Wasting Fuel or saving the engine?

[Tkekic]

Kubota M7060. Been really cold here in NE Ohio. The 7060 has a manure spreader on it for the winter. In the summer I empty the manure on a pile out in our pasture. Engine reaches operating temp. in a short time. In the winter I change the job. Question is, am I wasting fuel by keeping the engine running until it reaches normal operating temp? I do this by running it at 1500rpm but in the summer I use 6th gear low range. Now in the cold I still run it at 1500rpm but in 3rd or 4th gear. I take the long route to be sure the engine reaches normal operating temp. Am I wasting fuel? Or is a good idea to bring the engine up to temp before parking it?

 

[Midniteoyl]

IMO, it's a good idea. I even let the tractor idle longer in the winter even though the Auto OEMs will tell you it's better to start and get moving as fast as possible.. Which is only really because allows the cat/dpf/scr to get up to temp faster, not because it's actually better for the engine itself.