Extended Idling

[TIMEOUT]

I know leaving a Cummins idle for an extended period of time is not good.

My question is: Will 10 minutes at low idle (700 rpm) cause potentially serious problems?

 

[goodguys75]

what possibly can happen if you let a truck idle???? except maybe get it stolen... ... 10 min wont even warm it up... ... . i think it is safe... .

 

[Cummins12V98]

I know leaving a Cummins idle for an extended period of time is not good.
My question is: Will 10 minutes at low idle (700 rpm) cause potentially serious problems?

For one it will help with questions if your info is filled in.

If you are asking if it is okay to idle for 10 minutes several times a day the answer is no. Always leave on EB when idling or activate the high idle.

 

[Hoefler]

It is your truck, do as you will. If you do, which is NOT recommended by the manufacture and the immense knowledge found here on TDR, like said above, engage the exhaust brake and idle it at least 1,000 or more. What can happen you may ask, plugged DPF which can not be cleaned by a normal regeneration, a truck in limp mode, a truck that won't run at all, etc. . All requiring a expensive trip to the dealer that most likely won't be covered under warranty. It is your truck, do as you will with it.

 

[TIMEOUT]

Thanks

It is your truck, do as you will. If you do, which is NOT recommended by the manufacture and the immense knowledge found here on TDR, like said above, engage the exhaust brake and idle it at least 1,000 or more. What can happen you may ask, plugged DPF which can not be cleaned by a normal regeneration, a truck in limp mode, a truck that won't run at all, etc. . All requiring a expensive trip to the dealer that most likely won't be covered under warranty. It is your truck, do as you will with it.

Thanks for the replies.



I didn't say I wanted to let it idle. I just asked a question to verify what a guy told me yesterday.



As serious as it is, Dodge should put a "Warning" on the steering wheel of every RAM.

 

[Jim W]

No No !! we have enough idiot labels already. Just read your owners manual It was listed in my manual in 08 about excessive idling.

Jim W.

 

[RustyJC]

"Extended" idling is unfortunately part and parcel for many of us who bought our trucks primarily to tow RVs. If we have pets with us (and many, if not most, RVers do), then here in the South we're pretty much stuck with idling the truck to provide A/C while checking in, leveling and setting up the RV, and hitching up and pulling out. It'll be interesting to see how things hold up over the long term.....



Rusty

 

[TIMEOUT]

I give up

No No !! we have enough idiot labels already. Just read your owners manual It was listed in my manual in 08 about excessive idling.



Jim W.

I give up.



I was just trying to determine if 10 minutes is considered "extended", and what do I get? Several responses that make me think this

will be my last post to this forum!



Adios

 

[mwilson]

I give up.

I was just trying to determine if 10 minutes is considered "extended", and what do I get? Several responses that make me think this
will be my last post to this forum!


Adios

Don't give up.

In reality they get idled and don't grenade.

Mine get idled a lot both winter and summer. But when they are pulled into gear they are driven at least 40 miles at speed.
The '97 idles at 700 and I don't use anything to speed it up. The '06 has fast idle using the cruise and I will bump it up if I'm going to be very long.
Gotta' keep Buddy, the diabetic Yorkie comfy... ...

Mike.

 

[TIMEOUT]

Thanks Mike

Don't give up.



In reality they get idled and don't grenade.



Mine get idled a lot both winter and summer. But when they are pulled into gear they are driven at least 40 miles at speed.

The '97 idles at 700 and I don't use anything to speed it up. The '06 has fast idle using the cruise and I will bump it up if I'm going to be very long.

Gotta' keep Buddy, the diabetic Yorkie comfy... ...



Mike.

