I've got a few comments about this;

1. If you are worried about squeezing every possible mpg out of these trucks, you should of bought a scooter that gets 80 mpg and costs less than 1/10 the purchase price.

2. If you stop and start your truck at every stoplight so you can save .01 of a mpg, you'll be buying a starter much faster than you would normally be. So any $$ you save there is flushed down the toilet very quickly.

3. If I go in anywhere, I shut off the truck, go in, come out and restart. It's a security thing, but keeping it running will keep the ac going and the cab cool.

4. If the wife goes into a store and I'm sitting out in the truck waiting on her when it's 100* outside, the truck stays running, because it's f-n hot out there.

5. I usually have to turn my truck off in a drivethrew, too, no biggie. Hhmmm, come to think about it, if you are worried about saving every penny in MPGs, why are you in a drive threw?? You are sitting and waiting for your turn, burning fuel....You should shop at a grocery store and make your own meals, it's cheaper that way.:

 

IMHO, the reason many poeple leave their diesels running is to minimize the "coking" of the turbo bearings with cooked oil. However, if you use a synthetic oil, the oil's destruction temperature is somewhere around 2000 degrees F, so shutting down the engine has a much less chance of damaging the turbo and might be wise thing to do. I use Mobil1, and in Houston, the lights are indeed long. I frequently shut down the engine. If I leave the truck, I always shut down and lock the doors. Just MHO.

 

You mentioned the truck stop and how they are all running,

Well most of those drivers are sleeping and nobody can sleep when it's hot out or the reverse, in the middle of winter when it's freezing. Plus a side note.. most are just drivers driving for a company. They don't have to pay the fuel bill so they don't shut it off.

 

My rule is if I'm going to be out of the truck for more than 15min. I do a shut down, if it's less than that leave it run.

 

Idling diesel's only sip fuel. If you watch the temp. gage, it goes down at idle unlike gassers which can actually overheat during periods of extended idle, especially in hot weather. It also takes diesels longer to reach normal operating temps. so it's tempting to leave them running during a series of short trips with lots of stops. But mainly, nothing says testosterone like the sound of a diesel....cruising or idling!

 

Big Rigs do it because they rest in the sleeper and the engine needs to be running to power the a/c and such. I've read those monster motors burn just under 1gal/hr at idle so it's cheaper and safer for them than getting a hotel.

In it's nature a diesel much like a turbine likes to stay running vs starting and shutting down constantly.

 

its a diesel you leave it runnin! like it was said, they only sip fuel at idle and its hard to start/stop them constantly. if i go into a store and leave my truck running, i just take the remote keyless entry with me and lock it so nobody can get in.

 

I've got a few comments about this;

1. If you are worried about squeezing every possible mpg out of these trucks, you should of bought a scooter that gets 80 mpg and costs less than 1/10 the purchase price.

2. If you stop and start your truck at every stoplight so you can save .01 of a mpg, you'll be buying a starter much faster than you would normally be. So any $$ you save there is flushed down the toilet very quickly.

3. If I go in anywhere, I shut off the truck, go in, come out and restart. It's a security thing, but keeping it running will keep the ac going and the cab cool.

4. If the wife goes into a store and I'm sitting out in the truck waiting on her when it's 100* outside, the truck stays running, because it's f-n hot out there.

5. I usually have to turn my truck off in a drivethrew, too, no biggie. Hhmmm, come to think about it, if you are worried about saving every penny in MPGs, why are you in a drive threw?? You are sitting and waiting for your turn, burning fuel....You should shop at a grocery store and make your own meals, it's cheaper that way.:

i agree with this. although i wonder if actually you leave the diesel running since it does take longer to heat up, if you should leave it idling? although starting and stopping every minute will eventually cook your starter and alternator. use your best judgement.

 

I personaly use a 15 min rule, i figure id im gonna be back in less then 15 min ill let it run more shut it off, mjsut personal opinion.

 

Rebuttal...

I feel compelled to defend my initial questions. I don't have any intention of shutting my truck off at every intersection, in every drive-through (and no... I only occasionally stop in @ McDonalds for an egg McMuffin for breakfast on the way to work).

There's a ton of road work in this area right now... and the resulting traffic can be a rats nest. It can take you 2.5 hours to get about 20 miles at the right(wrong) time of day. Now that the OAT's are back around 70-80 - which means you don't have to run A/C constantly - it is tempting to shut 'er down when you can bet you're gonna be sitting for a few minutes. Sure... you only save 1/10th a gallon each time... but do that 2-3 times a day, 3-5 days a week and you save a gallon or two. Do that week after week and you're saving several gallons. After all... this is the concept behind hybrid drive systems; they just replace the gas engine with a battery-drive.

