Should a Duramax be left on to idle? If so, how long and in what time of year? How does idling affect fuel economy (i wouldn't think it would too much as i know many with the 6.6 that let it idle for 30 minutes or more).

I appreciate your comments. This is a great forum.

8.1L 2003 Sierra HD looking to buy an '05 6.6 this month.

I have never understood why diesel pickup owners run around all over town and leave thier trucks running. These aren't big rigs running generators or refridge units. It sure isn't helping economy thats for sure. Imagine if next time you went to the mall all the people with gas engines parked thier rides and left them running and went inside.

I am sure you would look around and think "what a bunch of dumbasses", yet it seems every day I see a dozen diesel pickups just idling away.

If someone has a valid reason why diesel pickups get left running, other than you are trying to draw attention to yourself, then please by all means post it. I am not talking about running into and out of the quickie mart, or super hot days for the a/c or super cold days for the heat, either, I am talking normal reasonable temperature days.

.

I agree, letting any engine run for an extended period for no reason is just a waste of fuel. I wouldn't do it with my semi and I sure won't do it with my pickup.

IIRC the last time we discussed this for the LLY it was no more than 10 minutes. Unlike the big diesel engines truckers drive these engines operate differently. You might do a search and find that thread. JJ :)

[quote=

If someone has a valid reason why diesel pickups get left running, other than you are trying to draw attention to yourself, then please by all means post it. I am not talking about running into and out of the quickie mart, or super hot days for the a/c or super cold days for the heat, either, I am talking normal reasonable temperature days.

.[/quote]
:exactly:

We let ours run all night sometimes in the winter. Only if we can't find a motel and we have to sleep in the truck. They use 2-3 gallons a night aprox.

Thats one thing Rick, I am talking about the endless line out there that leaves it running with nobody in the truck for loooong periods of time.

They come to the barn to take care of their horses, get out of the truck, and leave it sitting there idling away for an hour while they clean stalls and feed their horses and shoot the bull with people. I have seen guys leave their trucks running while they go shop wal-mart. The older dodges seem to be the most popular to do this, must be because they are the loudest. More often than not it is the ridiculously loud dodge owner that also leaves it running outside the stop-n-go, I guess so everyone inside can hear the POS rattling the whole store.

.

If I'm going to be out of the truck for more than a minute or two I shut it down. No different than one of the cars. Also depends upon where I am. In town it gets shut down and locked no matter what.

I leave my truck running all day long so when I get off work the cab is cool and I can just hop in and go.


Kidding. Myth-busters alert!

I have never seen a diesel idleing like some of you have around here. I dont treat too mine much different than a gas engine. But when im stoped for a few minutes and im right by it or there are people in the truck i will let it idle. But not more than 10 minutes, any longer is just not practical.

The idle plague seems to be most rampant here in south texASS. Mall parking lots, restaurants, and other long-term places seem to always have someone wasting dead dinosaurs for no aparrent reason. I have left mine running once so the frozen chicken breasts in the back seat wouldn't melt so fast, and normally I take an ice chest to Sam's just for that reason. The only conceivable reason I can think of to leave it running is maybe you'd save more money on a starter than you would on fuel in the long run. Anybody know what a starter costs?

Anybody know what a starter costs?
Stealer IIRC $800 but they can be had for like $350.

Hell, I leave my gasser running 15 mins. at most, unless I forget about it I would do the same for A Dmax. Start up is the hardest thing on an engine along with a waste of fuel.

What!!!!!!

That seems pretty high for a starter. If you leave you truck idling for more than 30 seconds then it takes more fuel than it would to shut it off and restart it. You also shouldn't need a new starter for at least 150,000 miles.

My box truck gets left idiling 8-10 hours a day @ high idle 1200 RPM. Now it is running 1: 2500 watt inverter and 2: a 4500 watt inverter. Truck has 6900 miles and nearing 500 hours. I would not leave any truck just idiling when I go in Wall-Mart.

As other guys have mentioned, I'll let mine idle if it's extremely cold. The rest of the time, I idle to cut down on starting my truck 15 times/day when I'm working.

I nearly always high-idle, but I try to not go more than 15 minutes at a time. If it's going to be longer than that, I shut it down. My turbo timer takes care of it for me if I get busy and forget about it!

I guess my theory is that diesels use very little fuel at idle, starters are very expensive along with batteries, and most engine wear occurs during start-ups, especially when the engine is cold.

But, idling for more than maybe 15 minutes at a time is a waste, I agree.

I read somewhere that an idleing engine wears 4 times faster than one undr load. Something to do with improper lubrication ? excess fuel running down cylinder walls ? Who knows? All I know is fuel ain't cheap. I let my diesels cool down for no more than 3-4 minutes and shut them off.

I read somewhere that an idleing engine wears 4 times faster than one undr load. Something to do with improper lubrication ? excess fuel running down cylinder walls ? Who knows? All I know is fuel ain't cheap. I let my diesels cool down for no more than 3-4 minutes and shut them off.