I wasn't giving up on the Cummins. I was giving up on the Forum since some responses although having good technical information seem to have to add additional comments like "it's your truck, do as you will" or "read the Owner's Manual", which by the way has to be requested from Dodge and is not included with a new truck. These comments are not necessary. Oops, didn't think I would be posting on the Forum again... ... :-laf

 

[mwilson]

I wasn't giving up on the Cummins. I was giving up on the Forum since some responses although having good technical information seem to have to add additional comments like "it's your truck, do as you will" or "read the Owner's Manual", which by the way has to be requested from Dodge and is not included with a new truck. These comments are not necessary. Oops, didn't think I would be posting on the Forum again... ... :-laf

If you have a DPF then you will need to be a little more conservative with idle time, but there are situations where it will have to idle regardless.

See, I did get you to post again... ... ... .

Mike.

 

[goodguys75]

im glad to own an 06, that dpf stuff just is a pain in the butt.....

 

[cerberusiam]

Short answer is no, idling for 10 minutes at a time is NOT going to hurt the engine. If you do not run the truck hard to clean up the exhaust track and get a regen going a cumulative effect of days and months of idling 10 minutes at a time and no hard working will cause excessive regens.

Idle times NEED to be interspersed with hard running to clean things up but short duration is not a problem. If you have to go to extended idle times, like hours, keeping the EGT's around 425-450 will help a lot with oil fuel dilution and wet stacking. Long term cumulative effect again will be the DPF and regen but it is not as bad as it is at 750 rpms and cold EGT's.

Cummins defines the idle as time spent under 1600 rpms and that goes into the average speed calculation. If you average speed is under 35 mph or under you need to go to the severe duty fluid change schedules to be safe. That is what Dodge will look at for warranty puposes and is the general guidelines, if you follow the change schedules and document it that will go a long way on warranty.

im glad to own an 06, that dpf stuff just is a pain in the butt.....

The DPF is really the smaller part of the issue. Even a 5. 9 has to abide by the same rules for idle time and EGT's to keep it healthy. Really, the regen cycles and turbo sooting are the only differences to be aware of and that can be worked around.

 

[Wygate]

Short answer is no, idling for 10 minutes at a time is NOT going to hurt the engine. If you do not run the truck hard to clean up the exhaust track and get a regen going a cumulative effect of days and months of idling 10 minutes at a time and no hard working will cause excessive regens.

Idle times NEED to be interspersed with hard running to clean things up but short duration is not a problem. If you have to go to extended idle times, like hours, keeping the EGT's around 425-450 will help a lot with oil fuel dilution and wet stacking. Long term cumulative effect again will be the DPF and regen but it is not as bad as it is at 750 rpms and cold EGT's.

Cummins defines the idle as time spent under 1600 rpms and that goes into the average speed calculation. If you average speed is under 35 mph or under you need to go to the severe duty fluid change schedules to be safe. That is what Dodge will look at for warranty puposes and is the general guidelines, if you follow the change schedules and document it that will go a long way on warranty.



The DPF is really the smaller part of the issue. Even a 5. 9 has to abide by the same rules for idle time and EGT's to keep it healthy. Really, the regen cycles and turbo sooting are the only differences to be aware of and that can be worked around.

Cerb,
Thank you good solid facts for use to use

Jay

 

[RVTRKN]

TIMEOUT, some of us are used to certain members who just can't help themselves, but I'm not talking about any here in this thread. Long idle periods also are destructive because the Cummins is a cool running engine and if you idle it the temperature will drop quite a bit which means the engine is wearing prematurely running at a low temp.

The worst car you can buy is a grocery getter from a little old lady, who starts the car and drives to the store at cold temps then drives back home with cool temps. And the life of the engine never runs at the normal temperature wearing the engine and every moving part prematurely.

 

[TCDiesel]

I don't think the 2013 will allow Long term idling @ 700/800, I see Maybe 4 or more sensors EGT probes in the exhaust, if you leave it idle My guess its going to ramp Idle up and automatically engage the turbo until its at a happy temp. I notice it has break away connections on some of component's and modules, deletes????? on exhaust hmmmmmmm, EGR Maybe.