I put a winter front on today and in the "instructions" it stated that I should check my owners manule. As I looked for any info on the winterfront I found some interesting things about Idle time. You should read your cold start and cooldown guielines as stated by Dodge. I would show that to any dealer that tells you about high idle times.

 

here is my experience with this problem. my truck has done it since it was new. had the TSB flash done 10/04. i run my truck hard, with the edge on 3 or 4 at times, always on at least 1, but its empty 99% of the time. haul 3-4k occasionally, tow 8-10k rarely. its been cold out lately, i noticed when i started plugging the truck in at night the problem goes away when i start it in the morning. when the coolant is 40-60 degrees at startup, it idles really bad and smokes. when it's 130-140 degrees at startup, it idles perfectly, not a puff of smoke. curious if anyone else has made this observation and if they can make any sense of it. i can't.

 

I've not had to plug my truck in yet, but since it has cooled down (40's and 50's at night), the grid heater has had to cycle completely before starting. Ever since I've had no white smoke or rough idle. This leads me to believe that is problem is a cylinder temp problem.

 

i have had three diesels, 86,94, and my 05, 3500 ctd, have never had to replace a pump or injector, i drive like the old man i am, my ctd runs smoothly with no smoke at all,the only additive i have ever used ( you dont want to hear this), is dextron atf, i know what many of you think about it, i was a tech for ford for 20 years, it was used regulery never saw any damage from its use, anyway, i am using it at the rate of 1 to 2 quarts per tank , so if i ever have a problem you will be the first to know

 

.....I've only been a tech on Dodge/Cummins fuel systems since 99 and I WOULD NOT use atf in any of their fuel systems. It was also commonly accepted to use starting fluid on diesel engines at one time too.

 

hovisimo

i live at 8500 ftt above denver, co i have been plugging my truck in at night after i noticed the white puff a time or two this early snow season. i noticed immediately the difference at start up with it plugged in

i only started it cold once or twice but i got smoke each time. once i plugged it in problem solved. it warms up the heater a lot faster too

 

As to the smoke at start-up cold problem consider this; A diesel engine requires the "heat of compression" to fire. A cold engine ie cold heads/ block = lower compression temperatures once the engine fires the combustion chambers start to heat up creating cleaner combustion. A block heater helps to increase the block temps
As for either there used to be a time when diesel engines didn't have intake heaters to heat the air and had a much lower compression ratio ( a 1980 Cummins NT 400 ) 400 hp only had a 13.5:1 compression ratio and on a really cold morning needed some help and talk about start-up smoke.
Just my thoughts

 

Question for the guys with high idle:

When you set your high idle what RPM's do you set it at? 1100, 1200, 1300 etc...??