Four times faster No Way that is BS. I don't think you have to worry about improper lubrication with the Dmax, and I have heard of fuel running cyl. walls I don't know the its a big real issue. I know leaving our equipment idling for long periods of time makes the oil anas. go to sh*t, so is it good for your motor to idle for long periods of time no could it be the root cause of an engine failure also no.

I guess maybe with age there is more chance an engine will fuelwash the cylinders. My old Cummins Big Cam III does that when I let it idle alot. The oilpan holds about 9 gals, I once drained 11 gals of very thin oil out. NOT GOOD! I agree that its probably not an issue with the DMAX. My only point is that it may not hurt the engine but it certainly won't do it any good.

I think most these folks don't have a good reason (not reasons like many of the folks here do) and they're just trying to look cool. These posers have seen at the truck stops and freeway rest stops where the big rigs are sitting idling (usually for good reason) think that now that they've got their diesel, it's waaay cool to leave it idling everywhere you go, so folks know you have a big bad diesel... ):h

Most new police cars, Impala's, Crown Vic's, Tahoe's, have an hour meter in the computer now a days. 1 hour of idle equals 33 miles. You do the math. I leave my cruiser running for the entire 12 hours I'm on shift for. But then again, thats what their designed for. They run so much electrical equiptment that it actually hurts it more to constantly start it up all the time. Besides, no one wants to see a cruiser on your street getting towed away by a wrecker because it had a dead battery. I usually leave my truck running if I'm in and out. 5 minutes or less is about it. Anything else, to me is a waste of fuel and pointless idling hours.

I read in one of the threads that idling should be only to cool the turbo and then shut her down. Beside in some places it is against the law to leave anything idling.

I leave it idle when filling up so I don't lose my cruise setting. =)

with a lit cig hangin' out of your mouth by any chance? (thinking Darwin here...):D

I have no problem smoking around the diesel pumps. :muahaha:

The gas pumps are another matter.

Aren't most diesel pumps right next to the gas pumps? They are where I live.

Keep it up and you may be smoking alright just not the cool way that you want!! ):h

By far around my area the diesel nozzles are on the same pump, all in one nice row with the diesel (green one) on one end or the other. Just about the only time I see stand alone diesel pumps is on the outskirts at the truck stop type stations.


"Local diesel enthusiast bbq'd while fueling truck, full story and horrific live video at 11........"

.

I clearly stated around the diesel pumps and that the gas pumps were another matter. :stirthepo Actually, I don't have the cohones to do it anyways.

talk to your dealer, they will tell you it will do more harm then good and if you have trouble they will check the hours on your engine!

I think my truck has been shut off all of maybe once or twice while fueling. I'm much more concerned about being struck by lightning twice in the same spot than I am about blowing up a fuel station, myself, and my truck because I left my truck idling while fueling.

I am more concerned about getting struck by lightning twice than getting electrocuted at home.

But I don't blow dry my hair in the tub either, or drag around an electric weedeater trimming a wet lawn.

Darwin was right, bad moves tend to help end the line.

Generally when there is some "lame ass" warning on something it is because it happened before. This is also why there are so many laws, to keep people from taking others with them, maybe little kids even, because they don't give a rats ass.

I bet the people that had cinder blocks or turkeys or whatever else thrown from overpasses and came thru their windshield and killed them said the same thing about something like that happening to them.
.

We have a 99 PSD on the farm that we use to go get food from time to time. Let me tell you, when you pull up to the drive through with that f****ing thing, it is so loud you can't hear yourself think. I shut it off all the time, and everyone around appreciates it.

Well due to others concerns new policies have been implemented at all fuel pumps in NY:

-All drivers are to coast their vehicle into position to avoid running a vehicle near a pump or near anyone pumping fuel into their vehicle.

-All vehicles myst be pushed or pulled a safe distance from the station before they may be started.

-All individuals that have had an explosion/fire, heard of an explosion/fire, or read of an explosion/fire resulting from a running engine at a diesel pump must immediately report the incident (we know you have been witholding information).

Thank you for your compliance.

I smoke at the Diesel pump..........however I fill up at a station that has only diesel pumps.

If You can get Diesel fuel to ignite with a cigarette then you prolly shouldnt be at the gas station anyways.

Well due to others concerns new policies have been implemented at all fuel pumps in NY:

-All drivers are to coast their vehicle into position to avoid running a vehicle near a pump or near anyone pumping fuel into their vehicle.

-All vehicles myst be pushed or pulled a safe distance from the station before they may be started.

-All individuals that have had an explosion/fire, heard of an explosion/fire, or read of an explosion/fire resulting from a running engine at a diesel pump must immediately report the incident (we know you have been witholding information).

Thank you for your compliance.

:lol:

Now that we have the ingenius comments out of the way I will admit I leave the truck running while filling up on hot days (for the a/c)):h

I don't smoke so I miss out on the chance for that, but I make up for it by spilling out a good gallon of gas on the ground folr the next guy. I don't waste diesel though.:)

Its sure fun to rustle up the natives now and then:ro)

.

At work we don't shut anything off to fuel it I watched a guys pour gas all over the motor of a very hot and running compactor several times and no kaboom.