OK whats the low down on ideling a diesel engine? I'm getting conflicting opinions for short runs back and forth with long stop times?????

 

If you have to idle for more than a minute or two, set the RPM's up to 800 to 1000.

Otherwise shut it down while waiting.

 

idleing a BIG NO NO for me, i cannot stand just listening to my truck thinking "what was that noise" when i think it doesnt sound right, i idled a few weeks ago while waiting at a customer and i slept about three hours 11-2 during the day and i thought i was gonna cry when i woke up cuz i didnt mean to sleep that long, i heard that idleing your truck up(hitting the cruise up) making it run at higher rpms is just a waist???? what good does it do bumping the RPMS up any

 

Keeps the oil pressure up, keeps the water circulating better, keeps cylinder temps up so combustion is more complete and raw fuel isn't washing your cylinders, causing piston, ring and liner wear.

But in these days of 3.00 a gallon fuel, shutting it down is a better option, at least when the weather is warm and re starting won't be a problem.

 

My Cat maint. manual says to Avoid excessive idling, But if you have to idle for long periods to set the rpm's to 1000+
It also say's the engine can burn from .7 gallons per hour to 1.5 gallons per hour at idle.

 

The way I understand it, it takes 1000 revs to build enough compression to seat the rings... That way your not washing the sleeves with diesel. I myself Never idle under 1200 !

 

1200 ???? man all i see is dollar signs going out the stack. lol.

 

OTOH... At my old company, I just couldn't see running the engine this high at idle for the night, so I didn't. After a few months of this, it started drizzling oil out of the seams in the exhaust manifold, and my boss chewed my ass for not running it high enough at night.

 

The truck I just got into had a history of useing oil, I made a point of no idle @ 650,! 1200 any time the yellow button was pulled, 1200... no more oil cunsumtion.? As far as fuel... I think it's all hyped up, do your own test, idle it, then refuel... Petes always spit fuel at you when their full :lol: I tried it, 1400 rpm, 14 hr's -40 less than 10 gals. Accert 550

 

well them i guess i'm just lucky then.. when i first bought my truck. i knew nothing about idleing. just that it said on engine not to idle lower than 600.. so i would idle at 6-1/2 700 tops. i have hit 1 mil miles about 4 months ago. never anything done to engine. nothing. still original injectors, e.t.c. still runs very good. 11.1 detroit. should i idle at 1000-1200 or keep it where i kept it for over 7 years now ?