Facts about diesel ideling

Its my truck my fuel and my money, if I want to let it idle all day I will. If it is really hot out and it get that way in AZ and I going into a store in is going to be idling with the AC on until I come out and if I lived where it was 0 I would let it idle with the heater on until I come out of the store however long it takes

I don't have a diesel rig but I'm idle frequently.

My RAM manual states that you should let it cool down (the turbo) by idling 3-4 minutes after pulling a trailer at highway speeds.

DutchmenSport wrote:

Makes me wonder about law enforcement in California? Don't have anything better to do than sit there with a stop watch, timing how long a truck is sitting there idle? Seems like they could be "out there" catching real criminals!

Not just California. If you look at many of the newer truck stops in many states they have duct systems set up with heat & air. The ductwork adapter goes in the semi's window.

kep5niner wrote:
... could be a carry-over from those of us in the military out there. The credo is to not shut down once it's started - because you might not get it started again.

Bingo! Bingo! Bingo! And actually made me bust out laughing! Oh that is soooooo true! I'm old enough I've forgotten some of those quirkie things we did in the Army! That was one of them!

GordonThree wrote:
If all these facts are so well known, why do so many leave their diesel pickup idle, for example, the entire time they're setting up or breaking camp, half an hour, maybe more? When are all diesel going to come with an automatic shutdown on idle?

Not sure about the need for 1/2 hour idle when setting up or breaking camp but I like to run for a minute or two before moving my truck then after that I do keep it running while hooking or unhooking as it makes this process much easier ;)

For you Ford 6.7 diesel owners, the Diesel Supplement reads you should allow the engine to idle for 15 seconds before putting it into gear.

For those that let the diesel always run (once it's started), could be a carry-over from those of us in the military out there. The credo is to not shut down once it's started - because you might not get it started again.

DutchmenSport wrote:
I have found with my truck (3500 diesel), if I start the engine it will initially run on high idle. Once the engine reaches it's desired temperature, it will shift to low idle. When it does that, I's OK to drive it.

I have found, in the deep winter months, when outside temperatures are 0 degrees (F) or below, by plugging in the engine block heater, there is really no need for any idle time. Just wait for it to switch from high idle, to low idle, and then it's OK to drive it.

I have found that letting the engine idle longer until the cab is warm enough my toes aren't freezing is really not necessary with my truck. When temperatures get around 36 degrees, my truck has a built in separate heating system that warm the cab heater. It run on diesel fuel, same as the engine. The warms the cab much faster, even on the coldest of days. Combined with electric engine block heater, no need for long idle, once it switches from the high idle to the low. Even in zero degree weather, it's ready to go and the cab is not sub-freezing my fingers off!

In the Summer months, my idle time is usually the time it takes to hit the remote start to the time I get to the truck, And when camping, it idles when hitching long enough for sure.

But, leave it to Indiana to set the record straight!

Makes me wonder about law enforcement in California? Don't have anything better to do than sit there with a stop watch, timing how long a truck is sitting there idle? Seems like they could be "out there" catching real criminals!

Mine seems to start at low idle, and never gets the chance to go to high idle :), I'm off ,and running. Works for me for the past 19 years with a diesel.

DutchmenSport wrote:
The only reason to run a longer idle is to warm up the passenger area or defrost windows in my opinion.

Having once again somewhat strayed from the original question......
Some of you seem to forget that a diesel engine runs on HEAT. The fuel ignites because of the heat produced by compression.

A COLD diesel is extremely inefficient. Part of the unburned fuel goes out the stack. Part of it washes down the cylinder walls.

So letting the engine warm up just a minute or two when it's cold out IS kind of important.

LEAVING it running after it's hot is just stupid......other than those situations where the driver or engine might DIE because of the cold.

GordonThree wrote:
If all these facts are so well known, why do so many leave their diesel pickup idle, for example, the entire time they're setting up or breaking camp, half an hour, maybe more? When are all diesel going to come with an automatic shutdown on idle?

Cause it makes them feel cool I guess. :B