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How can I keep idle low in the winter months? I must warm up the vehicle, sometimes several times a day if I’m at a long stop.
With today’s newer engines and updated technology, the ECM does a great job of recognizing the conditions of a cold vehicle. It will make adjustments to speed the warming process.
A good rule of thumb is on a 10-degree morning. The engine is warmed and at an operating temperature within 3-5 minutes. A stop during the day, even up to an hour or two, would cause minimal requirement for additional warming procedures.
NOTE: Remember to make sure your drivers are plugging in their block heaters when temperatures are below 32 degrees.
So, the key to minimizing idle time is to recognize that the vehicle is ready to go in 3-5 minutes, not 15 to 25 minutes.