What's your warmup time?

[David_G]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

I check all fluids and do a visual.
Start up at high idle.
Do all the greasing of the loader and backhoe.
Back off the trailer.
Run all hydraulics through a complete cycle.
Load up the drink bottle, lunch and CB radio.
By this stage the temp is usually at the normal working temp.

 

[Dargo]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

I fire it up and nail it. If it won't take that, I don't need it! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Well, not really. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif In summer months I run it at an idle from the barn to my house, a couple hundred yards, and then have at it. In the winter, I do actually start it and let it run while I'm getting other things ready; so it gets maybe 5 minutes in the winter.

 

[gsxr1100]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I fire it up and nail it. )</font>


LOL. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Sorry ...it is early..

 

[have_blue]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

I think the important thing is to let things warm up a bit before revving the engine above idle. In other words, RPM is more important than load. On many working parts of the engine, forces quadruple as engine RPM doubles. A cold engine is not taking a lot of punishment at idle, but if you rev it to 2000 RPM while cold, you are seriously punishingit. This is because of low clearences and thick oil. By cold I mean down near freezing. In summer weather, warmup doesn't take long at all.

My technique is to start, run the tractor in a low-ish gear, and idle out to my work area. Unless it's a real cold day, by the time I get there, it's all warmed up.

 

[Junkman]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

About as long as it takes me to get going. It takes me longer to get going than the tractor, and my warm up period keeps getting longer as I get older. I figure that the tractor will out live me, so I don't worry much about warm up periods. Idling isn't good for the tractor either, so I just move both the tractor and my self slowly until we are both warmed up. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tom_H]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

If I remember correctly, though, you once said that you rev down a bit slowly and give the engine some cool-down time before shutting off, as opposed to going from full throttle to cold-turkey shut-down, right. If this is true, would you mind giving us your insights and logic on doing that?

 

[Volfandt]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

During the summer, I crack throttle about a 1/4 of the way open, give it 2 -3 secs of glow plug then start'er up. I'll idle it up or down depending upon where the smooth "sweet" spot is as I'm of the opinion that low idle produces way too much vibration when cold and more than likely contribues to premature air cleaner bracket failure not to mention shakeing and rattleing other devices loose too.

I then drop the ROPS and do a walk around, a preflight if you will, then drop it in gear and cruise out of the shop. All in alll maybe a couple minutes before I drive it or work the hydraulics.

Winter starting is pretty simillar except I run the glow plugs longer and let it idle outside about 4 or 5 minutes or so before working it.

There have been afew times when I've started it up as previously described either to lift the FEL, BH, 3PH or MMM then shut it down and in these cases I've pretty much immediatey worked the hydraulics and up to this point they've responded right off the bat.

Volfandt

 

[Junkman]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

Being in a serious mode, I will be glad to explain this. If you shut the tractor off after it has been running at high RPM, the heat will be concentrated in the metal and the engine temperatures will rise. This rising temperature without having any circulation in the cooling system might cause the liquid in certain areas of the block to boil. This extreme temperature as a result of the boiling liquid might cause a blown head gasket, or possibly even a cracked block or head. By allowing the engine to cool naturally by allowing it to idle for a few minute will dissipate this heat build up. This is the same reason that the big trucks don't shut down the engines when they park the rig. They want the engine to cool down. I have seen some automobile engines build up so much pressure from the boiling liquid, since the engine was shut down before the block had time to cool, that have burst radiator hoses or blown out the radiators. Have you ever walked by a car in a parking lot and heard the ticking sound coming from under the hood? This is the metal expanding or contracting from the heat. Many modern engines will have radiator cooling fans that will activate whenever the block temperature becomes excessive, regardless of the engine running or not.
Reeving a cold engine will cause the metal to be stressed also.... that is why you should start the engine and allow it to warm before applying full throttle. I like to drive the tractor to do this rather than allow it to sit idling. My reasons are that all systems will be warmed gradually and equally. There is more to keeping a engine healthy than changing oil. Please keep in mind that heat is beneficial to combustion, but excessive heat is detrimental to metal. All engines are designed to work within a certain temperature range, and that is the reason for engine thermostats. They open and close in relationship to the engine coolant temperature. Some engines are designed to operate at a minimum temperature of 160 degrees and others, 185 degrees as a general rule. A radiator pressure cap will raise the boiling point of the coolant 3 degrees for every 1 pound of pressure. Think of your cooling system as a pressure cooker. Raising the heat will cook faster. Raising the boiling point of the cooling system will prevent low temperature boiling. Water boils at 212 degrees.... water under 5# pressure will boil at 15 degrees higher or 227 degrees.

