How long is too long for idling???

[barbwire]

correct me if I'm wrong

Just supposin that a fellow was to get in a pickle somewhere out in the boonies, and it was around zero degrees. Would'nt it be OK to prop your idle up to, oh say 1500 rpms, and let it run till you were rescued? Without hurting anything?

 

[DocDetonancour]

Warm up?

It is the only reasonable thing to do... plug your truck in. . If it has no plug the heater is already in place on the engine and all that is needed is a cheap cord.

 

[mhenon]

cold idle

FPoitra, I think you're getting your getting a lot of different advice here. Check your owners manual. Long periods of idling is considered "severe" service and requires a shorter maintenance interval. Cold idling, like you're talking about, is even worse on the engine. Cold fuel in a cold engine (diesel engine) is no good for it.

As for the truckers who idle all night long... they don't have much choice when operating in cold climates. Keep the truck running or freeze up at night. So... they leave it running.

Do some research on this site and others. You'll never get any advice to let the engine idle in order to warm up. Given your location, in North Dakota, you need to be plugging in at night not trying to warm up by idling the engine. If you can't plug it in then just start up and take off just as soon as the engine is running smoothly.

So to answerer your question... No... don't let it idle to warm up. Your experience with gas engines is of no value. A diesel is simply a different animal.

Hope this helps.

 

[David Oxland]

I've done oil analysis on cold idled engines and seen the fuel dilution and water accumultation that can happen. If you want to experiment with this method do some of the follow up work. Do a series of oil analysis using the cold idling practice.

All these testimonials are'nt very reliable if they're only related around the coffee shop. Kind of like "I smoked for 50 years and never had a problem. " or like the oil discussions where one says "Well I ran brand ZZ for 40,000 miles and never had a problem. " What does that tell you?; Not very much I think.



What you fellows are looking for I expect is 240,000 miles and with out doing actually doing the cold idling practice for this length of time it's mainly speculation whether you would have had any detrimental effects or not. Perhaps some of the long idlers are also dumping their lube at premature intervals to help disperse accumulated moisture and fuel and cover up the evidence accumulated.



Also If the need is there like sitting out on a cold construction lot and using the vehicle for heat, It's up to you if you want to suffer and be miserable or do the practical thing and keep yourself comfortable. When the need is there, do it.



In the long run cold starts with long standing idling for warm up though is not an proven or manufacturer approved practice.