I was just curious what you guys do with your truck if you are just going to be inside somewhere for a little while if you let it idle or if you shut it off. The people i know with older diesels just let them idle, for instance if they go eat breakfast or if they go inside of somewhere for 20 minutes they just let them idle. One guy told me you can let a Duramax idle for an hour and use the same amount of fuel as starting it.

I let it idle until the EGTs get down under 400, and then shut her off. No point in wasting any more of that $3.50+ a gallon diesel than necessary.

I've let mine idle for 10-12 hrs at a time when I'm on the road and have'nt ever noticed a huge drop in fuel.

the auto page allows me to take the key out whil the truck is still running and shut it off with the key fob.ill let it run for a few min and then shut it off.or it will auto shut down in 10 min.

One guy told me you can let a Duramax idle for an hour and use the same amount of fuel as starting it.





Does he still show the scar from where the mule kicked him in head?


Cold idle after start (-10F no plug) will suck a quart in 10 minutes.
Hot off the freeway idle is around 1-2 qt an hour.

In the winter, the truck won't maintain enough heat at idle and will be 2qt, summer probably 1 qt.


I do call BS on 10-12 hours of idle time having no measureable impact on MPG's. Only way that can be is if you don't measure it. 10-12 hours is going to be 2.5 to 6 gal of diesel. I'd notice that....

jb

Aside from the MPG decrease from Idle, has anybody experienced any Engine Issues from long term idle? I work out of my truck and sit at idle for long periods of time with the AC running, (fielding phone calls, paperwork, etc.) I have a co-worker with a Cummins Dodge and he has experienced some engine issues from to much idle. (at least that is what the Stealership told him) The New Dodge even has a button on the dash that increases the Idle speed to avoid this. Any experience with problems related to long idle times on the DMAX>?

Aside from the MPG decrease from Idle, has anybody experienced any Engine Issues from long term idle? I work out of my truck and sit at idle for long periods of time with the AC running, (fielding phone calls, paperwork, etc.) I have a co-worker with a Cummins Dodge and he has experienced some engine issues from to much idle. (at least that is what the Stealership told him) The New Dodge even has a button on the dash that increases the Idle speed to avoid this. Any experience with problems related to long idle times on the DMAX>?

The crankshaft puts a lot of burden on the bottom main bearings just idling. The weight of the crank is all lying on the bottom bearing and the oil film is too thin to support the crank at idle. That's the same reason all the semi's at the truck stop run their trucks at high idle when parked. And the fact that the ac cools better at high idle. And some engines without piston coolers won't splash enough oil to keep the cylinders lubed.

depends with me i have remote start/turn off i can turn it on and off from the key fob it has a timer for 30 minutes in case of accidental activation. but it depends on what im doin. in winter i leave it on alot. summer it depends on how long im going to be wherever i am.

During winter or if I'm sleeping in the cab, I let it idle as long as I want, at an elevated idle of course! And no, I don't worry about causing any damage; this topic has been hashed over numerous times, and it seems most people agree there's no more harm done to the truck than to your wallet from lost MPG's. Idle on...

Fuel Consuption at idle (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214428), with some numbers.

During winter or if I'm sleeping in the cab, I let it idle as long as I want, at an elevated idle of course! And no, I don't worry about causing any damage; this topic has been hashed over numerous times, and it seems most people agree there's no more harm done to the truck than to your wallet from lost MPG's. Idle on...

How do you elevate the idle? Is this something that is already on the 2003 DMAX? I have a 2003 LB7, and I am not aware of any way to "elevate the idle."

Fuel Consuption at idle (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214428), with some numbers.

A good thread, but we never came up with a solid, proven answer... I think I may try and get one soon to satisfy my own curiousity.

No way in hell it uses as much in an hour as starting. Starting might use as much as idling for a minute, max.

Personally, if it's cold outside I'll let it idle if I'm going to be away for less than a half hour to avoid unnecessary cold starts. If the engine's hot and its warm out, I'll shut it off assuming I'll be gone for more than a few minutes. If I'm just running in somewhere (gas station, Wendys, etc...), I'll let it idle nomatter what.

JMO...

How do you elevate the idle? Is this something that is already on the 2003 DMAX? I have a 2003 LB7, and I am not aware of any way to "elevate the idle."

Install a high idle switch. Howto in the DIY/Guides section...

I never idle.....wastes too much fuel imo

I never idle.....wastes too much fuel imo

Weigh fuel costs versus reduced engine lifespan due to hard cold starts... but it's a gamble, because your engine may grenade for some completely unrealted reason long before startup wear takes a toll.

I do call BS on 10-12 hours of idle time having no measureable impact on MPG's. Only way that can be is if you don't measure it. 10-12 hours is going to be 2.5 to 6 gal of diesel. I'd notice that....

jb
actually it will have no measurable impact on MPG's since idilling achieves 0 mpg. 2.5 to 6 gals is'nt bad compared to sleeping in a cold truck,:D I and believe me you will notice that

actually it will have no measurable impact on MPG's since idilling achieves 0 mpg. 2.5 to 6 gals is'nt bad compared to sleeping in a cold truck,:D I and believe me you will notice that


Must be some new math. If you are burning fuel and not moving, that would lower mpg for every way that I've ever calculated mileage.

if you aren't moving you have 0mpg, you can't go lower than 0 ;)

x2

I had my injectors replaced at 125,000miles and I have pulled a 30,000lb log skidder and trailer with it for quite a few miles and last winter in Nebraska I never turned it off for at or over 8 days straight, while logging with a crew of guys and it was at best -10F.

Now I have 205,000 miles on it and the #1 injector is/was going bad and it is starting to smoke a lot.

Is that from idling a lot or just normal??????????????????????????? Who knows.

I rarely turn my truck off, summer or winter. I log and/or do insurance adjusting and when it starts up at 6-8am it doesn't get shut off until 5-8pm.

I'm not saying it's right, but that is how mine lives its life, LOL.

Sam

I usually idle mine when fueling and when running into a store for a few minutes. However, if its gonna idle for more than 10-15 minutes i just shut it down.

-Eric

a little more fuel to let it idle or new batteries and starter every other year? i let mine idle. mixed feeling on here about if it is hard on your engine. if it hard on the duramax to idle i suggest going back to the drawing boards boys. i leave my big screen on all the time as i feel its hard on it to turn it off and on all the time.