Diesel Engine Warm-Up
Several factors affect how quickly your diesel engine
warms up. These can include outside temperature,
engine load, idle time and your vehicle’s option content.
Your vehicle may be equipped with some features
that can help the engine reach operating temperature
sooner. Some of these features are discussed below.
Also, remember that an automatic transmission
adds heat to the cooling system through the heat
exchanger in the radiator. Because of this, vehicles
equipped with automatic transmissions are often able to
retain engine coolant heat better than manual
transmission vehicles.
See your Caterpillar
®Operation & Maintenance manual
for additional diesel engine warm-up information.
Engine Alarm and Automatic Shutdown
Your check gages light will come on if the system
senses high engine temperature or low engine oil
pressure. If high engine temperature or low engine oil
pressure is detected, you will also hear a tone alarm at
two beats per second. The alarm and the light will
remain on until the condition is fixed. If the engine
temperature or oil pressure condition worsens, the tone
alarm will go to five beats per second.If the system senses low engine coolant, the five beat
per second alarm and the low coolant warning light
will come on.
The five beats per second tone alarm means that your
engine will shut down in about 25–30 seconds.
There is also an engine shutdown light to indicate that
the engine will shut down. SeeEngine Shutdown
Warning Light on page 3-39.
Pull off the road and shut off the engine. Don’t start it
until the reason for the problem is known, and the
problem is fixed. If the engine shuts down when you are
still in traffic, you can restart the engine and get
another 25–30 seconds of operation. Do this only if you
have to, since there is a problem that can harm the
engine if it isn’t fixed. Engine automatic shutdown, for
gasoline engines, requires activation by your dealer.
High Idle System (Caterpillar®
Diesel and Gasoline Engines)
Your vehicle has both automatic and manual high idle
capabilities.
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If you’re trying to start your engine after you’ve run out
of fuel, seeRunning Out of Fuel on page 5-15.
When your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes
before you move your vehicle. This lets oil pressure
build up. Your engine will sound louder when it’s cold.
Notice:If you are not in an idling vehicle and
the engine overheats, you would not be there to see
the overheated engine indication. This could
damage your vehicle. Do not let your engine run
when you are not in your vehicle.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)
The following tips will help you get good starting in
cold weather.
Use the recommended engine oil when the outside
temperature drops below freezing. SeeEngine Oil
(Caterpillar
®Diesel Engine) on page 5-20orEngine Oil
(Gasoline Engine) on page 5-20orEngine Oil
(DURAMAX™ Diesel) on page 5-25. When the outside
temperature drops below 0°F (−18°C), use of the
engine coolant heater is recommended.If you experience longer cranking times, notice an
unusual amount of exhaust smoke or are at higher
altitudes (over 7,000 ft. or 2 135 m), you may use your
engine coolant heater. SeeEngine Coolant Heater
on page 2-23.
SeeWhat Fuel to Use on page 5-8for information on
what fuel to use in cold weather.
If Your Diesel Engine Won’t Start
If you’ve run out of fuel, seeRunning Out of Fuel on
page 5-15.
If you’re not out of fuel, and your engine won’t start,
do this:
Turn your ignition key to RUN. IMMEDIATELY after
the wait to start light goes off, turn the ignition key
to START.
If the light doesn’t go off, wait a few seconds, then try
starting your engine again. And, see your dealer as soon
as you can for a starting system check.
If the light comes on and then goes off and you know
your batteries are charged, but your engine still
won’t start, your vehicle needs service.
If the light does not come on when the engine is cold,
your vehicle needs service.
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When the engine is started, it will slowly ramp up to the
high idle speed after a delay of a few seconds up to
about two minutes. For this method to work properly
there must be no throttle or brake pedal faults, and the
throttle pedal must not fall below 75 percent of wide
open throttle while pressing the brake pedal.
The engine idle speed will return to normal once the
following conditions are met:
•Once engine coolant temperature reaches
150°F (65°C).
•Air intake temperature reaches 41°F (5°C).
The high idle speed will be temporarily interrupted and
the engine speed will return to normal if any of the
following conditions occur:
•The brake pedal is applied.
•The accelerator pedal is pressed.
•The automatic transmission is shifted out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
•The clutch pedal on the manual transmission is
pressed.
•Vehicle speed is detected.
Once these inputs are removed, the engine idle speed
will slowly ramp back up to high idle after the normal
delay, if the conditions for engine coolant temperature
and air intake temperature are still met.
Engine Checks Before Operating
When you’ve started your engine, let it run for
20 to 30 seconds before you put a load on the engine.
Butdon’tleave the vehicle while the engine is running.
Avoid unnecessary idling of diesel engine equipped
vehicles.
