Cold Weather idling which is best??? Need help asap!

[MCrossley]

I just figured out on my trup to Washington that I will be making to sleep stops on the way both of which will be at night and both of which will be in areas under 25 degrees. So since I do not want to turn into an ice cube while sleeping which is better high idle with defrost on to load engine or regular idle with jake brake on. Just want to keep me and the truck warm without doing any harm, also the cold front will be installed...

 

[HOBrian]

25 is not that cold. You could get a decent sleeping bag and not have to worry about the motor.

 

[scotty1]

Running the defrost will leave you vulnerable to exhaust fumes. I get fumes in the cab sitting at traffic lights with the defrost on.

Just last night while waiting for a train, the wind was perfect for helping get the exhaust in the cab... had to change it to recirc.

Idling overnite is not good for the truck even with the high idle feature that your truck has. It will ramp up to 1000 rpm from time to time.

I like the sleeping bag idea. Have some cross ventilation to avoid getting the windows all fogged and even iced up. 1/8" on each side is lots.



Scotty

 

[MCrossley]

yes but I will have a person with me who is disabled with CP and is not really an option I need to have the cab warm plus I will have some extra electrical draw that will kill the batteries in a few hours, we are only talking about 2 hours at a time, that is why I thought about just idling it up to say 1200 or so and let her rip... So at 1200 you don't think that is enough?

 

[JasonCzerak]

When it's under 45-50 I'll let my truck idle when I take a nap. I rather not freeze. 1000rpm with no exhasut. Air on defraust to apply some sort of load.



50,000+ miles and nothing wrong. yet.

 

[ECappleman]

I've found that once the truck is good and warmed up, that regular idel will still keep you warm.

 

[Gypsyman]

I let mine run on her own during every trip up to Anchorage and back. Just do what you feel the most comfortable with. BTW, we let them run 24/7 on the pipeline and have never had a single issue with any of them.



Richard

 

[MCrossley]

that is kind of what I figured, let it run on high idle and go with that, i would assume that the 1000-1200 rpm range will keep wash down at bay? I plan on running in an open area rest area so I do not think the exhaust will be an issue if there is a little wind I will park the back in the direction of the wind to carry way the exhaust... Thanks guys for making me feel better about it.

I let mine run on her own during every trip up to Anchorage and back. Just do what you feel the most comfortable with. BTW, we let them run 24/7 on the pipeline and have never had a single issue with any of them.



Richard

 

[RankRam]

We are only talking about 2 hours at a time, that is why I thought about just idling it up to say 1200 or so and let her rip... So at 1200 you don't think that is enough?

Since you have an E-Brake, I would leave it engaged rather than bumping the idle up to the 1200 RPM.

 

[KBalzuweit]

I let mine run, better than being cold. If its in the 40's I do the sleeping bag. I have let it run and it jumps to 1000rpm and back as it needs. Sometimes as long as 6 or 7 hours.

 

[JasonCzerak]

I let mine run, better than being cold. If its in the 40's I do the sleeping bag. I have let it run and it jumps to 1000rpm and back as it needs. Sometimes as long as 6 or 7 hours.

yep, I did a run to some place 150 miles west of Denver and back to MSP. 2200 miles total. my truck ran for 54hours straight. there were a few long stops and idling.



Good call on the exhasut down wind (away) frmo the cab. Crack one, maybe 2 windows just a little.



Also, DO NOT leave the fan speed on more then level 2. and try not to keep the heat all the way in the red while on 2 if the temps are <20. Watch the water temp guage. If you can keep it at 180-185 degrees then the motor will be warm enough. If they drop, then your sucking to much heat out of hte motor and you need to lessen the amount of heat in the cab. You'll find out if it's sucking to much heat with in 15 minutes.



A winter front will change all of this I'm sure. exhasut break on will also change this to a degree.

 

[p-Bar]

Sounds like you cold weather people are a great candidate for the Amsoil bypass filter setup . Filters when idling. I'm sold on mine

 

[MMeier]

I let mine idle as needed also. Exhaust brake off. Will go to 1000-1100 RPMs if it is cold enough. Even after 5-7 hours of idling in weather as cold as -10, the water temp gauge still showed a shade under 200*.

 

[jwduke]

Try and be where the exhaust blows away from you.

 

[bighammer]

Am I missing something? Is a room really out of the question?

I have slept in a car in the winter and I know I don't sleep well like that.

 

[klenger]

Two comments:

1) The ECM will turn the exhaust brake off once the water temp is above a certain temp. I think it's around 150 deg or so.



2) Consider getting a room. There are two of you to justify the cost, you will sleep much better and be better prepared to drive the next day, and avoid the chance of some injury from sleeping in an idleing vehicle. Your disabled friend will be more comfortable too.

 

[tractorseller]

Am I missing something? Is a room really out of the question?



I have slept in a car in the winter and I know I don't sleep well like that.

I sleep like a baby in mine. Nice diesel noise to drown out the noise of passing cars, a good pillow, a blanket, turn the heated seat on, kick the seat back, and I'm GONE. It's making me sleepy just thinking about it.

 

[Snoxracer]

I'm with big hammer on this one! If you have to be worried about: is my truck cylinders going to get washed down, are the exhaust fumes going to get in the cab, am I going to be warm, is the person I am with going to be comfortable, etc. I would drive tell I am tired and get a room.



Snoxracer

 

[MCrossley]

a room is not always and option guys...

Since this trip was on a disability budget during the holidays I was spending the little bit of money on the fuel and so that is why... .



anyhow I did end up with a room because I took a delivery up to save a friend frieght costs and he paid me instead which paid for the room; but it ended up being 18 outside not 25, I did not have the cold front on and it never warmed up it hit normal whem going up a 4% grade puit as soon as I hit level ground it dropped back down to the lowest line of the gauge; pulled off at 16 outside and put it on nice and toasty after that...

 

[MMeier]

I sleep like a baby in mine. Nice diesel noise to drown out the noise of passing cars, a good pillow, a blanket, turn the heated seat on, kick the seat back, and I'm GONE. It's making me sleepy just thinking about it.

Ditto that , after 1100 miles in 15. 5 hours, that front seat and my pillow are real comfy!! (Minus the heated seat)