Facts about diesel ideling

minnow wrote:

1320Fastback wrote:
...These are people that either are living in the past, what we call Bro Dozers or just simply uniformed. EGT gives a good indication of turbo temperature and that is usually the last thing to cool down once parked. I like to see under 200 degrees before I shut down and with a old engine I get there within 30-60 seconds. Newer trucks with all the black magic under the hood take longer but can't imagine any would need longer than 3-4 minuets to cool down...

On my '16 Ram 3500 it takes a lot longer than 3-4 minutes to get the EGT temp down to 200 degrees, and that's just around town driving. I'll idle it until the EGT drops to 375 degrees and that can take 5 minutes after towing.

He probably has his probe post turbo.

bpounds wrote:
Am I expected to believe "facts" from a government environmental agency? Been fed BS long enough to know better than that.

I don't idle needlessly, but I do when it makes sense, and I don't much care what any EPA says about it.

It is not just the EPA. We have a radio show here that discusses car/truck related issues and the hosts agree that idling should kept to a minimum on any vehicle because it causes problems. 1-2 minutes even in cold weather and then slowly drive the vehicle under light throttle. That's how I drive and I have never had any engine problem.

1320Fastback wrote:
...These are people that either are living in the past, what we call Bro Dozers or just simply uniformed. EGT gives a good indication of turbo temperature and that is usually the last thing to cool down once parked. I like to see under 200 degrees before I shut down and with a old engine I get there within 30-60 seconds. Newer trucks with all the black magic under the hood take longer but can't imagine any would need longer than 3-4 minuets to cool down...

On my '16 Ram 3500 it takes a lot longer than 3-4 minutes to get the EGT temp down to 200 degrees, and that's just around town driving. I'll idle it until the EGT drops to 375 degrees and that can take 5 minutes after towing.

Pipeman wrote:
Watch your engine temp when you're idling a diesel. Does it go up or down...

If no load is applied idling a diesel such as the EB you will get cylinder wall wash. Too cold of combustion temps.

Maybe someone else can explain this better than I.

When towing for the day the truck does not get shut down until reaching camp unless stopping for lunch that will take more than a few minutes.

Watch your engine temp when you're idling a diesel. Does it go up or down...

GordonThree wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
You forget one thing about idling big rigs in cold weather. When the temps drop below low teens and especially below zero that oil gets very thick when the engine is off. Park in a truck stop in 0 degrees weather and shut it down and you probably can't start it the next morning. It flat will not turn over. It may not be warm the next morning but it at least will be running.

Isn't that why truck stops have an outlet for a engine heater?

Not all truck stops have them. And their usefulness is questionable when it gets to 10-20 below. Also I haven't lately seen any rest areas with connections.

I was just wondering if there was a reason for the long ideling. Personally I couldn't care less how long a person lets their diesel idle. It's their money they're wasting. I just don't want them doing it in the early morning hours outside of my bedroom window. Have some courtesy for others.

Leggy, I don't know about diesels but my son's 2016 Malibu shuts down at every red light. .???

Am I expected to believe "facts" from a government environmental agency? Been fed BS long enough to know better than that.

I don't idle needlessly, but I do when it makes sense, and I don't much care what any EPA says about it.

leggy wrote:
By some people's comments, they would shut down at a long red light!

Both of my hybrid vehicles do that for me, automatically. :)