If the engine idles too long, the temperature of the
engine coolant will fall below the normal operating
range. Low engine operating temperature causes
several conditions which affect engine operation and
reduce engine life.
The engine should be permitted to go through a
warm-up period. Operate the vehicle at a minimum of
600 rpm during the warm-up period. During this
period and during operation, the following observations
should be made.
During this warm-up period, check your warning lights
and gages:
•If oil pressure doesn’t begin to rise within
15 seconds of starting, stop the engine and find the
cause.
•If the engine coolant temperature gage needle goes
into the hot area on the gage, stop the engine and
find the cause of the overheating.
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•If you have air brakes, the dual-needle air pressure
gage should read at least 115 psi (790 kPa) for
both service systems before you try to move
the vehicle. When air pressure is below 60 psi
(420 kPa), the LOW AIR light will come on and you
will hear a tone alarm. If the pressure doesn’t
build up or drops during warm-up, stop the engine
and find the cause before you try to move the
vehicle. Recommended air pressure before actually
driving away is 120 psi (830 kPa).
•The charging system light should come on when
the ignition key is turned to RUN or START and
should go out when the engine is running above
idle. If the light doesn’t go out or comes back
on during normal engine operation, have the
charging system checked right away. (This light
tells you if the generator is not charging; it doesn’t
reflect the condition of the battery.)
•The voltmeter charge indicator gage tells you the
condition of your battery’s charge. The gage
should be in the center area during engine
operation. The red area on the left indicates an
undercharge condition; the red area on the
right indicates an overcharge. If the gage is in
either red area, have the battery and charging
system checked right away.Notice:For diesel engines, don’t allow the engine
to operate at low idle for more than ve minutes.
This can cause low engine operating temperatures
which can affect engine operation and reduce
engine life. Engine idle speed should be increased
to 1200 rpm whenever extended idle is required.
Once started, the engine should be placed under
load to allow the engine coolant temperature
to reach 150°F (66°C) before shutting off the engine.
Engine Coolant Heater
If your vehicle has this
feature, the plug-in
receptacle is located under
the driver’s door.
In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You’ll get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
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Rear Heating System
If your vehicle has a rear
heater, the thumbwheel for
this feature is located on
the headliner.
To increase and decrease the flow of heated air to
the rear floor vents, turn the thumbwheel to the
desired fan speed. To turn the fan off, turn the
thumbwheel down.
Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
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Charging System Light
The charging system light
may be located in the
instrument panel cluster, or
with the auxiliary warning
lights in the center of
the instrument panel.
It should come on briefly when you turn on the ignition,
before the engine is running, as a check to show
that it is working.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, have
your vehicle checked right away. You could have a loose
generator drive belt or some other problem.
Driving while this light is on will drain your battery. If you
must drive a short distance with the light on, turn off
your radio and other accessories. Sustained driving with
a generator failure could result in a lack of back-up
braking if the engine quits or the power steering pump
should fail.
Voltmeter Gage
When your engine is
running, the voltmeter
gage shows the charging
system voltage.
Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system.
Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a
large number of electrical accessories are operating in
the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an
extended period. This condition is normal since the
charging system may not be able to provide full power
at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased,
this condition should correct itself because higher
engine speeds allow the charging system to create
maximum power.
You can only drive a short time on the battery. Be sure
to shut off the radio, the fan or any unnecessary
accessories and have the system serviced.
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Air Brake System Warning Light
Vehicles with air brake systems have a brake system
warning light on the instrument panel.
The LOW AIR warning light should come on, as a
check, whenever you start the engine. However, it is
designed to come on, and stay on, when brake reservoir
pressure has dropped below 60 psi (410 kPa).
When the warning light comes on while you are driving,
you should drive only as far as the nearest point of
safety and then stop the vehicle. Here’s a very important
thing for you to know:{CAUTION:
If the LOW AIR warning light comes on and the
warning tone sounds, the vehicle can stop
suddenly and without further warning. This is
because the parking brake will come on if
the pressure falls below 35 to 45 psi (240 to
310 kPa). You or others could be injured. If the
LOW AIR warning light comes on and the
warning tone sounds, stop as soon as you
can. You will not know how quickly the system
is losing pressure, so be aware that the
parking brake may come on suddenly. United States
Canada
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Trailer Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
If your vehicle is connected
to a trailer with anti-lock
brakes, this light should
come on briefly, as a
check, when you turn on
the ignition.
When this light comes on and stays on, it means there
is something wrong in the trailer anti-lock brake
system. Have the system repaired immediately.
If an anti-lock brake system equipped trailer is not
connected, this light is not functional.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine
coolant might have overheated and your engine may be
too hot. You should pull off the road, stop your vehicle
and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-36. If you have a
Caterpillar
®diesel engine, also see your Caterpillar®
Operation & Maintenance Manual.
United StatesCanada
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