Diesel Engine

[edsan]

We bought a new Motor Home with a Diesel engine in it. The question I have, we are at a park for the winter and I was wondering if I can run the engine for 15 minutes while parked, with the 50 amp power to it, slide outs out, and levelers down on it?

Ed

[jauguston]

In this area and I am sure in others there are mountain top communication radio systems that have emergency diesel generators that activate if their normal power supply stops. I,in my working years as a crane operator setup several of them. They typically had 5000 gallon fuel tanks. I asked if it was a problem for the diesel fuel to set in the tanks for years without being used. No problem was the answer.

[JamesBr]

Any fuel type sitting for too long will become an issue. But for a couple months I have never had to treat gasoline or diesel. My bus used to sit parked for months withough being started and never had an issue in the 4 years and 28k miles I put it in my ownership. The bus sat the longest from January through end of March, but I always did the oil change and fuel filters before the big vacation trip to FL around new years.

In between that the bus would sit 2-3 months through the season at a seasonal site and get pulled out to go somewhere else for a weekend. Then serviced and winterized in November each year till the vacation trip.

[Airstreamer67]

If the fuel supply in your area gives you a choice, choose straight diesel and not biodiesel or its blends.

Biodiesel has an affinity for water which is not good. Also, biodiesel can go bad in storage much faster than petroleum diesel.

[Bill_Satellite]

You would be better off connecting a battery charger to the engine or chassis batteries than you would be starting a diesel engine. The engine would not be run hard enough during an idle process and can actually harm the engine compared to doing nothing. Just park the coach, shut it down and leave it that way until you are ready to travel again. You can call any engine manufacturer you like and you will get the same advice. The oil should be changed once a year even if you don't make the manufacturers recommended mileage and changing it just before you park for the extended Winter hibernation is a good idea.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

It is unwise to run a diesel engine without letting the lube oil warm up thoroughly. It cannot be done with the engine idling. Far better to not start the engine at all. With clean oil, a diesel can sit for years if biocide is used in hot humid climates. My Kubota gets started once every 6-months but it then runs for 2 hours before it is shut down.

[MrWizard]

If you are worried about the engine/chassis batteries, get a trickle charger for them

[mlts22]

Modern diesel engines (as in made in the past few years) will get the DPF plugged up if just idled, and DPF replacement can be expensive (Sprinter replacements can be $3200.)

Unlike gasoline engines, diesels don't have the gummy fuel issues with gas going bad in weeks to months. Of course, one needs an additive to keep the paraffin from gelling and to keep the bugs away, but there are a lot of diesels that get parked for six months or more, and are ready to go the next season.

[wolfe10]

You will do more HARM than good by starting a diesel and just letting it idle, even high idle. That just builds moisture in the crankcase. It is not possible to get the OIL, not just coolant up to operating temperature unless you drive at least 25 highway miles.

So, if you can't/won't do that, leave it off. Also make sure for storage that the diesel tank is full to minimize condensation. Many of us add a biocide to the diesel if storing more than 3 months.

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[path1]

edsan wrote:
We bought a new Motor Home with a Diesel engine in it. The question I have, we are at a park for the winter and I was wondering if I can run the engine for 15 minutes while parked, with the 50 amp power to it, slide outs out, and levelers down on it?

Ed

If you wanted to why not, But what is reason for running it 15 min? But you posted under CW service and installation. Maybe they will have answer? For the heck of it, also post on a farmers forum. See how many farmers start their equipment for 15 min.

[Supercharged]

edsan wrote:
We bought a new Motor Home with a Diesel engine in it. The question I have, we are at a park for the winter and I was wondering if I can run the engine for 15 minutes while parked, with the 50 amp power to it, slide outs out, and levelers down on it?

Ed

Would gas make it easyer.

[lanerd]

sch911 wrote:

lanerd wrote:
You can run it that long, and it doesn't matter if you're plugged into shore power as your transfer switch will disconnect and make the engine's alternator primary.

Sorry but that's incorrect information. The transfer switch would only change over if the generator was started. The chassis alternator has nothing to do with the 120V AC system.

Not knowing what the OP was asking the question for, I assumed he was referring to charging the chassis batteries. So my answer stands. I didn't say anything about 120vac.

Ron

[jauguston]

The best advice you got was to let it sleep until you want to use it!

[Camper93]

No disrespect to the people on here that gave you advice, but I would check with the people that know your motor best. that being the dealer. Those motors are around $10000 should you have to replace them

[dakdave]

It will be ok.A lot of construction and farm equipment sits longer than that in North Dakota
dave