Yet... I have no desire to burn out my starter or stress my batteries. So I intend to moderate anything that I do. In fact, I'll probably limit my shutting down to the occasional PFK conversations across the drive-through speaker system... :crazy:

Oh... finally, the reason I bought my truck is 'cause ya can't tow a TT with a scooter.:horsey:

 

if i'm by myself and have to run into a gas station or whatever for like a minute ill keep it running. if my gf or family is in the car i keep it running so they are comfortable.

you bought the truck, make it work for you. it truly isn't going to make a difference in longevity if you leave it idle for 2 minutes or 20 minutes before you shut down.

like mentioned, they SIP fuel. i literally got caught in dead-stop traffic the other day on the interstate for 45 minutes and i still got 19mpg when i filled up. it shocked me.

 

I think a lot of the big rig drivers learned their habits when Fuel was 50 cents a Gallon!!
That is when the expression "cheaper to leave it running" was invented.

Not only are modern diesels much easier to start, the cost of leaving them running is much higher.

This does not totally change things, it just shortens the time a bit when you want to shut them down.

I'd lean more towards 5 minutes max as my limit to leave it running in normal weather when leaving the truck. Always shut down going in a store. Roadside convenience stop, probably not. Always idle for a minute or two if stopping right after a heavy pull.

However, if you're strictly into saving fuel, you can make up for a HUGE lot of idling by driving steady speeds, coasting up to red lights, easing up a bit before the crest of hills, staying under 65mph, avoiding short trips, etc etc

 

specially when you get on the sea to sky , when Kiewit overblasts... shuter down they will be awhile.. two hours today........arghhhhhh..

 

The UPS guy turn his off every day, 60 or more times a day maybe the eng. is diferent . They have to turn it off and lock the back. I would let it run all day <10hr> then turn it off ??

 

What about at the fuel pump? I see a lot of guys leaving their truck's running while filling

 

Nine times out of ten, I will leave my truck running while fuelling up. The flash point of diesel is so high, short of putting a book of lit matches into your tank the chance of getting blowed up while fueling up is very slim. Gas is different because it has vapors that come off while fueling while diesel has next to none. Thats why its is said you have to turn your vehicle off while fueling up a gas vehicle, but if you pull into a truck stop every truck at the pump is running and they are putting 500 plus gallons into the truck.

 

whatever makes you most comfortable. i let mine idle alot, i do shut it off when i am not around it though for security reasons. i plow in the winter and it idles alot while using myself to clean walks and what not. i don't care about the fuel it uses. i get 18-20 mpg and that is great. if shutting it down every time i exit to save 2 gallons a year no thanks. i'll call in sick one more day per year to do that

 

When Im up North, Alberta Area in the middle of winter I ll let er idle while I nap. Keeps the cab warm and sleep pretty good in there. 6 hours by mistake once, burnt about 30.00 worth of fuel, but when you think of a hotel at $100 + , then burning a bit of fuel is not so bad.. (This is a western star im talking about. ) My dmax I turn off when ever im idle for awhile. respecting the people behind me more I think...least its not a cummins though.. those are alot noisier..

 

speaking of cummins, did you know that if you let it idle too long it voids the engine warranty becasue there is a computer in the motor that tracks how long it has been idleing total. to me this is rediculous. this is becasue of the low oil pressure at idle. is this also a problem with the duramax motor??

 

It has always been my thought that when you shut down all (most) of the oil goes back down to the pan when you restart your engine waits a few seconds for the oil to flow to all points again just watch the pressure gauge. I think that quite a bit of engine wear could be tracked back to starting. I know it takes more time to get oil to the top of the engine on the first start on a cold day but still anytime you shutdown oil goes back to the pan and has to be pumped up to the top again. just my 2c

 

It has always been my thought that when you shut down all (most) of the oil goes back down to the pan when you restart your engine waits a few seconds for the oil to flow to all points again just watch the pressure gauge. I think that quite a bit of engine wear could be tracked back to starting. I know it takes more time to get oil to the top of the engine on the first start on a cold day but still anytime you shutdown oil goes back to the pan and has to be pumped up to the top again. just my 2c

Yeah well gas motors seem to do fine stopping and starting in all these conditions and also in all of the conditions mentioned in this thread so far. They don't seem to burn up the starters either. I stop and start my car at least 60 times a day and I have never had a starter fail in the last 10 years. With gear reduction starters its not really a problem anymore. Never had an oil failure to the top end either, particularly in my Accord Hybrid, which stopped and started its engine perhaps 300 times a day (or more who knows the real total) driving over 10,000 miles a month. Obviously stopping and starting an engine isn't the problem.

