excessive idling
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excessive idling
Came home yesterday after a short ride. Thought I turned off 4he truck. I went into the house and 5 hours later came out to get something out of the truck and found the engine was still running. What kind of fool would do that. The truck runs so quiet and smooth I didnt notice. What kind of possible damage could I have done. Went to fill the gas tank and it sure didnt use much gas just idling.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
No damage, police cars do that all the time. If I discovered that I'd done that on my truck, I probably would have taken it and ran it hard for a couple of miles to blow the condensation out of the exhaust. I would still run it hard next time you use it, after it warms up.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,274
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From: Seattle area
You didn't do any damage. The general consensus seems to be these engines are not the best if you idle them often for long periods, but I wouldn't worry about 5 hours. Mine sees at least that much during the week (abet, not all at once) and I'm around 22% idle on the hour meter. No isssus yet.
But a little "Italian tune-up" wouldn't hurt either. Put it into Sport mode and go play to heat things up.
But a little "Italian tune-up" wouldn't hurt either. Put it into Sport mode and go play to heat things up.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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You didn't do any damage. The general consensus seems to be these engines are not the best if you idle them often for long periods, but I wouldn't worry about 5 hours. Mine sees at least that much during the week (abet, not all at once) and I'm around 22% idle on the hour meter. No isssus yet.
But a little "Italian tune-up" wouldn't hurt either. Put it into Sport mode and go play to heat things up.
But a little "Italian tune-up" wouldn't hurt either. Put it into Sport mode and go play to heat things up.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
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From: Arizona/Texas
No damage, police cars do that all the time. If I discovered that I'd done that on my truck, I probably would have taken it and ran it hard for a couple of miles to blow the condensation out of the exhaust. I would still run it hard next time you use it, after it warms up.
When the Crown Victs idled a long time at an accident scene, the exhaust would dump what looked like a gallon of water from each pipe as the Officer drove away.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
Oh yeah, even the new Expolrers do it.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Hattiesburg, Ms.
In my line of work (oilfield) mine idles a good bit when I'm on a land location.....No issues as of yet.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
Construction site trucks idle all day long and these trucks last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
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Super Moderator
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From: Isanti, MN
Idling in general isn't good for the engine, but you didn't hurt it. I don't see your location, but one of the big is the engine cooling off in cold climates when the climate control is pumping out heat, but this late in the year this isn't usyally an issue.
The couple gallons of gas and a few extra hours on the engine clock would be the only damage.
The couple gallons of gas and a few extra hours on the engine clock would be the only damage.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
Vehicles that do a lot of idling, like police cars, are susceptible to rod and main bearing fatigue. This is due to the fact that their fluids run hotter because of the lack of airflow helping to keep things cool. But those vehicles idle all the time so you can rest assured you did no damage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Arizona/Texas
Vehicles that do a lot of idling, like police cars, are susceptible to rod and main bearing fatigue. This is due to the fact that their fluids run hotter because of the lack of airflow helping to keep things cool. But those vehicles idle all the time so you can rest assured you did no damage.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
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From: Staten Island, NY
Came home yesterday after a short ride. Thought I turned off 4he truck. I went into the house and 5 hours later came out to get something out of the truck and found the engine was still running. What kind of fool would do that. The truck runs so quiet and smooth I didnt notice. What kind of possible damage could I have done. Went to fill the gas tank and it sure didnt use much gas just idling.
Wouldn't cause a problem but when you opened the door with the engine running the truck didn't make a bunch of annoying binging and bonging sounds?
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
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From: Anchorage Alaska
I have to chuckle at this, as I deal with trucks that idle 24/7 (fuel truck comes around every 24 hours) for months on end in Arctic conditions and depending on the engine typically no real issues come about (although the 3V V10s need a high idle to help with oiling).
During the winter my trucks and car can idle as much as 1.5-2.5 hours a day depending on temps and whats going on that day, never an issue other then fuel use.
During the winter my trucks and car can idle as much as 1.5-2.5 hours a day depending on temps and whats going on that day, never an issue other then fuel use.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
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From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
I have to chuckle at this, as I deal with trucks that idle 24/7 (fuel truck comes around every 24 hours) for months on end in Arctic conditions and depending on the engine typically no real issues come about (although the 3V V10s need a high idle to help with oiling).
During the winter my trucks and car can idle as much as 1.5-2.5 hours a day depending on temps and whats going on that day, never an issue other then fuel use.
During the winter my trucks and car can idle as much as 1.5-2.5 hours a day depending on temps and whats going on that day, never an issue other then fuel use.