Devilsclaw

2012 5.0, about 9K on the odometer.

Since it has gotten colder, when I start it up in the morning, it won't hardly run as I back out of my shop. Pressing the throttle, just makes it bog down. Seems like the idle speed is pretty low for being so cold out.

Now, I know, I can let it warm up for a couple minutes and then, no problem, but I usually like to just idle it up the road to do that. Haven't had to "warm up" a vehicle since back in the 80's. (I'm not talking pull out and right to highway speeds, but start and then idle at around 5 mph for quite a ways) It also seems to be getting worse.

My previous Ford cars and SUVs didn't do this. They started at fast idle and then slowed down when they got warm.

This is my first Ford F-150, coming over from GM for the last 20 yrs. so might just be one of those things I have to get used to.

Just wondering if you guys have to let yours warm up fully before taking off?

yotehunter

Mine does the same as do many.Ford retards the timing at start-up-9 deg.to warm up the cats fast. Ford says they are aware but have no fix....so the dealer tells me.I did observe on mine that the timing was retarded at cold starts. I wonder if it only effects trucks with California emissions....as I have to have it by law in Northern Va. None of my otheir new Fords do this.

azdriver

The tune causes them to run poorly for the first few minutes or so. Nothing to do with the weather. Dealer told me "it is within parameters"...

yotehunter

Correct! But cold weather seems to amplify it. I think their are a few different starting tables based on start up temp.

Sock Puppet

I just let mine warm up for a few minutes.

Devilsclaw

Yeah, it's definately much worse below 45 degrees. It doesn't seem to be something I cannot live with. But it's MUCH worse than any other vehicle I've had in the last 20 yrs. or so. I bet it has something to do with emmissions. Seems like for the first couple minutes, it should idle at about 200-300 RPM higher than it does.

Strange thing is, my friend's 2012 with EcoBoost, exact same pickup otherwise, idles so fast it almost jumps outta the garage when he starts his. That's what kinda made me wonder.

yotehunter

[QUOTE=Devilsclaw;2311669]Yeah, it's definately much worse below 45 degrees. It doesn't seem to be something I cannot live with. But it's MUCH worse than any other vehicle I've had in the last 20 yrs. or so. I bet it has something to do with emmissions. Seems like for the first couple minutes, it should idle at about 200-300 RPM higher than it does.

Strange thing is, my friend's 2012 with EcoBoost, exact same pickup otherwise, idles so fast it almost jumps outta the garage when he starts his. That's what kinda made me wonder.[/QUOTE I can live with it for now....but I see this as a problem for Ford. Mine runs very "flat" and bogs until the timing settles. Most people on a modern auto don't wait for them to warm up. Someones going to pull out on to a highway after startup and well............

CoreyMS

What is the rpm at this cold idle?

If its any difference my eco starts at 1000 rpm and comes down to 550~600 after some warm up.

yotehunter

On mine,the rpm starts at 1200 at settles to 500.That is not the problem.The motor "acts" lethargic or dead for the first two minutes.It feels like it is revving slow but is not. After market tunners will fix it,but I am not ready to do that.

Madorski

According to engineering test mode on my truck the 5.0 warm idle is 560-570 RPM... I haven't checked cold (I'm a sucker for my remote start) but it is a fast idle closer to 1100 RPM I suspect.

This is in weather around -5F.