On and off or keep it running????
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 75
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From: Tampa
On and off or keep it running????
Have heard many different opinions about whether or not it is better to let your engine run or to repeatedly start and stop it. (example: while you are unloading it or waiting somewhere or something) i have heard that it is better all around for the motor to let it run than to start and stop frequently??? I know if it is really cold you have to, i was over seas for a year in Kosovo and sometimes we had to leave our trucks running for 3-5 days at a time or the fuel would gel and the glow plugs could not heat it up. Anyway, what are the thoughts from the pros????? leave it running or start and stop the engine frequently?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 392
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From: Lamesa,Texas
i try not to let my PSD idle for more than 10-15 minutes. it has idled before for hours on end but i try not to make a habit of it. you have to worry about wet lapping. i am looking to install an idle controler. this will increase the idle speed so that you dont have to worry about wet lapping. they are made for ambulances and truck which utilize a pto. basically trucks which idle for long periods by design. my only problem so far is that they all seem to idle the truck to fast for me. most i have seen run idle up to 1700-2000 rpm. i would like to find one that sets idle to 1000-1200. just speeding it up a little. just my .02
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 319
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From: NE Ohio
I'm getting into lawncare and i have the same question. I've heard from some that you don't want to start/stop a diesel because they're worse then gassers about this. Is this true? I always thought well people use them for delievery trucks so what could be wrong? I start mine up about every hour so i dont think its that bad.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
The UPS vans pull up with thier diesels and shut them off, do thier delivery, start up and drive the next two blocks and shut them off, do thier delivery.......
There's been lots of research on the subject and I can't remember where I read it now. But the conclusion was that it doesn't pay to keep the motor running. It's basically an old wives tale with todays modern engines.
I can't substantiate that claim right now with any documentation because I don't know where it is, but I do remember reading about it years ago. The subject was whether to leave the semi engine running at night while the driver slept.
There's been lots of research on the subject and I can't remember where I read it now. But the conclusion was that it doesn't pay to keep the motor running. It's basically an old wives tale with todays modern engines.
I can't substantiate that claim right now with any documentation because I don't know where it is, but I do remember reading about it years ago. The subject was whether to leave the semi engine running at night while the driver slept.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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I don't shut mine off if it's going to be 15 min or less. My theory is, it's very hard on starter motor and batteries to start one of these guys up, and I don't have the money to be replacing that heavy old starter motor and/or batteries unnecessarily.It's pretty cheap(relatively) to let it idle, especially on cool/cold days. That's my 2 cents.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 807
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From: Prince George, BC
i let mine idle after i have been on the highway, only about 5 min or so to cool the turbo. also sometime when i am waiting for someone or whatever i let my truck run, i dont think it will hurt it, if you are worried about wet stacking just drive it around the block or something and that should help prevent it. i know when it starts to get cold around my neck of the woods, my truck will idle up on its own and stay there untill it reaches a certain temp and then idle down. and after a while idle up again, its a nice feature. it idles up to about 1100 rpm or so. anyways what i am trying to say is that i do both, stop and start it and also leave it runnig, just depends on what i am doing, i am not worried about it.
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Wet Lapping
What is "wet Lapping"?
Thanks ahead of time for any response.
02/PSD/4X4/Lariat/CC
Thanks ahead of time for any response.
02/PSD/4X4/Lariat/CC
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lamesa,Texas
wet lapping is a build up of carbon on the valves and other surfaces in the motor. it causes valves to not seat properly and probably other causes other problems the experts around here might be able to tell you. wet lapping is caused by the unused fuel that is present when the truck sits and idles.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 452
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From: SC
I have read on this board somewhere, you do not need to worry about "wet lapping" or "wet stacking" as some call it, on the newer PSD's 1999.5 and up. You may want to do an in-dept search for this. I let mine idle sometimes for an hour, but I always drive it after idling for a while. If it is idling, I don't plan on staying where I am at for a period of time.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 316
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From: Roaring Branch, PA
I was told a while ago that the starters on these trucks are a weak point, to just leave them (the trucks) run if it's within a 15 or 20 minute period, but I havn't heard much talk on this site about very many bad starters. So that makes me wonder about that statement about the starters being weak.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
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From: Richmond, VA
Remember these engines work by heat of compression. If the engine is hot wet stacking should not be a concern. A real problem is where a timer is used to start and stop an engine in cold weather. The block never gets hot, deposits slowly build up and at best performance/emissions are hurt at worst the owner get to see what happens when piston and valve meet.
Start the engine and drive the truck til hot. An engine is designed to work under load but it will idle just fine as well. The big rigs commonly idle by the side of the road for hours.
UPS may start and stop their trucks alot but: 1) their drivers aren't the ones paying for the starters/batteries and 2) the company's maintenance budget is bigger than any of ours.
Reg
Start the engine and drive the truck til hot. An engine is designed to work under load but it will idle just fine as well. The big rigs commonly idle by the side of the road for hours.
UPS may start and stop their trucks alot but: 1) their drivers aren't the ones paying for the starters/batteries and 2) the company's maintenance budget is bigger than any of ours.
Reg
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 573
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From: Spring City, Pennsylvania
Originally Posted by afinepoint
UPS may start and stop their trucks alot but: 1) their drivers aren't the ones paying for the starters/batteries and 2) the company's maintenance budget is bigger than any of ours.
Reg
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Penn Valley
UPS has done tons of research on this sort of thing and it is not just for safety (though a good idea). It also helps the motor, and keeps their cost down. The most fundamental thing to rememeber is a mechanical device that is operating is wearing out, if it is not operating it is not wearing out (nor burning fuel). An old Detroit mechanic once said to me, starters and ring gears are a lot cheaper than cylinder kits.
So my opinion with a truck engine or any other thing is, "turn off when not in use".
Birken
So my opinion with a truck engine or any other thing is, "turn off when not in use".
Birken
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 316
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From: Roaring Branch, PA
Originally Posted by Birken Vogt
An old Detroit mechanic once said to me, starters and ring gears are a lot cheaper than cylinder kits.
Birken
Birken
