Lots of time idling. How hard is it on my truck?

[bwhay]

My truck spends a lot of time on the job idling. I know it can't be real great for it but just how hard on it is it? Thoughts?

 

[apepe0738]

I don't think it is bad for a gas engine. Diesel's however should not idle for long periods...

 

[Etroze86]

I think you have that backwards. I have always been told diesels were ment to idle for longer periods of time and I don't think its as bad to idle a gas engine as it used to be with carb and TBI as fuel is managed a lot better and better additive packages in oils.

 

[Nubster]

If it's bad for a diesel motor, how can tractor and trailers sit and idle for 8+ hours at a time?

 

[WhiteExpress]

Thread needs some clarification:
Old mechanical injection emissions systems free diesels could idle for hours w/o issue.
Newer (specially DPF equipped) engines, long idle times are no recommended.
Gasoline nor diesel engines are not designed to idle for long periods of time.

The chances of this having ill effects on your engine are minimal.
I would consider changing my oil based of of hours as opposed to miles though.

 

[DannyMK2]

I think you have that backwards. I have always been told diesels were ment to idle for longer periods of time and I don't think its as bad to idle a gas engine as it used to be with carb and TBI as fuel is managed a lot better and better additive packages in oils.

nope, right in the cummins owners manual it tells you that you should not idle the truck for an extended period of time. i believe it says not more than 15 mins. reason being is the cylinders may not get hot enough to burn all the fuel off which could lead to cylinder washdown and/or oil contamination. its also part of the reason the cummins will kick into high idle in cold weather. tractor trailers idle for extended periods of time by increasing the idle as well.

back on topic, you can idle your gas truck all your want. all your doing is burning fuel. just change your oil more frequently. dont just go based off mileage when your truck spends most of its time idling.

 

[bwhay]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I should have said so to start with. My truck is a 2014 Ram 1500 with a 5.7 Hemi.

 

[Burla]

Why do you let it idle as opposed to just shutting it off and on?

 

[bwhay]

I'm a Heavy Construction Foreman so I am in my truck at least 12 hours per day. And it is cold out, really cold out. It warmed up a little the last couple days. -21 (-6F) here right now, a couple days ago it was -40.

 

[Burla]

Gotcha, sounds like no matter what you need to keep it idling so don't sweat it. I drove refrigeration trucks and freezer trucks for a decade, all of us used to let some of the trucks idle all day, never was in issue. They were diesel though, but I think you will be just fine especially if you drive around from time to time.

 

[Alex]

Just put your foot down when you drive and get them chambers hot enough to stay clean! haha

 

[P71Ryan]

Are you able to buy a portable heater that you can plug into a socket near the outside of the truck? I'd assume it would be able to keep you at a better temperature then outside without idling haha.

 

[hemihustlin]

Are you able to buy a portable heater that you can plug into a socket near the outside of the truck? I'd assume it would be able to keep you at a better temperature then outside without idling haha.

Lol where do you live?

 

[bwhay]

Lol Nope, nothing to plug in to.

Awful fresh out again this morning, holly crap. I was thinking of taking my sled out today but I doubt that will happen.

 

[White Beauty]

Where ya located bud? its -33 in fort mac today with the wind chill.

 

[bwhay]

I was wondering if my truck is lying to me. Can't see it being that much colder, I'm not that far away. I'm about 7 kms off of highway 63 at km 208.

 

[bwhay]

...just pulled up beside another truck, his says -36 and mine says -38 now. So maybe it's not that far off. Freaking cold anyways lol

 

[toofart]

I was under the impression that idling a gas motor isn't good because it can overheat the cats. If it's -33 and some wind, I think that's the least of your worries!

 

[Etroze86]

I am curious why your degrees in Celsius and Ferenhite are the same when you switch back and forth.

 

[badfellA]

I am curious why your degrees in Celsius and Ferenhite are the same when you switch back and forth.

-40 is where metric and standard meet.