Honestly, I feel that most guys leave the truck running in a lame attempt to get attention, much like a little kid acting up in front of the TV. I say this because the louder the truck, and the more crap on it like bling wheels, truck nuts, fear this stickers, and other various "look at me!" crap on it the higher the probability it will be left running while they go in the store or whatever.

Its not normal to leave a vehicle running unattended, in Texas its actually illegal to do so. If you think its normal, and fine to leave one running for 15 minutes while you go inside a building, imagine how weird you would think it was if next time you pulled into a Wal Mart parking lot and parked, got out and started walking, and noticed that EVERY car and truck was left idling. You would think that was the craziest, dumbest thing you ever saw, 700+ cars all left unattended idling. Well you know what? When you leave your big "manly" truck idling unattended I walk by and *I* think thats the dumbest thing.

 

Stops and starts are tough on an engine. I Dont leave my truck runing while I go to walmart but I dont shut it off at a traffic light. Seems like common sence to me. Id like to compare an oil sample from a 60 starts a day and compare it to my 4 or 5 a day assumeing the miles driven are the same.

 

Yeah well gas motors seem to do fine stopping and starting in all these conditions and also in all of the conditions mentioned in this thread so far. They don't seem to burn up the starters either. I stop and start my car at least 60 times a day and I have never had a starter fail in the last 10 years. With gear reduction starters its not really a problem anymore. Never had an oil failure to the top end either, particularly in my Accord Hybrid, which stopped and started its engine perhaps 300 times a day (or more who knows the real total) driving over 10,000 miles a month. Obviously stopping and starting an engine isn't the problem.

Honestly, I feel that most guys leave the truck running in a lame attempt to get attention, much like a little kid acting up in front of the TV. I say this because the louder the truck, and the more crap on it like bling wheels, truck nuts, fear this stickers, and other various "look at me!" crap on it the higher the probability it will be left running while they go in the store or whatever.

Its not normal to leave a vehicle running unattended, in Texas its actually illegal to do so. If you think its normal, and fine to leave one running for 15 minutes while you go inside a building, imagine how weird you would think it was if next time you pulled into a Wal Mart parking lot and parked, got out and started walking, and noticed that EVERY car and truck was left idling. You would think that was the craziest, dumbest thing you ever saw, 700+ cars all left unattended idling. Well you know what? When you leave your big "manly" truck idling unattended I walk by and *I* think thats the dumbest thing.

:wtf1: Remember going to Wal Mart at the get together, Chris????
"T"

 

Yeah well gas motors seem to do fine stopping and starting in all these conditions and also in all of the conditions mentioned in this thread so far. They don't seem to burn up the starters either. I stop and start my car at least 60 times a day and I have never had a starter fail in the last 10 years. With gear reduction starters its not really a problem anymore. Never had an oil failure to the top end either, particularly in my Accord Hybrid, which stopped and started its engine perhaps 300 times a day (or more who knows the real total) driving over 10,000 miles a month. Obviously stopping and starting an engine isn't the problem.

Honestly, I feel that most guys leave the truck running in a lame attempt to get attention, much like a little kid acting up in front of the TV. I say this because the louder the truck, and the more crap on it like bling wheels, truck nuts, fear this stickers, and other various "look at me!" crap on it the higher the probability it will be left running while they go in the store or whatever.

Its not normal to leave a vehicle running unattended, in Texas its actually illegal to do so. If you think its normal, and fine to leave one running for 15 minutes while you go inside a building, imagine how weird you would think it was if next time you pulled into a Wal Mart parking lot and parked, got out and started walking, and noticed that EVERY car and truck was left idling. You would think that was the craziest, dumbest thing you ever saw, 700+ cars all left unattended idling. Well you know what? When you leave your big "manly" truck idling unattended I walk by and *I* think thats the dumbest thing.

How in the Sam Hill can you add up 60 shut offs in a day let alone 300 times a day.
The hybrid has to start every single time you come to a stop?

I leave my foot on the throttle wide open at the Mc Donalds drive up and yell at the speaker box. Seems to piss off the guy behind me. When I go into Wal-mart I leaver runnin and throw a brick on the accelerator, so ,,, that big a*s fan will sound like a jet aeroplane...

 

opinions are like ass-holes everyone has one. Well here is mine. I tend to do the 10 minute rule when running. Starters on these trucks work harder than gas vehicles and they are not cheap. Plus cool downs are good for these trucks. Not excessive......but a 10 minute and under conditon. I dont have the remote start so it gets turned off all the time unless the wife is with me. Would like to have one and make use of it going in and out of the ole Texaco or what have you. Living in Texas though I still ahve a feeling that someone will bust my window open and tear into **** if it is running unattended. They will not go far with it but it might be askiing for trouble.