I just bought a 92 Ram D350 with 5.9 L turbo. I've been reading a lot about how low engine/coolant temps can damage the engine by causing fuel not to burn completely which causes the unburned fuel to wash the oil away from the cylinder walls and apparently the unburned fuel can also get into the crankcase and dilute the oil there.
One of my questions is: Okay, if you follow that line of logic, then isn't it true that every time you cold start a diesel, until the temp reaches operating temp (140 F from what I've read), then the period of warm up is causing engine damage?
I discovered a few days after I bought it, that the fan is running pretty much all the time, and the temp gauge is staying just slightly right of the "C" mark. I put cardboard over about 3/4 of the radiator (not the intercooler) and it does get up into the normal range, but it takes about 15-20 mins of driving to reach that temp.
Any voices of experience would be appreciated.
One of my questions is: Okay, if you follow that line of logic, then isn't it true that every time you cold start a diesel, until the temp reaches operating temp (140 F from what I've read), then the period of warm up is causing engine damage?
I discovered a few days after I bought it, that the fan is running pretty much all the time, and the temp gauge is staying just slightly right of the "C" mark. I put cardboard over about 3/4 of the radiator (not the intercooler) and it does get up into the normal range, but it takes about 15-20 mins of driving to reach that temp.
Any voices of experience would be appreciated.