Decided after a good amount of research to upgrade my TV to a 3/4 ton diesel. Searching for quite some time, and found a great deal on a 2014 Ram 2500 CTD. My truck was okay for my trailer, but I plan on greater distance traveling, and going through mountains etc, so I just felt like I wanted to have more than the Sierra 1500 short bed.Did have one question for folks who have Turbo Diesel's. Reading through all the owners manual info etc, I noticed the chart for the cool down times for the turbo, based on weight towed, hills or not etc... So, according to the chart, I have to let the truck idle for a couple of mins (up to 5 mins, depending on severity of towing). That's fine, and I undertand it, but it got me thinking about fuel stops.So, when you fill up at the pump, after towing your rig at highway speeds, do you leave your truck idling, or cut it off?Thanks in advance.Mike

Walaby wrote:Decided after a good amount of research to upgrade my TV to a 3/4 ton diesel. Searching for quite some time, and found a great deal on a 2014 Ram 2500 CTD. My truck was okay for my trailer, but I plan on greater distance traveling, and going through mountains etc, so I just felt like I wanted to have more than the Sierra 1500 short bed.Did have one question for folks who have Turbo Diesel's. Reading through all the owners manual info etc, I noticed the chart for the cool down times for the turbo, based on weight towed, hills or not etc... So, according to the chart, I have to let the truck idle for a couple of mins (up to 5 mins, depending on severity of towing). That's fine, and I undertand it, but it got me thinking about fuel stops.So, when you fill up at the pump, after towing your rig at highway speeds, do you leave your truck idling, or cut it off?Thanks in advance.MikeWhen traveling with RV in tow at rest areas and truck stops or even a regular fuel station the truck stays running.

Walaby wrote:Decided after a good amount of research to upgrade my TV to a 3/4 ton diesel. Searching for quite some time, and found a great deal on a 2014 Ram 2500 CTD. My truck was okay for my trailer, but I plan on greater distance traveling, and going through mountains etc, so I just felt like I wanted to have more than the Sierra 1500 short bed.Did have one question for folks who have Turbo Diesel's. Reading through all the owners manual info etc, I noticed the chart for the cool down times for the turbo, based on weight towed, hills or not etc... So, according to the chart, I have to let the truck idle for a couple of mins (up to 5 mins, depending on severity of towing). That's fine, and I undertand it, but it got me thinking about fuel stops.So, when you fill up at the pump, after towing your rig at highway speeds, do you leave your truck idling, or cut it off?Thanks in advance.MikeTypically, the time you spend going through the stop signs, lights, getting setup at the pump and such is sufficient enough for cool down.

If you are rolling HEAVY and have your EGT's up very high, you might want to leave it running to cool down for a little while. Generally speaking, by the time you slow down to get off the highway, drive on a local road and navigate through the fuel lanes, you are probably down to a low enough temp.I have an Edge CTS programmer that shows EGT's. I have yet to see them high enough to cause concern though.Think about this though, Ram doesn't show EGT's in any of their monitors. Also, they don't have one word about it in their manual. I don't think its nearly as much of a worry on newer trucks than it was on the older trucks.

The best way to monitor your temp is with an EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature) meter. There are many types. On my Ford diesels, I just used a dedicated meter (in a bank with a voltage and tranny temp gauges). Easy to install, one hole to drill in the exhaust manifold, tap it, screw in your pyrometer and run the wires. No guessing after that. There are various plug-in monitors, if Ram reports that info out on the OBD II port.

As other's have stated, by the time you exit the highway and make it to a stop at the pump you've probably already idled, slowed, enough to have lowered the egt to an acceptable level. But if your not sure, let it idle for a couple minutes while you do a walk around to inspect tires, loads, etc then fuel up. This is what I do.And I only worry about it at all while the outside temps are hot and the truck has been towing hard. During normal driving and operations its a non issue.

New Tow Vehicles - Ram 2500 CTD | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

whjco
Explorer
Jan 28, 2016
My previous diesel had an EGT gauge on it. After heavy pulls and jumping off of the Interstate right into a fuel stop, it always took about 3 minutes of idling to drop the EGT to 350 degrees F or less. I don't have an EGT gauge on my new Ram but I just allow about 3 minutes with it also.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2016
JIMNLIN wrote:
Dodge/Ram engine shutdown time in the Ram truck diesel supplement pages #43 and #44 says; engine shut down time

Google your trucks year model for the correct year PDF

Stopping The Engine
Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown.
After full load operation, idle the engine three to five
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will
allow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal
components, and turbocharger. This is especially important
for turbocharged diesel engines.
NOTE: Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
The chart shows several scenarios from less than a min up to 5 min at max GCWR and a hot turbo.
........................................................

And from Cummins; cummins

Shut Down
Before shutting your engine down, let the turbocharger cool down. When an engine runs at maximum power/high torque, the turbocharger is operating at very high temperatures and speeds. Hot shut down can cause reduced service life which is avoidable by a minute or two of idling. Most mobile equipment applications include an adequate cooling period during parking or mooring procedures.

