I want high idle

Ok, before leaving to refuel today, I tried the high idle. Just turned cruise control switch on, on the smart wheel and hit set. The engine went to 1200 rpm's instantly.
It seemed to cut the time it takes to build air pressure a bit.

Warms it up a bit quicker and keeps oil pressure up. That's what my dad taught me in the 50's. He retired out of Operating Engineers so did I. Haven't blown an engine yet.

Mr. Coach wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
I have a question, why exactly do we want to idle our engines at a higher RPM? I have the Cat 330 hp and I don't recall reading anything about a high idle or why I would want to do that.

High idle is very necessary especially in cold climates. As we all know diesel engines cool down rapidly on idle, therefore if left at "Low" idle we get a lot of fuel build up in the cylinders (unburned fuel). If we bump up the engine RPM from idle to say 1100-1400 rpms it eliminates the unburned fuel (theoretically speaking) and keeps the engine at a decent temperature and there you have it.. When I drive motor coach and if the temp is below 32F we are instructed to keep the engines running at all times. Even overnight if there is no plug ins. I've seen these engines run for hours on end with no problems as long it is at a higher RPM. One big note though is the newer engines with particulate filter and regen, that's a whole different ball game and they want those engines running at at least 1400 rpm at idle, or do not idle them at all... Kinda sucks.

That explains why I've never heard of it, I live in California. I'll remember this if I ever go to North Dakota in the winter, which I doubt I'll ever do. :)

I also have the high idle on the cruise control, a slide button and you have it. But I have Freightliner and yours is Spartan so it might not have a high idle.

I also agree with Mr Coach that on cold weather the high idle is used all the times on charter buses.

If it was bad msmith99 to idle for long periods at a time WHY would Freightliner even install a high idle button on your coach? I have read that statement so many times in this forum and it just makes me laugh.

Mr. Coach wrote:

Rollnhome wrote:
On mine the high idle is on the turn signal with the cruise control. With engine running slide the "switch" on top of the turn signal towards the steering wheel.

Done it, doesn't work for me.. Sounds like a stick might be my better option for now..

You can get those "sticks" in truck stops - and they are actually adjustable.

But does your cruise control actually work? If it does, it should also act as throttle control the same way. Coach in neutral, engine brake off, parking brake (yellow knob) on, turn on cruise control and keep bumping up the increase acceleration switch until you get the right speed. If you get it to high, you use the de-accelerate side fo the switch.

If you can't figure the switches out, find someone who has been around diesel pushers or tractor trailers a while to help you out. It is hard to explain this stuff over the web when we don't know the actual layout of your dash board, and different manufacturers lay the out differently.

cbeierl wrote:
If you haven't tried it already, turn on the cruise control, advance the engine speed via the accelerator to the idle speed you want (~1000 rpm), and then press 'set' on the cruise control. See if that works.

Did it!! No go..

If you haven't tried it already, turn on the cruise control, advance the engine speed via the accelerator to the idle speed you want (~1000 rpm), and then press 'set' on the cruise control. See if that works.

Rollnhome wrote:
On mine the high idle is on the turn signal with the cruise control. With engine running slide the "switch" on top of the turn signal towards the steering wheel.

Done it, doesn't work for me.. Sounds like a stick might be my better option for now..

msmith1199 wrote:
I have a question, why exactly do we want to idle our engines at a higher RPM? I have the Cat 330 hp and I don't recall reading anything about a high idle or why I would want to do that.

High idle is very necessary especially in cold climates. As we all know diesel engines cool down rapidly on idle, therefore if left at "Low" idle we get a lot of fuel build up in the cylinders (unburned fuel). If we bump up the engine RPM from idle to say 1100-1400 rpms it eliminates the unburned fuel (theoretically speaking) and keeps the engine at a decent temperature and there you have it.. When I drive motor coach and if the temp is below 32F we are instructed to keep the engines running at all times. Even overnight if there is no plug ins. I've seen these engines run for hours on end with no problems as long it is at a higher RPM. One big note though is the newer engines with particulate filter and regen, that's a whole different ball game and they want those engines running at at least 1400 rpm at idle, or do not idle them at all... Kinda sucks.

I have a question, why exactly do we want to idle our engines at a higher RPM? I have the Cat 330 hp and I don't recall reading anything about a high idle or why I would want to do that.