Commute too short for diesel?

Personally, I think it is too short for a diesel the size of a 6.7. You won't get that much iron, oil and water properly warmed up in six miles. You might if you were towing, but not empty. Might be OK if you give it a couple of good runs every week.

10 miles, not 6. You'll have to watch the temp gauge and see where that goes. I know that you should drive far enough to blow the condensation out of the exhaust pipe.

It's never going to be able to complete a DPF regen with such short rides. Eventually it'll turn on the check engine light, or display a message if a full regen cannot be completed...

By the time your coolant temperature reaches normal, your oil will still be luke warm. I take my truck out for at least a half hour run on the freeway before I drain the oil.

First of all, there is no vehicle with an internal combustion engine that is going to like 10 mile, 15 minute commutes. Both gas and diesel vehicles need to be gotten up to operating temperature, not only the engine, but the entire driveline and exhaust system (both of which take even longer to warm up), lest Bad Things™ happen. With such a short daily commute, you, my friend, are a prime candidate for a plug-in electric vehicle. Those are the only ones truly suited for such a daily drive without fear of trouble down the road.

@sch911 is also right, diesels new enough to have a DPF are especially unsuitable because they require periodic uninterrupted 15 minute DPF burn-offs, and that 15 minutes requires the vehicle be fully at operating temperature before the burn-off starts, and usually traveling at least 55-60 mph during the entire event. I have heard that these occur automatically every 300-500 miles, so not an entirely infrequent thing.

Unless you take it out at least one day a week and run it for 100 miles or so, you might want to stick to a gasser, if a plug-in electric is not in the picture.

Yes hard on them I've been told by lots of folks. I was 3 1/2 miles away from work. That one reason why I've got an 01 with 80,000 miles on it.

I used to take it for a longer drive about once a week. And at least once a month took it for a longer drive lasting about an hour. Being you can go a long time on tank of fuel I always filled it up when on 1/2 and ran a biocide. Didn't want fuel sitting for long time as not uncommon in my area for people to get "microbs" or fungus going in fuel system. (Ask around in your area for better advice on running a biocide)

Over all the only long term effect I attribute to not using much far (15 years old now) is a water pump that went out at 65,000 miles.
And a truck that is still getting "broken in" in many ways but has most of the valve is gone due to age.

The other thing I would caution is make sure your keeping track of maintenance schedule by mileage and time. Fluids might need to be changed by time not miles.

Maybe different with newer ones but in winter gauges wouldn't even move before I was at work. And sometimes a cold 3 1/2 miles.

Ogeechee wrote:
I drive 10 miles (+/- 1/10th) to work each day. 6 miles is interstate. No stop and go, commute normally takes about 15 minutes. Is this too short/quick for a 2012 f250 with 6.7? I've heard the old wives tales about not getting a diesel to operating temp being harmful. What do y'all think?

Not a single problem with this commute and your proposed truck. I drive a daily commute similar to yours with my '12 6.7 Power Stroke with 70k miles and not a single problem to date.

OP is just fine. I drive 2012 F-350 6.7 9 miles one way to work 45 mph average with some stop and go. Never have gotten a drive to clean message. If regeneration starts, it will just get part done and then start a little sooner the next time. I drive less when the temperature is less than 20, but still drive year round. I drive longer distances on weekends and towing trips. Since this is an RV forum let's assume there is some towing beyond 10 miles. In 50k miles, have had no problems. Use block heater below 40 to get engine warmer faster but truck will start down to 0. In Georgia this going to be NO problem. Enjoy the torque and use a lubrication additive in your fuel.

FWIW I know a guy who bought a new Ram/Cummins about 5 years ago.
He drove it to work, not quite One (1) Mile, every day.
As far as I know he didn't have any problems.

My truck is only a month old, but I drive about 6 miles to work. There's no freeway and most speeds are 40-45 mph other than stoplights. It isn't ideal but I try to mix in longer drives here and there (which pretty much happen by default). Time will tell how it does in the winter although I park in a garage and plan to use the block heater and experiment with the grill cover as well. But in summer temps, my truck actually gets the oil and coolant pretty well up to temp over the course of that commute. I've read that all the newer diesels get up to temp much quicker than the old ones, I assume due to EGR.

I don't really expect issues in the long run but we'll see. I do plan on running full synthetic starting this fall.