I have a 24 ft Class C motorhome with a 188 hp Mercedes Benz engine. It is a 2014 Thor model. I keep it in storage. We travel for at least 3-4 days every 2 months but 3 months during the summer. How often should I go to the storage facility near my house in my home town and turn on the engine? For how long should I let it run? I know taking it for a short drive is good but must I have to do that?

I have a MB diesel to, in the garage , no need to start it, diesels can sit for years and fire right up, do put a trickle charger on the battery if you can.and the house battery to.

midnightsadie wrote:I have a MB diesel to, in the garage , no need to start it, diesels can sit for years and fire right up, do put a trickle charger on the battery if you can.and the house battery to.One should be careful in leaving their diesel trucks for years. Seals, gaskets and other things dry out, as well as the Diesel fuel degrades as does oil. To state a diesel truck could be started without being freshened up is not something I would ever follow.First, fuel degrades and there is debate on whether to keep a fuel tank filled or not, to stop condensation. Diesel will form organic material that will clog filters. It would be best to maintain a habit of starting and driving the vehicle once a month, to exercise the shocks and tires, as well as the suspension. Keeping D-Con and other material in the engine compartment will help keep the pest from chewing down your wire insulation and reflective material around your turbos and engine parts. Keeping your batteries charged with ensure longevity and in areas different than yours, Freezing temperatures, it will keep them from freezing. b

Unless you are going to drive the unit long enough to get the engine up to operating temperature I say don't start it. I believe that short run cycles do more harm then good. Use a charger if possible to keep the battery charged. I use a 5watt solar charger for my truck which sits for weeks at a time and then I'll drive it on an errand of at least 20 miles. JMO

RAS43 wrote:Unless you are going to drive the unit long enough to get the engine up to operating temperature I say don't start it. I believe that short run cycles do more harm then good. Use a charger if possible to keep the battery charged. I use a 5watt solar charger for my truck which sits for weeks at a time and then I'll drive it on an errand of at least 20 miles. JMOI agree, but let me elaborate.If you start it, driver it long enough to get the OIL, not just coolant up to operating temperature. And, agree, 20-30 highway miles or do not start it.Also, to minimize condensation, be sure to store with diesel tank full. I add a BIOCIDE if storing fuel over 2 months in the summer or 3 months in the winter.

Engineers debate the same thing so there is no perfect answer. I run mine once a month for about 15-20 minutes until the temps come up. I idle it up to about 1200 RPM after a few minutes and even run the AC sometimes. Nobody is going to show you a credible graph of one way versus the other so you might as well just follow your manufactures recommendation.

How often should I start a diesel engine? | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

weasel4
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
With your time situations, just drive it when you need it. Fill the fuel tank before you park it each time. All will be well
BTC
huron52
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
My mechanic that does some servicing of my diesel Dodge truck suggests that I drive at least 20 or more miles after I start it up in the winter. I have heard stories of oil pans rusting out because of short drives in the winter. Not getting totally warmed up. As for farm machinery sitting all winter. Yes it happens all the time. The only down side I see is the batteries going dead.
09FLSTC
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
midnightsadie wrote:
DID I say you didb,t need to do a little prep??? go have a cup of coffee.

Try again in the morning.
Mike_LeClair
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
Just leave it be fer cryin' out loud! After a couple of months it will start just fine. Put a battery tender on it to keep the battery fresh. Keep the fuel tank full and run a little bit of your favorite diesel fuel lubricant or biochem, whatever your preference. It will be fine, you will be fine.

Mike
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
Miami isn't Ohio or Nevada. Hot and humid. I deal with it 24/7

Algae loves diesel fuel with a side of water. Keep tanks tip-topped off. Store ONLY with crystal clear lube oil. On our 6V53 Grey Marine engines it was SOP to stuff a sopping wet with diesel ragIinto the intake plenum when the boat was going to be out of service for 10-days. The exhaust fanges were pulled and a blind fitted. Hot humid marine air is wicked.
Raften
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
I would put a biocide in the diesel tank considering where you are. Put it in before your next trip so it will mix well with the fuel.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 03, 2015
No need to start unless you are going to roll.
Continue driving at least 10 minutes after it is fully warmed up if you must start the thing.
Jaxom
Explorer
Feb 03, 2015
Diesel engines in some farm equipment sit for months at a time, then they fire right up. Some construction equipment has similar use & results.
bka0721
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2015
midnightsadie wrote:
DID I say you didb,t need to do a little prep??? go have a cup of coffee.
No.

Actually you didn't. Your quote only addresses the batteries. Which has nothing to do with the Diesel engine and the OP's question. But there has been a great response by others. A great show of how deep the experience is in this forum.

b
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2015
DID I say you didb,t need to do a little prep??? go have a cup of coffee.