PapPappy
Wilmington, NC
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Joined: 12/23/2007
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Lots of places are now fining you for letting the engine idle for an extended period of time. Even some truck stops are installing connections for the trucks to plug-in, so that they don't sit and leave the engines running.
As mentioned, it's "0 mpgs", and a big polluter!
On the school buses, we are only letting them warm up enough to get our air pressure up for the brakes....so maybe 5-10 minutes, as part of the pre-trip walk-around inspection. The coolant hasn't usually gotten much warmer by that point, but the oil has started to climb.
Add me to the list of "don't worry about it", and just get in and start the engine....adjust your seat-belt, check your mirrors, and then hit the road.
You'll probably hear more noise from the engine, until it warms up, but that is normal, and you shouldn't worry.
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris / GS MJ
Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie, Tugger & Beau 
RIP: Cookie, Foxy & Gidget @ Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293
The Pets
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jmtandem
western nevada
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Joined: 01/18/2006
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Quote:Hello all again ... still loving my first diesel but anyway... I have for years in the mornings when its chilly outside go out and start up whatever it was that I was going to be driving , for instance got a pontiac g5 gt 2.4 and I comes with a block heater and heats up accordingly now the LM on the other hand takes FOREVER to heat up , so is this normal ? and do these new diesels come with block heaters? is mine not working? or do thses trucks just take a really long time to warm up? and here in cali do they even need to be warmed up in the first place ?
And lastly why does the idle change shortly after start up by going up and down? this normal? thanks for the help again guys
Happy Trails
A diesel at idle burns about twenty percent of the fuel a comparable gas engine does. Therefore, it takes a very long time to warm up at idle. That is why the newer diesels have high idle settings to get some warmth into the engine. Best advice is to drive off slowly and not use a lot of throttle until the engine has come up to temperature. If you plan to tow heavy, drive off slowly for the first few miles. Another aspect of the diesel that you might want to be concerned about is shut down. If you have been towing hard and pull off the road, let it idle for a minute or two to allow the turbo to wind down. As soon as the engine is shut off the oil flow to the bearings of the turbo cease. Allowing the turbo to spin down before shutting off the engine will go a long ways in turbo life.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
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shakyjay
California
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Joined: 11/10/2006
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I am not certain about the newer GM's but in the past all diesels had the block heater wired in. They were tucked under the passenger side under the battery somewhere in a wiring harness. Unless the truck was ordered with that option they just left them wrapped up under there. If you look you can probably find it.
Honestly as others have said at the temps you are talking about it is a waste of electricity to plug in but you should do whatever makes you feel good. Diesels can be a little slower to warm up then gassers, so what you are experiencing is completely normal. I know I have never plugged mine in. I generally start it and let it run for a few minutes while the oil pressure stabilizes and everything gets flowing good. I put it in gear and wait for maybe a minute and go.
2007 Rockwood 8315SS
2004 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax Diesel
1999 Dodge 1500 5.9L Gas
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jim87vette
Arizona
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Drive it as this will warm it up much faster then idle.Live with the cold for a moment.
08 GMC 3500 Dually Duramax
96 Chevy 2500 6.5
05 Yamaha Rhino
04 Gearbox 335FS 5er 14k wet
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camping man
Central Fla.
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Joined: 09/01/2001
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If you take right off with a cold diesel, you better change your oil more often, it's getting more raw fuel in the crankcase than if you wait for it to build some heat ,but most of the unburned waste is going out the tailpipe. Usually they'll idle up too, and cycle injectors or grid heaters , but it also helps from washing a cylinder too.
05 Dodge CTD NV5600 6speed / 97 Sprinter 5er
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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camping man wrote:If you take right off with a cold diesel, you better change your oil more often, it's getting more raw fuel in the crankcase than if you wait for it to build some heat ,but most of the unburned waste is going out the tailpipe. Usually they'll idle up too, and cycle injectors or grid heaters , but it also helps from washing a cylinder too.
That is one way to look at it. I personally think it's better to just drive it until it warms up. Driving it warms it up much more quickly then letting it "wet stack" while idling. Most of my diesel engines won't warm up while idling anyway.
I've changed oil on egines that sit and idle a lot in cold weather and it reeks of diesel fuel from the wet stacking.
To the OP. If you want warm air, put your block heater on a timer and plug it in. Have the timer kick on about 1.5 hours before you leave. Done, warm air almost instantly.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
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garry owen
riverton wy
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camping man wrote:If you take right off with a cold diesel, you better change your oil more often, it's getting more raw fuel in the crankcase than if you wait for it to build some heat ,but most of the unburned waste is going out the tailpipe. Usually they'll idle up too, and cycle injectors or grid heaters , but it also helps from washing a cylinder too.
not sure about your dodge but this doesn't hold true with the newer dura maxs.
there is a oil change monitor on them and they really stretch the oil changes out.i changed oil in mine for the first time at 7500 miles and it still showed 25% oil life.
i wasn't comfortable with this and had been thinking it needed changed at at least 5000 miles.
after being encouraged to go by the monitor, by two different chev. shop foremen, i left the second change till it cam up on the monitor at 16500.
i suspect the new style high pressure injectors make this possible due to mucch better combustion of the fuel mix,
better spray pattern and more precise volume measuring.
2010 HD Silverado club cab Dura Max FS3000 Weekend Warrior
X2 550 Sportsman 500 Sportsman
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edatlanta
Hosting in Panama City Beach, FL
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Joined: 08/13/2008
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As shakyjay said, look behind and below the passenger side battery. You should find the block heater plug and wiring wrapped up around a wiring harness. You can cut it loose from the harness and pull it out over the top or around the passenger side battery so you can plug it in.
Ed
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, TTT/Schefenacker Towing Mirrors, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50C, TST Systems 507 TPMS
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS,Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP
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fly-boy
Los Angeles, CA
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Joined: 11/05/2004
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I live in So Cal and I always let mine idle for 5-10 minutes in the morning. Seat/steering wheel warmers come on automatically if it's 40 degree or lower... nice!
Whats the point of remote start if you aren't gonna use it?
2012 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax 4x4
2009 WW HKD with a big garage
A few toys
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christopherglenn
a little over an hour from Yosemite
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I usually let it idle for ~30 seconds (it takes that long to buckle the kids). If it is below ~40 I will give it an extra minute or so. The big thing is to have the valves and rings warm before heading out, and take it easy on the fuel till the engine (coolant) is closer to 150, 180-190 before you hammer it. The tranny takes time to heat up so be gentle to that as well.
2007 Chevrolet 3500 CC/LB Duramax/Dually 4X4 Mine
2008 Chevrolet 2500 CC/SB Duramax 4X4 Hers
2011 Keystone Fuzion 405
2005 Chevrolet 2500 CC/SB Duramax 4X4 Hers (sold)
2006 Jayco Jay Flight 31BHS (sold)
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