See hot shutdown graph.

Allow your engine to idle for 1-5 minutes to allow the high temperatures and speed to reduce and so prolong the life of your turbocharger.

I don't know of a knowledgeable diesel engine service that doesn't recommend a cool down time for a hard working turbo engine shut down period.

X2!

Keep in mind using the EB, also will inc erase EGT!
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2016
I believe my 2015 Keyless/Remote Start Laramie can be set for a delayed shutdown after exiting and locking the vehicle. I will look at the settings tomorrow.

Snoking
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2016
Dodge/Ram engine shutdown time in the Ram truck diesel supplement pages #43 and #44 says; engine shut down time

Google your trucks year model for the correct year PDF

Stopping The Engine
Idle the engine a few minutes before routine shutdown.
After full load operation, idle the engine three to five
minutes before shutting it down. This idle period will
allow the lubricating oil and coolant to carry excess heat
away from the combustion chamber, bearings, internal
components, and turbocharger. This is especially important
for turbocharged diesel engines.
NOTE: Refer to the following chart for proper engine
shutdown.
The chart shows several scenarios from less than a min up to 5 min at max GCWR and a hot turbo.
........................................................

And from Cummins; cummins

Shut Down
Before shutting your engine down, let the turbocharger cool down. When an engine runs at maximum power/high torque, the turbocharger is operating at very high temperatures and speeds. Hot shut down can cause reduced service life which is avoidable by a minute or two of idling. Most mobile equipment applications include an adequate cooling period during parking or mooring procedures.

See hot shutdown graph.

Allow your engine to idle for 1-5 minutes to allow the high temperatures and speed to reduce and so prolong the life of your turbocharger.

I don't know of a knowledgeable diesel engine service that doesn't recommend a cool down time for a hard working turbo engine shut down period.
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
Flashman wrote:
Like throwing salt over your shoulder to keep the devil away.

The idle down is not needed. On my 2nd CTD with over 200,000 on both and never worried about it.

And yes I tow all the time in the mountains - just use common sense.

Prehaps, but it is written in the owners manual.

Where? I can't find anything in the manual... besides they don't offer a readout on EGT's, so how do you know if its too hot or cooled down enough?

Page 200 has a "turbo cool down chart".
spoon059
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2016
CampingN.C. wrote:
Flashman wrote:
Like throwing salt over your shoulder to keep the devil away.

The idle down is not needed. On my 2nd CTD with over 200,000 on both and never worried about it.

And yes I tow all the time in the mountains - just use common sense.

Prehaps, but it is written in the owners manual.

Where? I can't find anything in the manual... besides they don't offer a readout on EGT's, so how do you know if its too hot or cooled down enough?
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
Flashman wrote:
Like throwing salt over your shoulder to keep the devil away.

The idle down is not needed. On my 2nd CTD with over 200,000 on both and never worried about it.

And yes I tow all the time in the mountains - just use common sense.

Prehaps, but it is written in the owners manual.
Flashman
Explorer II
Jan 18, 2016
Like throwing salt over your shoulder to keep the devil away.

The idle down is not needed. On my 2nd CTD with over 200,000 on both and never worried about it.

And yes I tow all the time in the mountains - just use common sense.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2016
wcjeep wrote:
Aftermarket EGT gauge. My EGT probe is installed preturbo. When it falls below 300 degrees I shutdown. There is some debate on installing the probe pre or post turbo. Part of the reason for the cooldown period is to make sure the engine oil that flows through the turbo does not keep cooking and leave deposits inside the turbo. The five minutes wait time you mentioned would also achieve 300 degrees or lower.

If you purchase an automatic transmission it's a good idea to monitor this too. Stock or modified.

Genosgarage.com is one of a few decent online places to purchase Dodge items.

X2!

I also have an EGT gauge, I make sure it is under 300 before shutdown. This is where having a diesel differs from a gas engine, I allow to idle before shutdown to 300 degrees, it is my guess this is why Ford had a valve issue with early 6.7 people just shutting down after a hard pull.
Grit_dog
Trailblazer
Jan 18, 2016
spoon059 wrote:
If you are rolling HEAVY and have your EGT's up very high, you might want to leave it running to cool down for a little while. Generally speaking, by the time you slow down to get off the highway, drive on a local road and navigate through the fuel lanes, you are probably down to a low enough temp.

I have an Edge CTS programmer that shows EGT's. I have yet to see them high enough to cause concern though.

Think about this though, Ram doesn't show EGT's in any of their monitors. Also, they don't have one word about it in their manual. I don't think its nearly as much of a worry on newer trucks than it was on the older trucks.

Bingo.
Watching my egts, if I come down off a heavy pull, my egts will be 500+ deg and take a min or 2 to drop to 400 which is where they normally set at idle.
Don't sweat it.
Besides, you won't be able to wipe the smile off your face after said heavy pull and will want to keep er running!