Extended idle time

[HomerDog]

Just wondering if it's better to shut the CTD down or let it idle while running around town? The book says to avoid extended idling, but whats to much? Also, whats the difference between idling this engine and the "big rigs" that run their engines all night while parked. Thanks,

Dave

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'96 3500 Dually, Black, 4 inch exhaust (no Kitty), chrome kit, Rancho 9000 shocks, '00 Lance camper

 

[illflem]

Dave, It's not good for the big rigs to idle all night either, many have their throttle revved up a little. What happens is the combustion temp cools to the point where diesel isn't burned completely, the excess can wash the lube oil off the cylinder walls and dilute the oil, this is called wash down. If I'm driving around town I usually just shut it down as soon as I park, we're talking just a few blocks, if I'm only going to be a few minutes I leave it run, especially if I want the heater or AC to make it comfortable to get back in. It's best if you have a pyro so you can monitor your shut down temps, but if not just give at least 15 seconds for the turbo to cool between short low speed operations.

 

[MCrossley]

I also do quite a bit of long idling around town and especially now that the temps are getting to be in the 90's. I have one of the Practical solutions High idlers it takes the engine up to 1180 RPMS so you do not have to worry about how long you idle for.

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed. Line-X bed-liner. DTT's TC & VB, Pac Brake w/ DTT Smart Controller, Power Edge, Edge EZ, Grover Air Horns, P. S. High Idler, RV 275 Injectors.

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

Ram-Taz

 

[JohnE]

Gents, (Bill, too);

High speed idle is only required in cold temperatures. Our Series 50 & C8. 3 (ISC) all have a high speed idle circuit for cold weather ONLY. After temps hit 40°F or so you get out of the danger zone and can idle you diesel at low RPMs again.

The cold weather phenomena is both cylinder wall wash & valve stem carbon depositing. The later appears first, but wash kills you longevity.

Idle on (I do!)
John E
<small>Sorry Bill, couldn't resist the <em>jab</em> tonight. What's your plans now that apple farming is over?</font>

 

[tmpenner]

Good day!

I was speaking to our Cummins mechanic as he was running the rack on our 855 cummins tractor motor when we started talking about my pickup. He said they are a great motor but be carefull of extended idle times. This winter 3 ctd owner were sitting in a local pub while their trucks idled away outside. After 3hrs the first gent leaves to find his truck knocking outside, by the time he went inside to tell the others, their trucks were knocking also! 3 new engines on the way, ouch. I guess we need a "Northland Edition" with a high idler, tow hooks, winter front, and a nylon rope for towing out the competition!

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2001 Med. Bronze H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab LWB, 4 wheel discs, 3. 54, Trailer Tow & Camper Package
Matt

 

[Sky]

I have been wondering about this my self. I make deliverys all day with my truck and I average about 10 min/stop. And do about 25-30 a day. Thus far I have been shutting it down everytime. But now that it is getting hotter It is taking longer to cool down, im thinking that it would be fine to let it run. What do you guys think?

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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Raceing Exhaust, DTT TC & VB, EZ Box, Bosch 275 Injectors, Mag-Hytech transmission pan/Dana 70, K&N, 33" BFG AT'S... ... .....

 

[Lil' Dog]

If its short trips, I just let it run. On cool days idle up to 1100, or if I am going to be away for more than 10 min. Hasn't seemed to hurt me so far. Idling for 3 hours shouldn't kill em, as mechanics trucks will run all day long running a compressor or other PTO gear up and down from high idle.
I have to call BS on the 3 dead engines story, nice scare tactic though.
If you don't have a high idle system, just be careful not to let it run more than it has to. Idling gas engines all day isn't good either, ever see a taxi? Blue smoke from worn valve guides... plugged cat-cons.

J-eh

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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 LSD Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs.
237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs. Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

Lil' Mack Pics/March 2001

 

[waterbrain]

I just installed a pac-brake on my truck and one of the benefits of an exhaust brake is the ability to turn it on first thing in the morning and let it idle while the e-brake is activated... warms the engine up very quickly. I wonder if an e-brake activated during the idle would eliminate the issue of not running hot enough at an extended idle. Any thoughts?

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2001. 5 2500, QuadCab, 4X4, LB, Auto, 3. 55, SLT+. Mods: EZ, 275's, Rhino Liner.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The exhaust brake takes care of it as long as your EGT's are getting above 300 with it turned on. With my BD brake on (it's more aggresive at lower rpms) I see egt's up around 650 degrees once it stabilizes, I use it for extended idling times (I do see higher coolant temps when doing this for extended periods on warm days up around 200-210 like if I was towing a big load) but it's never come close to overheating even on a 100 degree day when I idled it for over an hour (waiting in line at the dunes with the A/C on).



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax3, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, SS ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[JJW_ND]

Stuck lifters in the 24V ISB was a reality in ND this past winter. I was having a Ebrake installed at Cummins Northcentral on one of your 24V Dodges a month ago. The tech their said their shop repaired two ISBs in School busses that had stuck valve lifters this winter.

Cummins has issued a bullitin on this. They gave me a copy. It applies to "extended idle" with a cold engine to begin with. We had some real winter this past December that would have final provided some real cold weather testing.

Not sure entire engine would be replaced to repair stuck lifters?

jjw
ND

 

[cowdoc]

In the winter months my truck has to idle for up to an hour at a time. I have a veterinary box in the back that is heated by the engine and I cannot let the drugs freeze. I do have an exhaust brake that I turn on for the long idles. Should I install a hand throttle to increase the idle speed? Although I cannot monitor egt's the coolant temperature is usually on the low end of normal. Does anyone else have a similar sitution?