Hey guys I've got a quick question for you. I know that with these 6.0's its not good to let them idle for long periods of time due to caking of the egr but my question is if I'm running into a store for 20 mins is it better to shut the truck off or let it run? I've allways been told diesels are better off running then shutting them off and restarting them. Any opinons? Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks

 

Get an EGT gauge and don't shut down above 400*

 

Not quite sure what you mean by that? Can you explain a little more?

 

I always shut down the truck. It's better to run them hot and hard while driving then idling away.

He means use and EGT gauge and let the EGTs read below 400*F before you shut down. This is recommended to keep the hot turbo from cooking the non-flowing oil which could cause issues.

 

Agreed on all accounts.

If you want to idle for more than 5 minutes, wire up the high idle mod. Do you have the factory upfitter switches in your 05? It was an option. If you don't you can get them for about $100 from Ford with the wire harness and everything needed for install. Then all you do is flip up the upfitter switch, engage the e-brake it it will lock the converter and idle up to 1200 rpm's. This keeps more heat in the cylinders and is much better for extended idling.

If you're worried about your EGR valve, why not just do a delete?

 

so in theory if i were to do a egr delete i could basically keep my truck running for an extended period of time like other diesels and not have anything to worry about? is that correct?

 

No, not at all. There's a big misconeption about idling diesels. Talking specifically about the 6.0, when it idles there isn't enough heat build up to burn all of the fuel properly, and they end up pushing fuel past the rings and washing down the cylinder walls, so extended idling isn't good for these motors. It's called wet stacking. We do the high idle mod which not only raises the RPM's, but locks the torque converter to apply some sort of a small load just to build more heat and effectively burn everything, or at least more than it was just idling normal.

Again, if you plan to idle the truck at all, install the high idle mod.

 

I am a newbe but have been reading threads here for years. I help out at a horse farm where they have many one ton trucks. Dodge, Chevy and Ford. Over the last two years I saw two 05 6.0 Fords go south. One a F350 with 90K and the other a F550 with 38K miles. Both times 9500. dollars later studs,EGR delete. They seem to be fine. I am sure this was cause by letting them idle while having lunch etc. I decided to buy the F350 and was reading about this. It took me maybe 10 minutes to hook up the high idle wire. Now I can let it idle all day from what I understand with no problems.

 

Ya, idleing is bad for any diesel, because you will lose the temperature needed to keep diesel hot enough to burn thouroughly like Mdub said the diesel can get past the rings and wash out the walls and you have no lubrication for the rings and piston thus causing scoreing on the walls. You want the cumbustion chamber hot enough to burn the diesel. Your not suppose to run a Diesel more than 15 minutes on idle. But I dont let em idle past 5 minutes just for my sake anyways.

 

I have high idle wired to bcp circuit. Is that ok what should engine temp be with that? It runs at 1200 rpm. Also does engine fan come on with high idle on? Thanks...