IDEALLY, how long should a diesel be run per use?

[SwampYankee]

My commute to work is exactly 37 seconds, unless I have to wait for a car. If I back in my driveway I can shave about 6 seconds off. I need to have a car for various things during the day.

I know short runs aren't good for any car, gas or diesel. For any of my gassers I never own any of them long enough to see any of the damage done.

But I love driving my TD and do daily. I warm it up in the morning for about 5 minutes before I leave and then drive around the block to work to stretch it our to another 5 minutes or so. The last diesel I owned was when I had a 30 mile commute so I never thought much about it.

Since I want to keep this car for a long time, is my current routine of 5 min. warming and 5 min. sufficient for the long term health of the engine or should I leave the house earlier and stretch the driving out to 15 or 20 minutes? Like go grab a coffee on my way in or something.

[rrgrassi]

If you take it on a good 50-100 mile run on the highway during the weekend, you should be good. I drive 20 miles a day one week then 100 miles a day the next week.

[bgkast]

Your commute is 37 seconds and you drive?


I feel bad when ever I drive mine and it does not reach operating temperature. I take the "disposable" ford for shorter trips.

[LaughingGravy]

My commute is 8 minutes, but the long road has no sidewalk or shoulder and way too dangerous for a bicycle or scooter. Speed limit's 50, but if you're below that, the folks with long commuting times are right up on your butt.

I try to save starting the 300TD unless I have at least one other place to go.
Even dropping off the kids at school is fine because it allows for some engine idle time.

I use the motorcycle whenever I can.
It allows me to create a nice distance away from insane commuters due to size and acceleration.
I'm aggressively cautious, with extra bright lights on the bike.

[LaughingGravy]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

Like go grab a coffee on my way in or something.

Just be aware of any idling laws that may be enforced.
People won't say boo about a gasser idling while you get coffee, but a diesel just makes enough noise that it gives people a reason to complain.

Then again, CT doesn't have a helmet law for motorcycles

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by bgkast

Your commute is 37 seconds and you drive?


I feel bad when ever I drive mine and it does not reach operating temperature. I take the "disposable" ford for shorter trips.

Yeah, drop off and pick up the kids at school, daily bank deposit, post office a couple times a day depending on how much we have going out, etc. Little stuff like that. Plus I'm a lazy SOB.

Like I said, I love driving it. But if I'm better off leaving it at home and driving my Jeep instead I'll do it and save the TD for the weekend. Is operating temperature good enough or should I run it some more in the morning?

There is no reason to "warm it up." A 617 hardly heats itself up at all at idle.

As long as you run it out once a week or once every couple of weeks you'll be all right. And if you're driving that little, go by time rather than mileage for oil changes.

[mbzkid]

I would reccomend one minute of idle before driving the car in almost any weather. These diesels are fairly effecient and don't create alot of waste heat at idle, so it will take a long time to come to operating temperature. I believe twenty minutes or so (cruising speed) at operating temp is required to remove any condensation from the oil. That figure could be pure fiction, but you should let it run on the highway as much as possible. Personally, I think any amount of city driving is horrible for the car, but in the end it's just a tool of transportation, so use it as you must.

How long are the trips you make during the day? All city driving? Maybe use the diesel in the spring, summer and fall, and use the ford for poor weather and winter driving.

[winmutt]

37 seconds you have no excuse to drive a car.

[patbob]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

My commute to work is exactly 37 seconds, unless I have to wait for a car. If I back in my driveway I can shave about 6 seconds off.

37 seconds? If you're physically capable of walking to work, do that instead. Walk back to get the car when you need it for your errand. You'll save significant wear and tear on the engine, save the $3/gal diesel, spend less time commuting and get a little exercise as well.

[Phil]

Your commute is 23 seconds shorter than mine. I wouldn't drive except that I need to take about 120 pounds of stuff back and forth from home to work. I commute in a old Saturn so I can save the Mercedes.

[bgkast]

Where the heck are you guys commuting to?

[truckinik]

Well, I got a long drive to work every day, and my diesel does a lot of running. Actually the work, is the drive, or the drive is the work, or whatever...

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w251/truckinik/SUNP0046.jpg

[rrgrassi]

MPG is not good, but for the ton-mile it is.

[300SD81]

Wow, and I felt bad about my 4 minute drive to school... (thats 4 minutes at approx 80mph though, 10 minutes if i do the limit)