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.

 

[dnw64]

My tractor doesn't even reach "normal" operating temperatures after blowing snow for a half hour at 20°. I would not worry about it, unless you are somewhere that ambient temps are typically well below 0°F.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I am not sure I understand... you want to reach temp before parking it once your task is completed ? if that's the case is so no there is no used for that.

 

[dnw64]

I am not sure I understand... you want to reach temp before parking it once your task is completed ? if that's the case is so no there is no used for that.

I think the question is based around the idea that an engine should reach operating temp before it's shut off.

My (uneducated, undegreed) opinion is that, no, it's not necessary or even that helpful. Running an engine long enough so that it's up to a temp high enough to evaporate condensation would be advisable (again - my uneducated, undegreed opinion), but unless done as a normal matter of course, it should not be notably detrimental.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I think the question is based around the idea that an engine should reach operating temp before it's shut off.

My (uneducated, undegreed) opinion is that, no, it's not necessary or even that helpful. Running an engine long enough so that it's up to a temp high enough to evaporate condensation would be advisable (again - my uneducated, undegreed opinion), but unless done as a normal matter of course, it should not be notably detrimental.

Nothing to disagree here … faster within reason a engine reach temp better it is but if it doesn’t it doesn’t…

 

[RjCorazza]

I run the engine at 1500 rpms for a few minutes, then gently operate my tractor until it it warms up a little more.
I ALWAYS get it up to operating temp before shutting it down.

 

[RayIN]

FWIW, a diesel engine should be ran for at least 20 minutes after it reaches operating temperature, otherwise any crankcase condensation does not evaporate completely.
That is from Cummins engine operating manual.
Using 1,500 RPM(high idle) is good, an engine should never run at low idle for more than 10-15 minutes.

 

[nyone]

Running an engine long enough so that it's up to a temp high enough to evaporate condensation would be advisable

You could also change the engine oil prior to the service interval. I don't believe that hydraulic oil will reach operating temp in those cold days.

One thing that will help is having a block heater..no fuel needed and there pretty cheap.