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Engine time vs idle time?

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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:18 PM
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Engine time vs idle time?

Here's a couple of questions for all:

I have 410 hours of engine time and 93 hours of idle time. Am I correct in assuming idle time is included in engine time? ( A subset of, not in addition to)

I also assume the truck is smart enough to know that sitting at a red light in drive, but not going anywhere, is idle time. You don't have to be in park to accumulate idle time, because I can't imagine I have idled my truck in park for 93 hours but sitting in traffic for a great deal of that is certainly realistic.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:24 PM
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Yes sir, and as for an industry average one idle hour is supposed to roughly equate to 30 driven miles of wear and tear.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:30 PM
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And with 9660 miles on the truck that gives me an average speed of 23.5 MPH.
Even if I subtract out the idle time my speed comes out to 32 MPH. That explains the good gas mileage, I guess.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:40 PM
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Yeah, anytime the speed is zero, it counts as idle time.
When I calculate my driving hours to speed, mine is usually around 63-65 mph.
Think my truck is a highway truck!
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:40 PM
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I have wondered the same thing! I am currently at 482 engine hours, 87 hours of idle time and almost 16k miles.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 05:55 PM
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Mine shows around 90 hours of idle time. I always wonder is very slowly rolling forward idle time? Because my truck is virtually never idling without me in it trying to go somewhere. So, if idle hours only accrue when dead stopped, I sure have sat for a long time at red lights. I'd like to think I was at least creeping forward for some of those hours.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Keokie
Mine shows around 90 hours of idle time. I always wonder is very slowly rolling forward idle time? Because my truck is virtually never idling without me in it trying to go somewhere. So, if idle hours only accrue when dead stopped, I sure have sat for a long time at red lights. I'd like to think I was at least creeping forward for some of those hours.
You can combat the idle hours with a brakestand at stop lights. Computer thinks your moving
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by OverheadCram
You can combat the idle hours with a brakestand at stop lights. Computer thinks your moving
That would probably be just as good for my transmission as it would be pleasing to the guy driving the Toyota Pious next to me.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 06:28 PM
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I'm curious as to what would be considered "good" engine idle time vs miles driven. My '17 has 48K and I believe my engine idle hrs are just below 60. When I do drive my truck, it's almost always on the highway.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 06:30 PM
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How do I find what mine is? Mechanics preach about idle time but it's winter and need to warm up now and then. Thanks.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 06:57 PM
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I'm somewhere around 9000 hrs, 3000 idle.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 07:06 PM
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Found mine. 903 and 193. 21%. Would be interesting to see what average is. That way if mechanics at work bitch I would have data.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by dzdiggin'dude
How do I find what mine is? Mechanics preach about idle time but it's winter and need to warm up now and then. Thanks.
Use the cluster info screen between the tach and speedo:

Left arrow all the way out to the top menu screen
Select display mode, find the tire pressure and oil life selections, but don't choose either
Down arrow a few times and then up arrow a few times. The transmission temp, digital speedo and the engine time screens will cycle by.

I know that's weird but on the XLT trucks with the 4.2 screen there's a little bug in there that hides many of the display mode options. The options are there but hard to find.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 07:15 PM
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Thanks. I did find it earlier after reading another post.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2023 | 07:24 PM
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I do not worry about idle time AT ALL anymore after my last truck. It was a 2012 6.2 owned by the state of NM for 110k miles. The truck showed 12000 hours, 7000 hrs idle time. That truck ran great for me, no major repairs in it's history, still running great with over 220k on it now. Crazy amount of time on that engine.
 
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