The following cold weather idling guidelines must be followed:
•
Avoid idling the engine for more than 10 minutes at a time.
•
Use Motorcraft Cetane improvers or non alcohol-based Cetane
improvers from a reputable manufacturer.
•
Maintain the engine cooling system properly.
•
Do not shut the engine down after an extensive idling period
(10 minutes or more). Drive the vehicle for several miles with the
engine at normal operating temperatures under a moderate load to
burn off any accumulated carbon and varnish.
•
Consider using an engine block heater.
•
For extended idle times use an approved idle speed increase device.
Winter operating tips for Arctic operation -20°F (-29°C) and below
The following information is provided as a guideline only, and is not
intended to be the only source of possible solutions in resolving extreme
cold temperature issues.
Starting aids:
The use of the factory engine block heater (refer to
Engine block heater
[if equipped]
in the
Driving
chapter of the
Owner’s Guide
) and oil pan
heaters (aftermarket) will assist in engine starting, in extreme cold
ambient temperatures.
WARNING:
Do not use starting fluid, such as ether, in the air
intake system (see air filter decal). Such fluid could cause
immediate explosive damage to the engine and possible personal injury.
Idle control:
For periods of extended idle, the throttle should be set at an rpm that is
sufficient to keep the engine at normal operating temperatures. This
action can reduce the amount of engine damaging deposits.
•
The engine contains a unique “Cold Weather - Idle up feature”
calibration strategy within the PCM. Under the appropriate conditions,
the strategy will automatically elevate the engine idle speed after
130 seconds of idling in cold ambient temperatures. For this feature to
be activated, the truck must be in P (Park) (for automatic
transmission), in neutral (for manual transmission) with the parking
brake applied and engine oil temperature below 158°F (70°C). This
strategy raises the rpm to a level that reduces the potential to
2009 Econoline
(eco)
Supplement, 1st Printing
USA
(fus)
Driving
15
