Letting truck idle

[salem]

A friend of mine always lets his 2500 diesel idle while he makes a short run into the post office, store for a quick soda, etc. He says the salesman told him that starting and restarting a diesel was the worst thing you can do. Of course he locks it up, but I have never heard of this. Is this common practice?

[Lessmore]

I've seen some let their diesel idle while filling up at a gas station. Signs at service stations say to shut off while refueling. I note that the big tanker trucks that fill up the service station tanks, shut off while at the stations.

I don't know why some drivers in diesel pickups let their trucks idle...everywhere.

[rhagfo]

Old habit, but if they only leave for about 5 minutes or less, allows the EGT to cool down, rather than a hot shutdown.

Today many Turbos are water cooled, where older were air cooled, best to let idle for a couple minutes before shutting down.

[Trackrig]

How many times a day do you think the UPS home delivery diesel trucks get started and stopped a day? If it was hurting them, they wouldn't do it.

Unless I need the engine heat - napping in the truck during a long winter drive, I never leave my run.

Bill

[vic46]

addisonl wrote:
I know two neighbors that do this on newer trucks. I asked and they say they have "always done that".

Maybe a new (exaggerated) saying should start. "Old habits might kill new trucks."

Really good saying!:B

[addisonl]

I know two neighbors that do this on newer trucks. I asked and they say they have "always done that".

Maybe a new (exaggerated) saying should start. "Old habits might kill new trucks."

[donn0128]

What year? Old diesels it was fine to let it idle. Waste of fuel, but no harm. New diesels? Will kill the emission system in a big hurry.

[Mandalay_Parr]

No