I see a lot of guys with trucks idling for long periods of
time. Isn't this just wasting very expensive fuel?
time. Isn't this just wasting very expensive fuel?
Idling With a Diesel
- Thread starter bobbob
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Yes. And putting some of it into your crankcase as well.
They really need environmentally-friendly Aux generators. Each time I take long travels, I sleep at rest areas instead of motels. Most of the time I can't sleep because of Diesel fumes. When I end up sleeping, I wake up coughing and hacking out black soot.
Hi,
bobbob - Yes it is very wasteful of fuel. Evidence suggeste that it is not neccessarily harmful to the engine!
By careful management practices I was able to reduce my Fleet's "engine on" iding time from about 15% to 6-7%
bobbob - Yes it is very wasteful of fuel. Evidence suggeste that it is not neccessarily harmful to the engine!
By careful management practices I was able to reduce my Fleet's "engine on" iding time from about 15% to 6-7%
Most of the trucks that deliver to my workplace are equipped with these.
They keep heated coolant circulating through the engine to minimize warm-up time, while keeping the cab climate-controlled and providing power. Seems to make a lot of sense.
They keep heated coolant circulating through the engine to minimize warm-up time, while keeping the cab climate-controlled and providing power. Seems to make a lot of sense.
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My FIL is a truck driver and I am aware of idling and small diesel engines that will cool or heat the cabin while saving fuel.
These devices are very expensive, so not all truckers, especially ones with older trucks, can justify the purchase of one.
It's simple economics, just like purchasing a hybrid or a diesel vehicle, if you won't see the savings for a long time, you won't do it.
That's why you will see trucks idling because for a lot of owners the ROI is just too long to justify the upfront expense, especially these days when the trucking business took a big hit with rapidly raisning fuel prices.
These devices are very expensive, so not all truckers, especially ones with older trucks, can justify the purchase of one.
It's simple economics, just like purchasing a hybrid or a diesel vehicle, if you won't see the savings for a long time, you won't do it.
That's why you will see trucks idling because for a lot of owners the ROI is just too long to justify the upfront expense, especially these days when the trucking business took a big hit with rapidly raisning fuel prices.
Thats why you idle them up. When I was an over the road driver,I would set the idle high. Sleep 5-6 hours, temp,oil pressure all was fine. And it doesnt use much fuel that way either. My last truck was a Freightliner Century Class with the Detroit Series 60 engine, nice motor. In that rig I would set a cab temp, and the truck would start,and shut it self down automaticly. Fist time out in that truck scared me when it started itself.
I idle mine at 1200 rpm in cold weather.
Every year, when it gets cold, I have a bunch of diesel owners get [angry] at me.
My client's all have breathalyzers which require random breath alcohol tests. So when they leave their Cummins/Duramax/PowerStroke running unattended they miss these retests.
"I have a diesel. I have to leave it running..."
Nevermind the fact that it is against the law to leave your vehicle running unattended.
I think they've been watching "Ice Road Truckers" too much. It doesn't get to -45° here. (F or C, it really doesn't matter at that point) When the nighttime low is 29°, you really don't need to leave it running, you are probably doing more damage than good with the normal factory idle, you are definitely breaking the law and wasting fuel, and now your reporting authority knows you left your vehicle running unattended.
My client's all have breathalyzers which require random breath alcohol tests. So when they leave their Cummins/Duramax/PowerStroke running unattended they miss these retests.
"I have a diesel. I have to leave it running..."
Nevermind the fact that it is against the law to leave your vehicle running unattended.
I think they've been watching "Ice Road Truckers" too much. It doesn't get to -45° here. (F or C, it really doesn't matter at that point) When the nighttime low is 29°, you really don't need to leave it running, you are probably doing more damage than good with the normal factory idle, you are definitely breaking the law and wasting fuel, and now your reporting authority knows you left your vehicle running unattended.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I know the Freightliner rigs we have at work will shut themselves off after so many minutes of unattended idling. One thing I find amazing though, the newer trucks with all the emission nightmare stuff don't stink at all, nor do they smoke. Even on startup! At most, you'll get white water vapor plumes out the stack when it's below freezing out. These trucks don't even leave carbon build-up in the exhaust stacks and most have 4-500,000 miles on them. We're about due for a round of new ones.
Joel
Joel
Originally Posted By: lexus114
My last truck was a Freightliner Century Class with the Detroit Series 60 engine, nice motor. In that rig I would set a cab temp, and the truck would start,and shut it self down automaticly. Fist time out in that truck scared me when it started itself.
You'd be amazed just how many times I've heard of drivers having that reaction.
My last truck was a Freightliner Century Class with the Detroit Series 60 engine, nice motor. In that rig I would set a cab temp, and the truck would start,and shut it self down automaticly. Fist time out in that truck scared me when it started itself.
You'd be amazed just how many times I've heard of drivers having that reaction.
I know, It was like, WHAT THE? Then I realized what it was. when it shut down, it rock`s the cab a little too.
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JTK - I agree. The newer diesels don't smell like diesel at all. They smell kind of sweet.
Originally Posted By: lexus114
I know, It was like, WHAT THE? Then I realized what it was. when it shut down, it rock`s the cab a little too.
I had one guy tell of jumping out of the bunk, because he thought someone was trying to steal the truck...
I know, It was like, WHAT THE? Then I realized what it was. when it shut down, it rock`s the cab a little too.
I had one guy tell of jumping out of the bunk, because he thought someone was trying to steal the truck...
Originally Posted By: Popinski
They really need environmentally-friendly Aux generators. Each time I take long travels, I sleep at rest areas instead of motels. Most of the time I can't sleep because of Diesel fumes. When I end up sleeping, I wake up coughing and hacking out black soot.
Give me a break.
They really need environmentally-friendly Aux generators. Each time I take long travels, I sleep at rest areas instead of motels. Most of the time I can't sleep because of Diesel fumes. When I end up sleeping, I wake up coughing and hacking out black soot.
Give me a break.
In cold weather, guys do this a lot.
And it works out well for a bunch of reasons.
The engine/oil stays up to temp, the cab stays warm, no problems with restarting, and all systems are go.
I suppose if you add up all the diesels idling when it's nice out, there is a very real waste.
Maybe the gov't will force a system that stops the engine when the vehicle is slow or stopped.
This is what is done is many parts of Europe, and is available here now in cars.
And it works out well for a bunch of reasons.
The engine/oil stays up to temp, the cab stays warm, no problems with restarting, and all systems are go.
I suppose if you add up all the diesels idling when it's nice out, there is a very real waste.
Maybe the gov't will force a system that stops the engine when the vehicle is slow or stopped.
This is what is done is many parts of Europe, and is available here now in cars.
Diesels also use very little fuel to idle compared to comparable gas engines. Many companies up north (like MSP airport) will leave their diesel equipment running 24/7 when it is cold out.
Well, at somepoint it becomes cheaper and wiser just to plug in the block heater.
The diesels I work with will "wet-stack" after a couple hours of idling, and that can't be good either. They'll smoke like a cold train when you load them up.
The diesels I work with will "wet-stack" after a couple hours of idling, and that can't be good either. They'll smoke like a cold train when you load them up.
It does waste fuel, but the truck driver is better off doing this than not getting quality sleep (freezing on a cold night or sweating in the heat) and running over your family instead. There are restrictions in some states (NY and PA come to mind), and obviously the folks making these laws have never been truck drivers. The truck is the driver's home away from home, and I bet it uses less fuel than some of these folk's houses in the winter (assuming they have oil heat). To me anti idle laws are as ridiculous as making someone turn their heat off in their house.
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