Chilly chilli
 

It was chilly out today -34 with the wind chill -21 discounting the wind. I was in a hurry but stopped for 10 minutes for a bowl of chilli. During that 10 minutes with the engine off I lost 42 degrees on the temperature gauge. Those aluminum heads on the 602 do what they say they do dissipate heat quickly.

the last few days I have let my vw run and locked it up so when I come out I have a nice warm car. Love a diesel that way!

I have heard that in northern Alaska, they keep diesels idling all winter. Otherwise, they won't restart until Spring.

If you are using 2 keys one in the ignition to start and run the vechile and the second to lock the door they just had a cop advertising campaign advising against that practice. Way easy to gain entrance with a slim Jim and drive off with your car. Insurance companies also are beginning not to pay if that is what an owner has done. The recommended practice is to have a remote start feature so the ignition lock still must be defeated. We just have to disable the shut off lever before removing the key and locking up the car to achieve the same results. Many newer vechiles including the w210 can't be locked with a second key while the engine is running.

If a thief uses a slim jim to get in how does the insurance company know the owner left it running?

That would need to be declared on the police report or you risk being declined insurance coverage should the car be recovered without ignition damage.

When I was a kid I worked as a switchman on the Missouri-Pacific railroad during summer college breaks. Remember hearing stories from the old heads about diesel locomotives never being turned off for years (during WWII?) because they were so hard to get restarted. Never knew if it was true.

Global warming:D I purchased a vehicle with an om606;) and it starts fine at -1f, it rattles pretty good and not much heat for about the first mile though. Started it at work one evening fifteen minutes early at +7f and idled for 15 minutes and not much cabin heat and temp gauge was still at 40. I guess they use such little fuel at idle it does not produce much heat, so no benefit from warming it up much unless the inside windows are frosted up.

I believe there are many areas with regulations regarding locomotive and semi truck idling if unoccupied.

It was 55f yesterday and I had to use the heater. It was terrible.

Yup, I've had to use the defroster for the last three days in the morning.:P Might have to start wearing a jacket for the morning commute.

Yep, not much heat until you drive it.;)

Today the Mrs. could not start her 2012 Mazda5 so took my vw. It started right up. about 1 degree here today.;)

I like watching them clear icy train tracks, with that huge jet engine on the front car exhaust pointing forward they can move at a good rate leaving everything clean and dry.

Aww you poor thing, you. I feel so bad.

Yes, as mentioned these aluminum heads dissipate a lot of heat quickly. I only warm my car up for 3-4 minutes and I drive it. It takes a long time for it to warm up, more so than the old OM617s with cast iron heads..