Idle Time

[5erDriver]

I recently replaced my 2011 Ram 2500 with a 2016 3500. Both were Cummins. The 2011 said to never idle more than 5 minutes. The 2016 book says not to idle excessively but doesn't give any indication of how long is considered excessive. We have temps here that can be well below zero and the truck has a remote starter. I'd like to start remotely and let it warm up a bit before driving. Any ideas on how long is too long to idle?

 

[DonFitzwater]

What I have found n regards to your question; It's going to depend on the dealership working on your truck when you have a problem. Some will look for the actual root cause but the majority it seems will always try and blame the customer for any failure.

The best thing you you could do is utilize the block heater and winter front during cold months.

 

[PTsideshow]

Can't help with the acutal time but I will endorse the grille cover. one came with the with the winter/snow plow pckage, even though I don't plan to plow. Seems it is the larger alternator and cover. It really does make a difference in warm up time and defrost/heater output. wws esy to in stall.

 

[Hoefler]

When you remote start your truck, you will find it will shut down after 15 minutes. You can restart it remotely, but it will sut down again in 15 minute. It will not restart remotely again untill you actually start the truck manually.

 

[kthaxton]

If you don't mind quickly running out to your truck while it's warming up, you can utilize the idle-up feature and turn on the E-brake, then head back into the house.....or whatever. It warms up much faster.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I'd like to know how the idle time is calculated. I looked at my idle time yesterday, and it seems excessive to me; at least how I operate my truck.

 

[Newsa]

I'd like to know how the idle time is calculated. I looked at my idle time yesterday, and it seems excessive to me; at least how I operate my truck.

Good question. My hours counter after almost 40 months of ownership is at 4 hours. it probably should be over 150 hours.
My truck is obviously not counting the hours correctly. I don't know if the picture that I took this morning will attach correctly, but it really is not 86 degrees here. it is actually 76°. Truck's just sitting in the sun

I thought I read somewhere if you idle up, it counts hours as drive hours? Not sure about that because I don't have that PTO option.

If you idle alot, just change your oil more often. for example, if you have driven 10,000 miles and also have added 100 hours, you need to change your oil. Don't wait until you have 15,000 miles if you have idled it a lot.

I don't use 5W-40 because of this. (Only used it once). I stick with 15W-40 full synthetic.

 

[Flash1034]

Wouldn't that be a positive? I'd leave it alone...

Flash

 

[Cornstalk]

I don't understand why they wouldn't want you to idle, aren't diesels made to idle? look at semi's or your big generators. If its cold the truck idles up by itself. If its not cold enough for the truck to idle up on its own I will idle up to keep the oil pressure up. Anytime my semi or my RAM idles for a while I run the RPMS up to 1000, but maybe I have been under the wrong understanding about idling. I change my oil every 100 hours.

 

[Newsa]

Wouldn't that be a positive? I'd leave it alone...

Flash

Not changing a thing. Not complainimg. Just showing that the idle hours can be counting wrong.

 

[gsbrockman]

I'd like to know how the idle time is calculated. I looked at my idle time yesterday, and it seems excessive to me; at least how I operate my truck.

I've never been able to get any straight answer myself. With that being said.....IMO....idle time is most likely calculated any time MPH = zero.

I'm currently at 197,009 miles, 311 idle hours, and 3,652 drive hours.

 

[jhenderson]

I don't understand why they wouldn't want you to idle, aren't diesels made to idle? look at semi's or your big generators. If its cold the truck idles up by itself. If its not cold enough for the truck to idle up on its own I will idle up to keep the oil pressure up. Anytime my semi or my RAM idles for a while I run the RPMS up to 1000, but maybe I have been under the wrong understanding about idling. I change my oil every 100 hours.

You won't find many newer big rigs idling. Between truck idling ordinances and modern emissions systems most trucks now have generators for shore power,heat, including block heaters and AC. As for big generators, I've never seen one idle, except for a few minutes of cool down after use. Every one I've seen fires and goes right to full power.

 

[Newsa]

I've never been able to get any straight answer myself. With that being said.....IMO....idle time is most likely calculated any time MPH = zero.

I'm currently at 197,009 miles, 311 idle hours, and 3,652 drive hours.

