How long should you let the Cummins HO engine warm up?? What is the best way to speed up the process?? If ya block off the grill how does that affect the other cooling devices IE turbo and tranny cooler?? Thanks for the help. I am new to Cummins diesel engines

 

Well, if its real cold, I normally wait until the grid heaters finish cycling before I take off..

If its not that cold, I let the oil pressure come up and put her in drive..

 

I just usually crank it up and drive right off. I usually keep the revs under 2K until the temperature gauge starts to move. I haven't really felt the need to use the block heater or purchase a cold front, so i'm not sure how much difference they make. The temperatures haven't been below the low 30s yet up here.

 

My environment is a little more hostile than the balmy shores of Destin, but for me I always plug it in when it's below 20 degrees and then when I start it up, I let it idle for four minutes. First I let it idle for two minutes in Park and then I pull it into Neutral and let it idle a couple more for the 48RE.

When it was -24 night before last, I let it idle for a couple extra minutes but as bigtobe does, I wait until the grid heaters finish cycling before I take off. Big thing is to let the high idle kick in for a little bit to help the engine get the the fluids flowing before moving.

I run a winter cover on mine and have for all my diesels back to 1984, and wouldn't be caught dead up here without one. I've seen it where I didn't have the front zipped up completely in -35 degree weather and the temp gauge would barely move off of 150 degrees...stopped, zipped it up, and it came up to temp within a dozen miles. Big difference when it's that cold....

 

There's a whole section in the owners manual that addresses this. I believe it says something to the tune of keeping it under 1200 rpm until it's gotten warm, or letting it warm up for 4 mins or so when its really cold. Not exactly sure but I know it's in the manual... I personally let mine warm up for a min or so first start of the day just to get the juices flowing

 

Thanks everyone seems like I am on track with what I am doing. I start it up after the heater light goes off and let it warm up for a minute or so the I have to drive 3 miles through the neighbor hood and by then the water temp has just started to rise.

 

how close do you guys think the coolant and oil temps are in this engine? On some cars, it takes a lot longer for the oil to reach full temp than the coolant, so you're really not supposed to romp on them for a few miles after the coolant is totally up to temp... I know the cummins has a high coolant capacity though. What do people think, anyone have an oil temp gauge?

 

I always plug in when it's cold...start up and drive away ..if its real* cold..a few miles of early shifts and once you get up to speed it doesnt take long to warm up..i also always use 0-40 synthetic oil year round

 

It would be nice if there was a way to turn on the exhaust brake while in park during warm up. My Isuzu does this to load the engine slightly and force it to warm up. It's designed to help it warm up and to keep it warm during extended idling in the cold. Cool, er, warm idea.
Wetspirit