So diesels dont like to sit....

Yet another..

PenMan wrote:
I've seen a couple of posts in this thread that say not to idle a diesel. Wonder why my owner's manual says to idle mine to warm it up when cold? Like 3 to 5 minutes.

PenMan,
I used to work for that company, I argued about that note at countless meetings. It isn't the engine (per se) that they are worried about, it is the turbocharger....

The thinking was that they don't want an operator (while the vehicle is under warranty) to start the engine and immediately try to use the full power at full boost. Like so many things, the note is intended to be safe for them. By the way, 3 to 5 minutes is to allow for an unheated start up in Bemidji, (like -50°F - aka CMF) where we did cold testing. If you are in shirt sleeves, it takes less than a minute to get lube oil to the turbocharger and that is the big issue.

Matt - this is why they hired a diesel engineer

thanks very much for the feedback. great advice

PenMan wrote:
I've seen a couple of posts in this thread that say not to idle a diesel. Wonder why my owner's manual says to idle mine to warm it up when cold? Like 3 to 5 minutes.

Cause you want to make sure you have good oil pressure and that the oil getting everywhere it should be before taking off. Cold oil takes a while to circulate through out the engine.

But extended idling is not good for a diesel because the fuel can wash down the cylinder walls and cause premature wear of the walls, rings, and pistons. Plus that fuel will find it's way into the lube oil and dilute it. Bump your idle up to 1200 rpm and there is much less chance of any damage.

PenMan wrote:
I've seen a couple of posts in this thread that say not to idle a diesel. Wonder why my owner's manual says to idle mine to warm it up when cold? Like 3 to 5 minutes.

I believe what they are talking about is what I see often when I take my bike ride each morning down here in Snowbird country (Yuma).

I see many motorhomes with the engine running but the unit never leaves the lot. I suspect they are doing more harm than if they left it alone. If you start the engine I believe its needs to go out on the highway then when at temperature run ta 60 mph for 5-10 minutes.

A diesel just idling probably will never get to temperature.

The engine is just one part of the coach. An RV that sits vacant for a long time attracts insects and rodents that love to eat electrical wiring. I would have the entire coach inspected, especially underneath for critter damage, as well as water and other damage. Naturally you will also want to make sure that everything works.

I've seen a couple of posts in this thread that say not to idle a diesel. Wonder why my owner's manual says to idle mine to warm it up when cold? Like 3 to 5 minutes.

The one thing on diesels that can be bad is if an injector gums up and seizes. If the engine has been run annually, or every several months, I wouldn't worry about it overly much. I leave mine to sit for sometimes up to a year at a time, I just check the injectors, crank it and change the oil.

Now if it had 20K miles in the first year and none since, I would check it very carefully.

Brian

I once bought a Chev Pickup (not a diesel) that a guy used only to tow his trailer. I forget the exact details but it was about 10 years old and had something like 20,000 miles on it. He average about 2000 miles a year and let the truck sit all winter long every year without using it. It started up just fine and ran just fine and continued to run just fine for about 30 days. Then the problems started. I can't even remember all of them. Tranny rebuild, brake drums replaced, valve job, rebuild the carb, and these are just a few of the problems. Every single problem the truck had could all be traced back to sitting for long periods of time without being used. I understand others haven't had this same experience, but I did. What I thought was going to be a good deal on a nice used truck was the nightmare truck from you know where.

jvernon wrote:
Im set to buy a 2001 coach , cummins 8.1 isc, 26,000 miles. Should i be concerned because it hasnt been driven enough ?

Buy it at the right price. Make sure you factor in some $ for problems. Mine had a lift pump and two engine sensors that failed due to age, setting and ULSD. Plan on a full service profile, all filters/all fluids, for the generator, too. Did I mention buy it at the right price?

Take it to a reputable Heavy Duty Repair facility and have a full Service done!

This should get the vehicle back to a "Good to go" condition!

Then maintain it properly, drive it whenever You are able to get away ,or leave it parked in a safe and secure place!

Never Start and Idle any Engine!