times a day. Last winter we had six weeks of 30 below night temps with daytime highs at or below zero so a block heater is a must. In those conditions I'll let the tractor warm up for a good 20 minutes before moving it out of the carport. But warming the engine doesn't do much for the hydraulic fluid, so I drive slowly to the end of the driveway to get it flowing before starting the heavy work of snow removal. It usually takes 15 minutes of use before I feel any heat coming out of the cab vents.

In summer I give it two minutes to warm up.

 

[MechanicalGuy]

In gas engines, warm up is typically to protect the valve springs from brittle fracture. You want the spring to be at operating temperature before revving it high and stressing it cold. On a diesel the springs won't ever see a high revving rpm...so I'm not sure what warm up is safeguarding as long as there is oil pressure. Anyone have any guesses?

 

[LouNY]

When I warm my diesels in the winter it has several benefits in my mind;
1) the pistons have a chance to warm up which reduces piston to wall clearances, resulting in much less noise, piston slap.
2) the oil has been circulating and warming up the entire engine which is resulting in more uniform oil flow with less pressure and the pressure relief is not opening as much so more oil is circulating.
3) the hydraulic pump on my open center equipment has been circulating and warming up, my hydraulic controls respond smoother and easier.
4) depending on the tractor or truck I may run the transmission, I'll put one transmission in neutral the others in gear and clutch out or shuttle shift engaged which further circulates and warms the system.
5) after a warmup period the tractor or truck just feels better, runs smoother, responds better, and the controls feel and function better.

6) the biggest one I feel that my equipment will last longer work better and be nicer to me if I am to it.

I also use block and manifold and reservoir heaters as well as synthetic lubricants and blended and treated fuels.
I would much rather stay in the cab working then be outside working on the equipment.
Also I'm sure I missed several reasons to.

 

[Cougsfan]

I think the op's question was in reference to the DPF. Prolonged warming up of a Non-DPF 's may be perfectly acceptable where-as it may cause problems with certain DPF's. Personally, if it is warm out, I just start it up and run it, no warm up. In cold weather I will let my rig idle for 20 -30 seconds then run the revs up to 1500 for another minute or so until I see the temp gauge start to move. Truthfully, with modern synthetic multi-grade oils, I don't think that warming up the tractor is nearly as critical as it was back in the day. Unless it is really cold, the oil in the hydraulic systems stays pretty thin, and warming the engine in the tractor up does little for it.

 

[buickanddeere]

In winter when the temps are near or below freezing . The diesels are plugged in and they start like summer . Sometimes at startup the temperate gauge is up off the bottom peg.
Idling to warmup becomes a mute point .

 

[MH8675309]

diesels do not warm up unless they are reved up and are under load.

I'm under the same impression. The hydraulics no doubt suffer worse than the engine - in really cold weather. Someone else said to idle the engine after work. I do if it is running at high throttle for a time - cutting or baling hay - it only makes sense to throttle it down and cool it off a bit before shutting the machine down.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I solved the whole problem of warmup in the winter, I just dont use it when it is cold. I sit inside and have a coffee. In spring, summer and fall if I use it, I let the oil pressure build up at idle for maybe 30 seconds, then raise the FEL and or backhoe components as needed and back out of my shed. I then raise the RPM to 1200-1500 and drive off slowly to do any work which is always a minute or two from my shed. By the time I get there, the tractor is warmed up and all the hydraulics work properly. I have no turbo on any of my machines so cool down is accomplished by lowering the RPM to 1200 on the return to the shop shed. As soon as I lower the FEL, it has cooled as much as I am going to cool it. I do the same thing with my lawnmowers, lower the RPM upon the return drive to the storage shed where it is idled down for 30 seconds or so and stopped. The OEM manual on my Kawasaki engine says to idle it for 2-3 minutes for cool down. Any longer is a waste of engine time and fuel.