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Vent: My old boss in Billings swore by a 30-minute warm-up for the big dozers in winter, but my new crew says 10 is fine.
Last week on a cold morning site, I did the full half-hour like I was taught, and the foreman joked I was wasting fuel. Three years ago in Montana, we had a Cat D6 seize up after a short warm-up, costing a full day's work. Do you guys stick to a set warm-up time, or just go by feel?
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blair6306mo ago
Ha, I'm the guy they make fun of for idling way too long... but my machine's never the one that quits.
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sandracarter6mo ago
Honestly @blair630, I get where you're coming from, but all that idling still seems rough on the engine long-term. It might not quit today, but you're building up carbon and wasting a ton of gas for no real reason. My neighbor's truck needed a whole new set of plugs from doing that.
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patb864mo ago
This whole debate reminds me of how people treat their cars and trucks (or even lawn equipment) the same way. Some folks baby everything and let it warm up forever, while others just fire it up and go, and they both swear their way is right. My buddy's dad was a mechanic for thirty years, and he always said a cold engine is like a grumpy old man-you gotta let it wake up slow or it'll cost you. But then you see guys running fleet trucks that get thrashed cold every single day, and they somehow last just as long. I guess it comes down to luck, location, and how much you trust your oil passages, but I'm with you-I'd rather burn a little extra fuel than explain a seized engine to my boss.
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