Excessive idling?
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From: Canada
Excessive idling?
I’m looking at buying a 2017 Transit which has the twin turbo gas engine. The vehicle only has 36,000 km on it, with 1850 engine run hours, but the alarming thing is that the “Idle Hours” is 1100, and that was due to it being used in a very cold environment where it is normal to leave ‘em idling.
From what I understand, long idling is very deleterious to an engine, no? Or are modern engines designed to handle that better than old engines? I’m also wondering how those huge number of idling hours affect the turbos.
Should I walk away from this vehicle, or do I have nothing to worry about in terms of longevity/reliability of the engine and turbos?
Thanks
From what I understand, long idling is very deleterious to an engine, no? Or are modern engines designed to handle that better than old engines? I’m also wondering how those huge number of idling hours affect the turbos.
Should I walk away from this vehicle, or do I have nothing to worry about in terms of longevity/reliability of the engine and turbos?
Thanks
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I read an article years ago that stated that carbon build up from idling isn't such a problem with new electronically controlled engines like it was before EFI. As for the turbos, it's my understanding and daily practice to run them hard keeps them healthy.
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The EB engines are notorious for building up carbon on the wastegates due to excessive idling.... on the surface this doesn't sound like a bad thing per sey but with the EB turbos, the wastegates are not serviceable meaning the turbos have to be pulled and disassembled and rebuilt.... and Ford considers this "routine maintenance".... very expensive maintenance IMHO.. so I would be very cautious of this from the aspect being preare to spend $$ on the components for myself to rebuild or "Hello Dealer" $$$
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The EB engines are notorious for building up carbon on the wastegates due to excessive idling.... on the surface this doesn't sound like a bad thing per sey but with the EB turbos, the wastegates are not serviceable meaning the turbos have to be pulled and disassembled and rebuilt.... and Ford considers this "routine maintenance".... very expensive maintenance IMHO.. so I would be very cautious of this from the aspect being preare to spend $$ on the components for myself to rebuild or "Hello Dealer" $$$
I've discovered another one of the particular 2017 vehicles I'm looking for which has the same engine, and used in similar conditions, but lower numbers. They are: 18,900 km, and 600 idle hours. I suppose that would be less of a worry, but it still adds up to 25 days of idling. I sure wish there was a definitive answer to this.
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Thanks for chiming in both of you; hopefully we can understand how I'd be left confused when hearing opposing opinions.
I've discovered another one of the particular 2017 vehicles I'm looking for which has the same engine, and used in similar conditions, but lower numbers. They are: 18,900 km, and 600 idle hours. I suppose that would be less of a worry, but it still adds up to 25 days of idling. I sure wish there was a definitive answer to this.
I've discovered another one of the particular 2017 vehicles I'm looking for which has the same engine, and used in similar conditions, but lower numbers. They are: 18,900 km, and 600 idle hours. I suppose that would be less of a worry, but it still adds up to 25 days of idling. I sure wish there was a definitive answer to this.
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^^^ Thanks.
So if it was you considering buying this 2017 Transit EB with 19,000 km (12,000 miles) and 600 idle hours, would you walk away, or consider it? The reason I'm stuck on this vehicle and not simply looking for another one which doesn't have the long idle hours is that it's a hard-to-find Quigley 4x4, and in just the configuration that I want (low roof, 130" WB).
So if it was you considering buying this 2017 Transit EB with 19,000 km (12,000 miles) and 600 idle hours, would you walk away, or consider it? The reason I'm stuck on this vehicle and not simply looking for another one which doesn't have the long idle hours is that it's a hard-to-find Quigley 4x4, and in just the configuration that I want (low roof, 130" WB).
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^^^ Thanks.
So if it was you considering buying this 2017 Transit EB with 19,000 km (12,000 miles) and 600 idle hours, would you walk away, or consider it? The reason I'm stuck on this vehicle and not simply looking for another one which doesn't have the long idle hours is that it's a hard-to-find Quigley 4x4, and in just the configuration that I want (low roof, 130" WB).
So if it was you considering buying this 2017 Transit EB with 19,000 km (12,000 miles) and 600 idle hours, would you walk away, or consider it? The reason I'm stuck on this vehicle and not simply looking for another one which doesn't have the long idle hours is that it's a hard-to-find Quigley 4x4, and in just the configuration that I want (low roof, 130" WB).
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I'm not 100% sure, but I think those are only available on the new 2020 Transits, and I'm looking at 2017s. Also, I will not be using "my" Transit in a severely cold environment, that's just where the used ones I found were used.
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The EB engines are notorious for building up carbon on the wastegates due to excessive idling.... on the surface this doesn't sound like a bad thing per sey but with the EB turbos, the wastegates are not serviceable meaning the turbos have to be pulled and disassembled and rebuilt.... and Ford considers this "routine maintenance".... very expensive maintenance IMHO.. so I would be very cautious of this from the aspect being preare to spend $$ on the components for myself to rebuild or "Hello Dealer" $$$
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I Agree...I think part of it is the "new" engine which is just beginning to get 'experience" in the US..... I personally give any new platform of engine a 3 year window... by then they know what "aint right" and either have fixed it or you just "stay away" (GRIN)
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One thing I have failed to mention at the outset is that I will not be using said vehicle in a cold environment, and therefore not doing the excessive idling that they've experienced to date. I would be using it in a much milder climate, with normal use, so I wonder if that makes a difference in your advice on its purchase or not. It might be too simplistic of a thought, but could I "blow it out" so to speak with some hard driving?
Well, with regards to blowing it out, it sure couldn't hurt but, as an example with the LA based company that has 300 pickups.... you know those guys are either stuck in traffic (idling all day) or they driving them with their foot to the floor boards travel across SoCal, and they are still looking for solutions (hopefully the BG system will work for them), so although its not a bad thing and will be a benefit to blow it out, will it be that beneficial, probably not.... you will either experience this issue or not depending on your driving conditions
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Well, lets face it...turbo engines are really built to run at freeway speeds (diesel excluded) and all EFI whether it be diesel or gas suffer from the same issues in terms of both cold and very hot weather... especially cold, they are going to run just slightly rich and that's where the soot develops (overly rich mixtures).... but once the engine get up to operating temp and if it's running hard (freeway speed) it running in its "power band"...the best rpm for bets efficiency/TQ, etc....
Well, with regards to blowing it out, it sure couldn't hurt but, as an example with the LA based company that has 300 pickups.... you know those guys are either stuck in traffic (idling all day) or they driving them with their foot to the floor boards travel across SoCal, and they are still looking for solutions (hopefully the BG system will work for them), so although its not a bad thing and will be a benefit to blow it out, will it be that beneficial, probably not.... you will either experience this issue or not depending on your driving conditions
Well, with regards to blowing it out, it sure couldn't hurt but, as an example with the LA based company that has 300 pickups.... you know those guys are either stuck in traffic (idling all day) or they driving them with their foot to the floor boards travel across SoCal, and they are still looking for solutions (hopefully the BG system will work for them), so although its not a bad thing and will be a benefit to blow it out, will it be that beneficial, probably not.... you will either experience this issue or not depending on your driving conditions
With that being said, I'm an ecoboost guy and I love them BUT, it's not an engine intended for all uses. It needs to run hard and the harder it runs, the more it wants to. It's a pretty impressive little engine and it can be mighty frustrating if not run and maintained properly.
This is why I'm looking outside of Ford's stable for my wife's next vehicle. She doesn't drive enough on the freeway to warrant having an EB equipped anything from Ford. All I see is problems downstream if I get her a Ford.
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