<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PEZ:
Does it come in the Lariat pkg? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
No, and you can't even order it on a Lariat. But you can get one from the parts department, and it will plug in and work just fine and dandy on a Lariat.
"What is the idle control ..."
Your PSD turbo-diesel has a low idle of 680 RPM if it's an automatic, or 650 RPM if it's a stick. That's great for cooling off the engine and turbo after a hot run. But it's too low an idle to let the truck just sit and idle while you let the AC or heater run, or while you're using the headlights or aftermarket electrical accessories such as winch or light bar or whatever.
You should never let your truck sit at low idle for more than 10 minutes in cold weather. Or even less time if your engine was not hot when you began the idle. After a few minutes, your engine cools down to a point that fuel will not burn completely, and thus your oil will be contaminated and you will increase carbon deposits on the cylinder head around the valve seat area and on top of the piston. In warmer weather, if your AC is on, your batteries will slowly discharge because at low idle the altenator does not put out enough to run the AC. And the AC will not put out much cold air.
The Auxilary Powertrain Control Module (APCM) is mentioned in the PowerStroke supplement to your Owner's Guide. That thing is also called the Idle Controller or the Auxilary Idle Control Kit. But the book doesn't tell you why I have one.
I travel with Darling Wife's puppydog in the truck with us. When we stop to eat or to shop, we leave the puppydog in the truck - with the AC or heater running. You know how hot a parked truck gets in the Texas sun in August - not too good for the puppydog, even with the windows cracked. Illegal to leave the dog in the hot truck in some jurisdictions (including Midland, TX). Cruelty to animals, doncha know. The AC doesn't put out max cold at low idle, plus the battery discharges.
So we use the APCM to set the idle up to about 1100 to 1200 RPM, leave the AC on, and the puppy in the truck. The truck can idle above 1,100 RPM all day (or until it runs out of fuel) without harm to the engine, turbo, or battery.
Also, if you need to stop at a rest stop and take a nap in the truck while you idle with the AC or heater on, you need the idle controller.
Or Darling Wife can go into the mall for "just a minute" while I sit in the truck with the AC on. Listening to the radio. Reading. Whatever, as long as I don't have to "shop"!
If you didn't order one with your new truck, you can still get it. List price from your dealer is $652. My dealer will sell them to Ford-Diesel.com members for $335 plus tax and shipping. Your dealer may sell you one for a lot less than $652. If not, send e-mail to Gene Louder at
whitemoco@hotmail.com - or click on this:
http://www.dreamwater.org/biz/idlekit/
Smokey Wren
P.S.
http://www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/b_smoke9.htm contains another opinion.
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