Short Trips

[eTorqueCoasting]

How bad or how negatively do really short trips do onto these trucks? My current workplace is about 2-3 miles from where I stay. My truck barely gets up to operating temp before I make it to my job, where I will be for the next 8-10 hrs, before likely driving back home. I heavily considered driving a bit more, like a 10-12 mile loop before pulling up to work. Is that neccessary or recommened?

 

[Dusty1948]

How bad or how negatively do really short trips do onto these trucks? My current workplace is about 2-3 miles from where I stay. My truck barely gets up to operating temp before I make it to my job, where I will be for the next 8-10 hrs, before likely driving back home. I heavily considered driving a bit more, like a 10-12 mile loop before pulling up to work. Is that neccessary or recommened?

The biggest threat from short trip driving is the build up of water (moisture) in the engine oil. This can lead to sludging and oil drain issues over time. Your example of 'short trip' is fairly severe. Over a five day work week a fair amount of moisture can build up in the engine. The motor really needs to come up to full operating temperature for a period of time in order to expell a lot of moisture.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045573 miles.

 

[RockYacht2020]

Huh, I actually didn't know this. Does climate make a huge difference on this? I live in AZ (frequently under 15% humidity). Would that still be a concern? Or is the moisture from another source?

 

[Dusty1948]

Huh, I actually didn't know this. Does climate make a huge difference on this? I live in AZ (frequently under 15% humidity). Would that still be a concern? Or is the moisture from another source?

Kind of hard to say. Fifteen percent doesn't sound like much to me, but I live in the Northeast where we rarely see humidity in the teens. Winter time maybe. However, with even low humidity moisture can build up over time unless the engine oil gets to operating temperature long enough to burn it off. Your probably under less of a threat than most of us, but it can still happen at lower than average humidity.

If you ever see any signs of a whitish-milky substance on the underside of the oil fill cap or oil fill tube, you've got excessive moisture in the engine.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045573 miles.

 

[eTorqueCoasting]

Thanks much.

The biggest threat from short trip driving is the build up of water (moisture) in the engine oil. This can lead to sludging and oil drain issues over time. Your example of 'short trip' is fairly severe. Over a five day work week a fair amount of moisture can build up in the engine. The motor really needs to come up to full operating temperature for a period of time in order to expell a lot of moisture.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045573 miles.

Yikes! Look like I'll have to make a habit of leaving early early to run some kind of loop

 

[Dusty1948]

Thanks much.

Yikes! Look like I'll have to make a habit of leaving early early to run some kind of loop

Sorry. I had some over-the-shoulder interference when I sent the last message.

There are some alternatives that I should've included. You could increase the oil change interval in order to expel the contaminated motor oil. Not sure what that would be in your case. 3000 miles, maybe?

All of my Rams come to temperature pretty quick and i never do a warm up in the driveway. This would be hard on your gas mileage, but you could compensate with a more prolonged warm up before driving.

Maybe a combination of both suggestions??

Hope this helps.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33 gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 03 June 2018. Now at: 045573 miles.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Water is a byproduct of combustion, so your engine is constantly producing water when it’s running. Water will definitely build up in your oil during short trips but trip length is one of the many data points the OLM considers when establishing when the oil needs to be changed. If you can get it out on the highway a couple times a month and get the oil temp up to normal it will help control the moisture buildup.

 

[GerryS]

I believe the moisture is a by product of combustion. As stated, it's best to get the engine up to temp to (boil off) get the moisture out of the oil. Another casualty of moisture from short trips is that your mufflers don't last as long. They rust quicker.
Maybe a longer warm-up and /or a longer drive on the weekend might help.
Gerry

 

[PM-Performance]

Non issue, don’t overthink it.
I’m sure many “backyard engineers” will hate this comment and tell me all kinds of technical reasons why I am wrong, but I’d like to think modern technology has trumped any logic that this is an issue.

 

[Biga]

I don't think it's an issue, if you do a lot of short trips that can be hard on certain parts of a vehicle like the manifolds which heat and expend and then contract which leads to premature cracking.