I think it's when mph = 0 and RPM < 1000. But i could be proven wrong

 

[sag2]

Idling for long periods of time, especially in very cold conditions leaves too much unburned fuel and leaves deposits on the valve guides that can stick the exhaust valves. The fastest warm up is to drive the truck after letting oil pressure come up. Next best is plug it in and have winter front. If you do choose to idle it the best way is fast idle with exhaust brake on to add load to the engine.

 

[jgillott]

Mercedes language in the owner's manual for my van on how to handle extended idle time is also kind of vague as to what it defines as extended idle. It says to "avoid extended idle periods. But if extended idle is necessary, drive the van at 60 mph or above for a minimum of 20 minutes to allow the exhaust system to perform a full regeneration. The procedure should be repeated every 300 miles when excessive idle time has been achieved".

As far as warm ups are concerned, my van has a factory installed Espar heater. That thing works great. Almost instant cab heat and it can melt off the windows in a matter of minutes as compared to 15-20 on my 3rd gens from a cold start. I know that they can be added aftermarket, but I wish all manufactures were offering a similar option on their diesels.

 

[RustyJC]

You won't find many newer big rigs idling. Between truck idling ordinances and modern emissions systems most trucks now have generators for shore power,heat, including block heaters and AC. As for big generators, I've never seen one idle, except for a few minutes of cool down after use. Every one I've seen fires and goes right to full power.

Most of the current trucks have APUs to run the heating, A/C, etc. when stopped, but that's for emissions reasons in the municipalities or states that have maximum idle time regulations. The large diesel or dual-fuel powered gensets that our company builds will have circulating lube oil and coolant heaters if there is a requirement for immediate (emergency) start and load - the nuclear power plant emergency standby gensets must start and pick up full load in <10 seconds. Otherwise, lube oil temperature must reach 120 degF before the control system will give a permissive to load.

Rusty

 

[Newsa]

The fastest warm up is to drive the truck after letting oil pressure come up. Next best is plug it in and have winter front. If you do choose to idle it the best way is fast idle with exhaust brake on to add load to the engine.

I would like to second this. (excellent response)

A diesel engine uses less fuel than a gasoline engine.......especially at idle. Idling in cold weather is a bad way to warm up both gasoline and diesel engines. But since diesels use less fuel, it takes more time for a diesel to warm up (using low idle). In fact, the diesel may not ever reach full operating temp in very cold climates. That's why some trucks are equipped with the PTO idle up feature that is easily used with the EB to add a load. But driving it is really the best way to load and warm it up.


A continously running diesel that is operating below optimal temp will be a sooty and gunky engine (fuel gums). Using an additive can help dissolve deposits. But nothing is as good for the diesel engine as operating at it's designed operating temp.

 

[Newsa]

I would like to second this. (excellent response)

A diesel engine uses less fuel than a gasoline engine.......especially at idle. Idling in cold weather is a bad way to warm up both gasoline and diesel engines. But since diesels use less fuel, it takes more time for a diesel to warm up (using low idle). In fact, the diesel may not ever reach full operating temp in very cold climates. That's why some trucks are equipped with the PTO idle up feature that is easily used with the EB to add a load. But driving it is really the best way to load and warm it up.


A continously running diesel that is operating below optimal temp will be a sooty and gunky engine (fuel gums). Using an additive can help dissolve deposits. But nothing is as good for the diesel engine as operating at it's designed operating temp.

Going to edit this before someone corrects me.


Fuel additives probably won't remove any gunk/fuel gums on the exhaust side. Only on the fuel side.

 

[jhenderson]

Most of the current trucks have APUs to run the heating, A/C, etc. when stopped, but that's for emissions reasons in the municipalities or states that have maximum idle time regulations. The large diesel or dual-fuel powered gensets that our company builds will have circulating lube oil and coolant heaters if there is a requirement for immediate (emergency) start and load - the nuclear power plant emergency standby gensets must start and pick up full load in <10 seconds. Otherwise, lube oil temperature must reach 120 degF before the control system will give a permissive to load.

Rusty

Isn't that what I said?

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I checked last night. My truck is just under 20K miles, 49 hours idle and 445 driving hours. No way in HEdoublehockey sticks that I have 49 hours of idling time.