How long does everyone let their Hemi warm up in the morning?

Harley Harrold · Jan 20, 2020

If in my truck I let it get off high idle, below 1,000 rpm, then place it in gear. I try not to gun it until it has normal water temp. and oil pressure is at normal 55 psi. If I use the remote start I let her idle 5 - 10 minutes on average. When I first purchased her I let her idle around 700 rpms for 30 to 45 minutes, oil pressure at 35 psi, didn't seem to hurt this hemi.

Potatomafia · Jan 20, 2020

I wait until it drops out of high idle so about 30 seconds or so. I park in my garage and cold start with my exhaust is pretty loud. My garage faces the bedroom of the house across the street so I don't want to sit and idle any longer than I have to. I have about 3 miles of 45mph roads before I hit the 70mph interstate. Its usually pretty close to operating temperature by the time I hit the onramp to the interstate. I try to drive pretty conservatively until it gets warmed up but sometimes you have to squirt out into traffic.

Of course I live in Tampa so my Ram doesn't see "winter".

Fitz-0518 · Jan 20, 2020

On our 18 2500 6.4 the cold idle is at 1000. take off when it drops to normal idle. About 1-2 minutes on a cold morning.
The 18 1500 3.6 drops out of high idle in about 1 minute.

Ed F · Jan 20, 2020

Tim Garceau said:
I get irritated if my tire's psi do not match, kPa would be an OCD nightmare...

I’ve tried a couple times to get those dash numbers to match and find it almost impossible. I set mine with a Milton inflator and trust that. I can get them almost equal that way and the next morning the sunrise warms up one side and those tires are 2-3 psi higher.

Ed F · Jan 20, 2020

Just curious, does anyone use Prelubers any more? I had one on a diesel pusher RV with a Cummins and it worked great but I don’t hear much about them today.

Jtblackram · Jan 20, 2020

The second it turns over, gotta pin it to the floor to get that oil pumping. Full sends only

Adam E · Jan 20, 2020

Summer mornings I normally let it run for 30 seconds to a minute.
Longer in the afternoon though that's just so the AC can have chance to cool the truck down before I get in.
In "winter" I wait a minute or two.
I'm in Florida so winter is anything below 70F.

jagman_xjs · Jan 21, 2020

I give mine 7 seconds because that is how long it takes to fully lube the cam bearings . Then I go on but on these under 30 degree days I give it a little longer.

LowboyKW · Jan 21, 2020

Temp gets to 100 put it gear and drive easy.

waynestractor · Jan 21, 2020

30 seconds or so...that's the beauty of fuel injection, they don't need to run for 5 minutes to warm up.

DKRGoods · Jan 21, 2020

As soon as it drops out of high idle. Then I'll take it easy till I see the temp gauge is normal. I don't care if its summer or winter. These aren't your grand daddy's carbureted engines.

Jeffro2k · Jan 27, 2020

pwjouster said:
just a minute to make sure everything is lubricated.
But really, that takes just a few seconds, so you can drive away after a few breaths. just dont beat on it for 5 minutes.

That's what I do also. Just dont romp it till it gains a little heat!

Erikw · Feb 3, 2020

Here’s a question. when it is cold (I’m in Minnesota) is it better to leave it in tow mode to reduce shifting and keep the rpm up?

RVGuy · Feb 3, 2020

Erikw said:
Here’s a question. when it is cold (I’m in Minnesota) is it better to leave it in tow mode to reduce shifting and keep the rpm up?

While I do that anyways just because I can't stand how the transmission will climb to the highest gear possible and stay there until you push the pedal virtually to the floorboard, I've found that at a certain temperature (-30°C I think I figured out last cold snap) the trans has a different shift pattern. I have the 6 speed, usually my trans will be in 2nd until about 40km/h, then 4th until about 60km/h, then 5th until 100km/h, then 6th.
At -30 and below it'll hold 2nd until 40km/h, then 3rd until 60km/h, then 4th until 90km/h, then 5th and never go to 6th until the trans gets to operating temperature.

JF19Longhorn · Feb 4, 2020

Usually auto-start, put my shoes, go out to the truck, pull down the window shade, seatbelt, and drive off. I'll take it easy until she warms up.

Atleast, this was my routine with every previous vehicle I've owned, so I assume it'll be the same with this one.

srv1 · Feb 4, 2020

i let mine warm up about 3-5 min. in the winter and a little less in the summer.i like to let the high idle come down.fyi,if your truck is taking a long time to warm up,ck. your t-stat.i recently changed mine and found my back flow valve had fell off my t-stat and was laying down in my water pump!

How long does everyone let their Hemi warm up in the morning?

Harley Harrold

USAF Ret. 36+ years service

Potatomafia

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Fitz-0518

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Ed F

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Ed F

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Jtblackram

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Adam E

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jagman_xjs

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waynestractor

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DKRGoods

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Jeffro2k

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Erikw

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