Idling vs. shut down and restart?

[LDB]

How long will you let your truck idle before you consider it better to shut down and restart it? I've heard it's much harder on it to stop and start than to idle however I'm sure there is a happy medium somewhere. I want to do what's going to provide the best longevity to my engine.

On a related note, I'm sitting in my "den" at the 139mm on 65 in In at the J. The temp is around 55-60 I guess and it's raining so no sun to heat up the cab. I've been sitting here a couple hours and still very comfortable and shut down as soon as I got here. Both semis next to me are idling, and not the reefer. What's the point? Must be company paid fuel and/or disregard for exhaust emissions I guess. On top of that, if all the idling that wasn't needed was cut out it would save a pretty hefty amount of fuel. I doubt it would affect prices but one could always hope.

 

[Glen Rice]

Boy you hit the nail on the head with your observations! Anymore than 5 minutes of idling is wasting fuel and your engine! Let the oil cool the turbo and slowly cool the engine from "Hot" spots and shut her down. I believe the sales of generators should be at an all time high with the high cost of fuel. How can you run a 250 to 550 hp engine to run air-conditioning or take the chill off the cab, when you could run a 15hp engine that uses about a pint of fuel per hour. You do the math...generators are more valuable than ever before. Like you said if not for the good of the envirement, how about the bottom line of your income. Put that money in your pocket. Good luck, and thanks for the comments.

 

[pendiehouse]

I've been driving a semi for 12 years and was always amazed at the number of drivers that idle their truck in perfectly beautiful weather. They are, I believe, just creatures of habit, stuck in a rut. They just don't take the time to think about what they are doing. They'd rather sit in the truck stop, drinking coffee and bitching about the costs of doing business, while their truck sits idling in 60 degree weather.

 

[LDB]

I've got a Pro Heat on order and it is supposed to be in on the 24th. I'll go to Bentz as soon as I get in their general area to have it installed. I've been lucky and haven't needed to idle much at all to stay comfortable since I just got into the truck a week ago. If I had it already installed I'd run the heat a little bit. It's getting a little chilly in here. In a little while I'll set up the bed and get under the covers and take my overnight nap and it won't matter.

 

[redytrk]

Leo you have chosen the place to get your Pro-Heat wisely.Bentz does a first class job,and they stand behind their work.I have read some real horrow stories about gen sets on OOIDA forums.Poor service,lack of parts,etc.
I choose to go the route of large inverter,shore power,and a Fantastic roof ventelator.Now our idleing is only in extreme heat or cold.I was able to cut idle time in half.All equipment was installed by BENTZ.
Keith,Dale and the gang will treat you right.

 

[LDB]

I've got a large inverter but not enough batteries to depend solely on it and of course no a/c from it. I do have a small space heater that I can turn on for about 2 minutes and get this place toasty. My ProHeat is also going to have a full aux battery set with isolators so I'll have over double the capacity I have now. It's got a bunch of other stuff too that I don't remember. I didn't do the order, I just told Jon when I bought the truck I wanted it. He did the order and Dale told me it's basically every option offered. It's delivery date is 10/24 and I'll have to go after that when I'm not too far away. I'm not going to deadhead half the country to pick it up.

 

[tughillrunner]

for your info after ist of jan va becomes anti idling state
and if you run more than 5 mins you will be fined and the company you run for will fined and place your at will be fine
and check landline as they give a listed of states that are on the
list for anti idling
beside that running the engine to idling is waste of money
you use 1.5 gal's of fuel per hour and do that over a weekend and
that add's up as geo would say get a proheat or any genset and save

 

[LDB]

Thanks for the information. If you read my last post again you'll see I have a ProHeat on order and it will arrive at the end of the month. I asked this question in regard to pulling up at a shipper/receiver and having to go inside the office, then down to a dock, then back to the office etc. looking for opinions on whether it's better to turn the truck off and on a few times or let it idle a few extra minutes. I'm not idling much at all for climate control and when I do it's only for a few minutes and then off for a good while.

 

[bigjimhp]

When at the shipper or consignee, waiting for a dock assignment best to let it idle, to save needless wear on starter, unless you are at known slow place, or been told it will be a while.ex. AMERICAN AXLE IN DET. I'm sure everyone knows several.