How long should I let it idle?

[Cherokee]

When you get home shut her right down no waiting.
It will spin down to a stop and cool down normally.
The issue is the stop/start.
The super high rpm turbo is likely still spinning down at the end of a 30 second engine shut down at a light without good oil pressure. THEN it’s asked to power/spin right back up when you cross 1800-1900 rpm.
Then get oil starved again at the next light.

But then again it’s designed for this,
yeah right !
Minimal drain on the battery right !
The starter can take 300,000 starts, that’s good to know. I’d like to see the test parameters of that one. Likely It’s the parts sales history.
It’s just a turbo.

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[Paulyz]

I do like my Maverick and it is the first vehicle I have owned with a turbo. My question is how long should I let it idle after returning home from work, doing errands or whatever it was as I heard different answers as to how long it should be. I have heard 30 seconds. one minute and up to five minutes to let the turbo cool down some before shutting the engine off. I usually wait at least 30 seconds if not longer before I shut the engine off.

I do the same as you. 20 to 30 seconds.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I never heard of letting it idle after a drive but I usually auto start the truck 15 minutes before I go to work so that the oil thins before driving.

You know that's not a thing with muti-viscosity oil. They get THICKER as they heat up. Take 5w30 as an example.

It is designed to act like a thin oil (e.g., 5W) when cold for easy starting and a thicker, protective oil (e.g., 30) when hot.

Are you using grandpa's left over straight 40 wt?

 

[chinoxl3]

You know that's not a thing with muti-viscosity oil. They get THICKER as they heat up.

Are you using grandpa's left over straight 40 wt?

Seriously? All oil gets thin as it heats up. I think your confused on what viscosity means.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

Seriously? All oil gets thin as it heats up. I think your confused on what viscosity means.

Yes and no.
Is the glass half empty or half full?

Semantics

Precisely it behaves "as a 5 weight would" at cold temperatures. And it behaves "as a 30 weight would" at normal operating temperature.

Yes. I wrote the book on viscosity. Would you like a signed copy?

 

[chinoxl3]

Yes and no.
Is the glass half empty or half full?

Semantics

Precisely it behaves "as a 5 weight would" at cold temperatures. And it behaves "as a 30 weight would" at normal operating temperature.

Yes. I wrote the book on viscosity. Would you like a signed copy?

Are you confused on what "your" means?

Good for you. Here’s a doggie biscuit for your contributions.

 

[CajunMick]

Too bad there’s no oil temperature gauge. Keep in mind whenever engine shutdown occurs, no more heat going on. And fluids begin cooldown pretty quick. But I wish for a post lube pump to circulate oil.

 

[Blue_Max]

Just add some Marvel Mystery Oil.

 

[Chops]

There is no doubt that proper start up & cool down idling is healthy for an EB turbo. But is it beneficial for the Hybrid batteries too?

 

[r0tax]

If cold (<50*F) I'll start and let idle for a couple-3 minutes, at least until it comes off high-idle.
I then 'take it easy', to allow for the other fluids to warm up for the first few miles.
Avoid hard accel and high rpm/boost until coolant temp is up to normal range (typically by then, oil will be close to temp too).

Unless your drag/track racing or climbing up Eisenhower pass with a load, and then stopping immediately... There shouldn't be much to worry about before shutting down.

If you are coming in from a hot lap after flogging it hard for a while, maybe a 30-60s idle wouldn't hurt. But, I doubt most need to worry about it. Unless you know you're excessively heat soaked.

Typically the biggest concern I have is during startup. COLD oil through small turbo passages with high RPM is not ideal.
Avoid excessive boost/load on cold oil.

 

[Chops]

If cold (<50*F) I'll start and let idle for a couple-3 minutes, at least until it comes off high-idle.
I then 'take it easy', to allow for the other fluids to warm up for the first few miles.
Avoid hard accel and high rpm/boost until coolant temp is up to normal range (typically by then, oil will be close to temp too).

Unless your drag/track racing or climbing up Eisenhower pass with a load, and then stopping immediately... There shouldn't be much to worry about before shutting down.

If you are coming in from a hot lap after flogging it hard for a while, maybe a 30-60s idle wouldn't hurt. But, I doubt most need to worry about it. Unless you know you're excessively heat soaked.

Typically the biggest concern I have is during startup. COLD oil through small turbo passages with high RPM is not ideal.
Avoid excessive boost/load on cold oil.

Agree totally (and follow) your cold start up regimen. Common sense for a EB owner.

I do disagree a bit on the cooldown. I wait for the high idle and high fan speed to reduce. Our little EB turbos easily get hotter than 1,000 degrees and oil starts to degrade at about 250 degrees.

The oil sitting in the small oil passages inside the turbo is destroyed - luckily it is just a tiny amount. But I still like to keep it and the coolant lines circulating for just a bit.

 

[Darryl]

None of that is necessary unless you are towing or racing, but I'm sure you will get a variety of answers here.

I agree with this answer. With modern turbos made within the last 15 years or so, letting it idle after driving is unnecessary unless you've been running it hard or have been towing. But after a normal drive, no special treatment is necessary. Just keep the oil changed at or before the time specified in the owners guide with oil that's at least as good as that which Ford specifies

 

[Cancunbadlands]

Unnecessary after a normal drive, no special treatment is necessary at all

 

[Carlitos_92]

Seriously? All oil gets thin as it heats up. I think your confused on what viscosity means.

For further reading... Note that I don't personally use or even promote Amsoil, but a lot of the oil nerds who care deeply about such things seem to.

https://blog.amsoil.com/the-science-of-multigrade-oils/

 

[Chops]

Unnecessary after a normal drive, no special treatment is necessary at all

Don’t confuse “unnecessary” with “beneficial”. A cooldown after normal driving is unnecessary but beneficial.

Using 91 octane in a EB is unnecessary but beneficial too.

Akso, important to note the difference between “unnecessary” and “inconvenient”

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