Do you leave your diesel running ...?
I see many diesel drivers who leave the engine running while fueling (or other short-term occasions). For a while, I asked why they did that, just to see what their reason was. Never got the same answ...
Forum Discussion
I'm a former diesel mechanic and have a undergrad degree in automotive technology.
When under a heavy load, the engine heats up unevenly. The area around the combustion chambers can get to hundreds of degrees hotter than the areas further away from the cylinders. Idling the engine allows the temperatures to come down and to normalize within the engine and prevent warping of parts and damage.
It's not good for an internal combustion engine of any type to idle for long periods, but you should let them cool down to normal operating temperature before shutting them off, if possible.
I have a scangage on my engine that tells me the coolant temperature and the engine oil temperature. Ideally you want the two of them within 5 to 10 degrees of each other before shutting the engine off.
When under a heavy load, the engine heats up unevenly. The area around the combustion chambers can get to hundreds of degrees hotter than the areas further away from the cylinders. Idling the engine allows the temperatures to come down and to normalize within the engine and prevent warping of parts and damage.
It's not good for an internal combustion engine of any type to idle for long periods, but you should let them cool down to normal operating temperature before shutting them off, if possible.
I have a scangage on my engine that tells me the coolant temperature and the engine oil temperature. Ideally you want the two of them within 5 to 10 degrees of each other before shutting the engine off.