 

[escavader]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

JUNKMAN,
I got to admit,ive been shutting the tractor off ,rather then let it run at idle,if im gonnna be off for more than a couple minutes.These fuel prices are making these once affordable projects,add up on the old credit card.I also admit i only let her run about a minute before i idle it out to the work site.Although i once posted on the great fuel consumption of my 23,that was 1.50 per gallon ,now at over 3.00,an afternoon on the bota is noticeable,and the trailering up here in this hilly country is downright exspensive
ALAN

 

[Tom_H]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

Hmmmm, Now you have me wondering if some of those problems with my Volksie pseudo-diesel may have come more from cooling off too quickly as opposed to heating up too quickly. Thanks for the reply.

 

[fishdoc]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

I just go out....... start up..... run it up to about 1000 rpm and drive it about 50 yards or so and go to it. At max use of about 75 hours a year and nothing really stressfull I like to think this machine will last a lifetime.

 

[dixiedrifter]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

Summertime, crank up, take off... give it a minute to warm up a bit before going PTO RPM...

Wintertime, crank up, go inside house and wait for heater in the cab to warm up till its nice and comfy in the cab.

 

[Runk]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

Tom H
There is alot of valuable info being discussed re warmup time. I can add that if you are interested in diesel engines there is a terrific book, The Romance of the Engine, by Dr. Suzuki. He discusses warm up. It has been a long time since I read that book altho I do recall his saying that at idle the engine will not heat up to operating temp sufficiently.
Even at todays high fuel costs I let my tractor warm up. If we had guages giving readouts on coolant, engine oil and hydro oil temps we would see, I am sure, that the oil requires alot more time to heat up than the coolant. And there is a substantial load of oil to heat up in both the engine and the hydro systems.
Going back to "the old days" I recall a friends Porche (not diesel) temp guage which actually told you not to get on it till fully warmed up. I have always followed that admonishment.
Remembering that "directive" by Porche I was curious so I put an engine oil temp guage on my Ford (engine holds 15 quarts) and was amazed how long the oil takes to reach operating temp........
Also, conversly, in my Cat motor graders operating manual they say in no uncertain terms to let it cool down 5 minutes after driving the beast.
IMHO you are not overdoing your warmup time even if the Kubota diesel is light years away from that venerable old VW diesel. The Kubota will love you for the care you give it and will stick around longer and give you less headaches.
Max

 

[RoyJackson]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

"Going back to "the old days" I recall a friends Porsche (not diesel) temp gauge which actually told you not to get on it till fully warmed up. I have always followed that admonishment."

The air cooled Porsche's were dry sump (oil held in a tank along side the engine) and the oil was pumped under pressure into the passages. Those engines held twelve or so quarts of oil.

Since the engine didn't have a sump, it was pretty important to make sure the oil was thoroughly warm before hitting those high RPM's.

I'm assuming you were discussing the sports cars..did you know Porsche made tractors in the mid 50's?

 

[Runk]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

Very interesting!
Maybe it is not so surprising Porche is making their SUV??
Take care...
Max

 

[Boomerang1]

Re: What\'s your warmup time?

QUOTE ( Sorry to rant but those guys that can't even be botherd to shut the truck off to fuel really irritate me.)




I am a truck and I can tell you why we dont't shut off our engines when we fuel or stop for short periods of time.
#1 We live our trucks and do not want to turn off the A/C or heater. It takes a long time to heat and cool the inside of a truck.
Our spouses or driving partner or pet might be in the sleeper. Do you turn off the A/C or heat in your house when you go outside for a few minutes? I think not!
#2 Starter motors are expensive and can fail at any time. Especially when you have to pay for a road service call. Also, time is money and if my truck won't start, I am wasting my time and the time of all the drivers lined up behind me waiting to fuel.