Leaned something new after 5 years of ownership!

[ScarzRanger21(2.0)]

Was messing around with the settings yesterday and figured out you can adjust the autostart time! It always irritated me that the max time I could extend the autostart idle was 10 mins. During winters when it’s below freezing, that just never seemed like enough time to get the cab warmed up. I figured out you can change that in the settings. Now when I autostart the truck, it starts at 15 mins and I can extend the time to 30 max. That’ll be nice in the summer too when it’s 110°!

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[Rp930]

Not a good idea. Increases wear on cylinders. No thanks.

 

[rmkawboy]

Not a good idea. Increases wear on cylinders. No thanks.

How so?

 

[Rp930]

How so?

https://rislone.com/blog/engine-oil/tech-tip-cold-weather-warm-idling-can-harm-modern-engine/

There are many articles about cold starts and prolonged cold start idling.

 

[Chris M]

Maybe I'm dooming my truck to an early death, then. I warm it up til the idle drops in the morning, and have a timed start at 2:05 pm workdays to accomplish the same thing as well as to begin to cool or heat it up a little inside before my drive home.

If that's all its gonna take to kill it then so be it.

 

[rmkawboy]

So a white paper by a company that sells snakeoil that will "prevent" engine Idle wear is a credible source? Rislone? Seriously? Dubious methodology at best....

 

[Rp930]

So a white paper by a company that sells snakeoil that will "prevent" engine Idle wear is a credible source? Rislone? Seriously? Dubious methodology at best....

There are plenty of other sources to document it. Do what you want but it’s not doing your engine any good. It’s pretty much a known fact.

 

[Chris M]

And yet Ford has given us the capability to not only remote start their vehicles via both key fob and FordPass app, and to choose how long we can let it idle.

I'm willing to bet other vehicle manufacturers do that too...

Ruining our vehicles one idle at a time...and HAPPY about it! Yep, that's me.

 

[bobclarkenorway]

Its not just the engine needing warm up, my 10R80 also needs warming.
Most important of all my windows need defrosting.
Very happy with Ford remote start.

 

[$4Ranger]

Long idle is hard on the engine. Though I do believe there is a sweet spot for warming up the engine and transmission. Too long and you risk wearing out the engine parts that need the varying speeds to get oil to the right places. Not long enough and you risk cold oil not getting to the right places to lubricate properly. Some mechanic here please weigh in to verify this.

 

[Racket]

It seems reasonable that five minutes is sufficient to get the juices flowing enough to start out at a moderate pace.

 

[TJC]

Maybe I'm dooming my truck to an early death, then. I warm it up til the idle drops in the morning, and have a timed start at 2:05 pm workdays to accomplish the same thing as well as to begin to cool or heat it up a little inside before my drive home.

If that's all its gonna take to kill it then so be it.

I use that high idle time to slowly cycle through the transmission to allow fluid to flow throughout the transmission before going out. Maybe 15 seconds in each range before putting it in reverse to pullout the garage. Just a minute or so. Allows the fluid to pump into all those clutch packs and valve body fluid paths. Theoretically saves wear on the 10R80.

I've never done this on any other transmission, but I do on the fragile 10R80. I've also never needed to change the fluid before 20K miles, and I almost waited too long at 18K.

I think you pick your poison, and go with it. Then have a "just in case plan", because on this version of the Ford Ranger (or most any new car), you are going to need it.

I am researching older autos to determine the most reliable cars out there. Taking my time and then I'm going to purchase one, and drive it till the wheels fall off. I've narrowed down the candidates, and they are out there (and relatively inexpensive). Taking my time to find the exact individual candidate.

Gives "Back to the Future" new meaning!

 

[bobclarkenorway]

Oh, if only I could buy a brand new tri-five Chevy.

 

[GhostStrykre]

something not considered here is that these trucks are in an inline configuration. in boxer engines, v-formation engines, etc., the piston is subject to gravitational pull onto the cylinder wall as it runs.

so even if excess gasoline is slowly cleaning the cylinder walls during idle, the inline configuration would seem the least vulnerable as gravity doesn't draw the piston weight onto the cylinder wall as the other configurations do.

also AGREE to the transmission comments. i'm not worried about my engine nearly as much as i am the transmission. so if the transmission wants warmth then by golly it's gonna get it. the engine itself is something i'll gamble on because it seems so stout. especially with high amount of variations in my driving (short vs long trips, highway vs city, etc.).

 

[Dereku]

I do it for a minute tops. It wastes gas is my reasoning lol. Plus DI motors and idling while cold increase fuel dilution. Yes I know that is a tin foul hat thing here, it might be a fraction of a percentage but still. I am a different breed when it comes to car maintenance. What do I know but all my cars make it well beyond 200k and I sell them for cosmetic or severe interior wear and tear.

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