Warm up time in cold weather

[belcll]

What are other duramax owners recommending for cold weather warm up time before vehicle operation? Thanks!

[Kennedy]

There is a lot of discussion about this, but my opinion is minimum 5 minutes idle time. I typically use 3-5 minutes as a rule for my trucks when parked inside at 60

[jcummins]

In Pittsburgh with a 'Houston' truck. I've never used the block heater, but Thursday night suppose to get to a low of 8 degrees. I may have trouble finding an outside plug where I'm staying. How cold can it go before I test whether the DMax will start or not without the heater?

[deerhunter7]

I let my Espar Heater run an hour or so. The engine is heated to 120-160 degrees.Still takes 4 to 6 miles of driving before the transmission gets over that 100 degrees for the torque converted to lock up. Getting out of work to a warm cab and engine is great this time of year..

[Jim Brzozowski]

My preference is as soon as the glow plugs stop cyling I back out of the garage and ease down the driveway and once on the highway ease up to where the engine shifts at 1600 rpm's. Then I hold 1600 rpm's until the Allison finally shifts into 5th.Then MY rule is nothing over 55 mph until the engine temp reaches the first Big bar on the gauge, probabley about 175-180 degrees F. Once it does that and the trans temp shows 100, I start accelerating. I've done this since new. It seems to be what my truck likes.

[BigLakeDMAX]

jcummins - I've started mine without plugging it in down to -22f. It really rattles and smokes and is not a great idea to do that, I don't believe, but when you have to...

That was with 5-40 synthetic oil in it. I often start mine down to 0 without plugging it in - no problem at all.

Good luck!

[J-M]

The GM manual for the 05 says to drive as soon as possible, to not let the engine idle for too long, damage to the cat may occure. So what is too long in GM's mind. I drive this truck after just a couple minutes of warm-up time. I gave the 02 a good 10 to 15 before drive off.

[Tough Guy]

If the truck is parked outside, I may warm the engine some by idling but the entire drivetrain is still stone cold, I just let the engine warm briefly and drive slowly until everything warms up a bit then drive it like you stole it!

Cheers

The "Boy" TG ;)

[Bugsy]

When the oil pressure comes up I'm gone.
I bought this thing to drive and not to play with.

[Chevy4ever]

Mine's a 2001 with the original batteries, last week -21F, parked outside, not plugged in: Started just fine with the usual clattering others mentioned. I'd normally plug it in below 0F to make it happier, but I forgot.

[Jake99Z71]

I'll second what Deerhunter7 said.