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STARTING AND OPERATING
Engine Oil Usage
For the correct engine oil viscosity
Winter Front Cover Usage
A Winter front or cold weather cover is to be used in
ambient temperatures below 32°F (0°C), especially
during extended idle conditions. This cover is equipped
with four flaps for managing total grille opening in varying
ambient temperatures. If a Winter front or cold weather
cover is to be used the flaps should be left in the full open
position to allow air flow to the charge air cooler and
automatic transmission oil cooler. When ambient
temperatures drop below 0°F (-17°C) the four flaps need
to be closed. A suitable cold weather cover is available
from your Mopar® dealer.
Battery Blanket Usage
A battery loses 60% of its cranking power as the battery
temperature decreases to 0°F (-18°C). For the same
decrease in temperature, the engine requires twice as
much power to crank at the same RPM. The use of
120 Volt AC powered battery blankets will greatly increase
starting capability at low temperatures. Suitable battery
blankets are available from an authorized Mopar® dealer.
Engine Warm-Up
Avoid full throttle operation when the engine is cold. When
starting a cold engine, bring the engine up to operating
speed slowly to allow the oil pressure to stabilize as the
engine warms up.
NOTE:
High-speed, no-load running of a cold engine can result in
excessive white smoke and poor engine performance.
No-load engine speeds should be kept under 1,000 RPM
during the warm-up period, especially in cold ambient
temperature conditions.
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine warm-up
protection feature that may limit engine performance after
cold starting at low ambient temperatures. The length of
time engine speed is limited is dependent upon engine
coolant temperature. Engine speed may be briefly limited
to 1,000 RPM after starting with coolant temperature
below freezing conditions, and may be limited to
1,000 RPM for up to approximately two minutes
under more severe cold conditions.
NOTE:
If ambient temperatures are low and the coolant
temperature is below 180°F (82°C), the engine idle
speed will slowly increase to 1,000 RPM after two minutes
of idle, if the following conditions are met:
Foot is off brake pedal and accelerator pedal.
Automatic transmission is in PARK.
Vehicle speed is 0 mph (0 km/h).
Applying the accelerator pedal will cancel fast idle.
Operating the exhaust brake at idle will greatly improve
warm-up rate and will help keep the engine close to
operating temperature during extended idle.
E
NGINE
I
DLING
Avoid prolonged idling. Long periods of idling may be
harmful to your engine because combustion chamber
temperatures can drop so low that the fuel may not burn
completely. Incomplete combustion allows carbon and
varnish to form on piston rings, engine valves, and injector
nozzles. Also, the unburned fuel can enter the crankcase,
diluting the oil and causing rapid wear to the engine.
If the engine is allowed to idle or the truck is driven on low
engine speed drive cycles for more than two hours, the
system will automatically enter an emissions operating
mode that will increase the engine idle speed to 900 RPM.
While in this mode, which is designed to help maintain the
diesel particulate filter, the engine idle speed will return to
normal when the brake pedal is applied. A small change in
engine tone or a slight change in engine performance
while accelerating may also be noticeable at speeds below
20 mph (32 km/h). This operating mode may last for up to
an hour of idle time, or around 20 minutes of driving time.
Your truck may have been ordered with an optional
voltage monitoring Idle-Up feature. If a load is placed on
the electrical system while the truck is in park, this feature
will attempt to maintain normal system voltage by
automatically increasing engine idle speed. You may
notice several consecutive increases in idle speed, up to a
maximum of 1,450 RPM, as the system will attempt to
utilize the smallest increase in idle speed necessary to
maintain normal system voltage. The idle speed will return
to normal when either the electrical load is removed, or
when the brake pedal is applied.
23_DJD2_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 134
