Not a daily driver

[jmblocker]

This is my first diesel & first dodge. I don't use this trk. as my daily driver. I bought it to tow my 31' TT (7,200 loaded). My trucks sits under the garage most of the time. However, when I do take it out I drive between 40 and 150 miles per trip!! But this is only about once a month, maybe twice?? Should I start it and let it run for a few minutes, oh, say once a week or would this do more harm than good??? I now have 18,120 miles on my 06. Of this, about 850 miles with TT in tow... Any advice welcomed...

Thx, JB

 

[DZink24]

i would say to just start it and let it idle would be the #1 worst thing you could do to that motor. if you have the high idle enabled, start it once a week, raise the motor to 1500 rpm, let her run until you see the temp gauge rise to 190, and then let it run a bit more. that will disribute oil to all moving parts, and charge the batteries. when you do tow, be sure to beat the heck out of that motor, and then beat it some more! it will thank you for it!

 

[PToombs]

Better off to drive it 20 miles a week than to let it idle. Trucks that idle, drive short hops, and get babied tend to have more problems than the ones that are worked hard.

Look at the new 6. 7's, the ones that are used hard are, on average, having less problems than the ones that are grocery getters.

 

[jmblocker]

Thanks for the response...

JB

 

[EKlem]

Like stated above, you should be working the truck if you are running it. If you are really worried about it, I would try to take the truck on a longer errand(>10mi) every other week. Really, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Look at all of the marine motors that go extended periods without being run. The real reason to run it is to circulate oil and to get it warm enough to get condensation out, also to charge the batteries.

 

[jakprince]

It would probably be cheaper to just install a trickle charger on the battery and not worry about it untill its time to take it out for a nice long drive.

 

[obert]

It would probably be cheaper to just install a trickle charger on the battery and not worry about it untill its time to take it out for a nice long drive.

Ditto. Sitting is fine, but the batteries would die in a month keeping all the elecronics alive.

 

[Grizzly]

I'd drive it to work once a week, maybe once every other week, assuming you work more then 3 miles one way.

 

[opjohnny]

If it were me and I was on the once a month plan I would use the trickle charger and when I knew I was going to drive it the night before I would have the block heater on a timer just for 3 hours or less it warms up so much faster. In a perfect world you would have that kit that gives you oil pressure before you start the truck. That would be perfect! In the summer it is not as important. Gentle till normal operating conditions then the 40 miles on the highway! If that once a month trip had the trailer hooked up to it better yet! If I was on the once a week plan I would not use the trickle but I would not park it until after I had driven it warmed up for a while.

 

[Hoefler]

I would not use a trickle charger, it will boil a battery dry. It has a continues output and never shuts off, just keeps charging. Use a battery maintainer, it monitors the voltage, when it drops to 11volts it starts charging, when it reaches 12. 5 - 13 volts it shuts off, no output. Much safer and cost around $30

 

[PPineda]

I'm in a similar situation, my question is when is it a good time to change oil? Right now I change it every 6 months avg about 6k a year. Would a by pass filter be benifical and just extend to 1 year intervals. Mostly use the truck for towing the trailer. Thanks guys.

Pete

 

[Grizzly]

I'm in a similar situation, my question is when is it a good time to change oil? Right now I change it every 6 months avg about 6k a year. Would a by pass filter be benifical and just extend to 1 year intervals. Mostly use the truck for towing the trailer. Thanks guys.

Pete

My 05 is low mileage and I change the oil every 6 months regardless of mileage. I believe it's safer that way. Well, the dealer changes it every 6 months under the free oil changes agreement when I purchased the truck.

 

[JacobsD]

I say put an intake, exhaust, and Smarty on it and you won't want to let it sit for that long, it would be too fun to drive. :-laf

 

[jmblocker]

Hey, some good advice... Thanks to everyone!!JB

 

[tgordon]

Right now I am not driveing my truck but once a month. I don't bother with any sort of battery maintainer (It is a 12v). If it is single digits or colder it will crank a "Little" slow(I can count the revelutions) but it will start. I will then go out a drive it for at least one hour if not longer.



Also keep in mind most farm equipment is not started for at least 6 months at a time, a lot of harvesting equipment around here will sit for longer without ever being started until harvest. I have heard recomendations that the oil should be changed before prolonged storage to get any sort of detrimental byproducts of combustion out of the engine, but have heard a lot of people say they chage it after storage to get rid of any condenseation that may have accumulated in the temerature cycles.



I do not belive there is any one correct smoking gun answer on how to handle this situation.