How long can I leave my engine on and just let it idle? I know that the truckers do this all the time. What kind of effects will it have on my 6.0PSD?

 

My girl has idled when not running down the road most of her 128,000 miles ....change oil and dont ram-rod the engine from idle .... must clear the cylinders of excess fuel ... been keeping me warm all last winter and cool sleeping at night ....

there is a rod I have seen that fastens to the dash and hold the pedal down a tad for fast idle ... i think the new 6.0 have an electronic "fast idle" electronic gadget option ??? I prefer a cheap piece of ready bolt ...

 

check this thread, I put a simple toggle switch between the advised wires & it works perfectly, you should not let it idle for extended periods as it will cause wet stacking! https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=383786

 

EGR controlled motors do not do well idleing for long periods of time.

The 6.0L should not be unless an idle control boost switch or controller is installed. The "big truck companies" are also having problems with excessive idling due to the adding of EGR's to these motors as well.

With low heat and exhaust flow at idle, soot and carbon builds up on the EGR valve and gets clogged. As well, there is the same onld issue of wet stacking with the fuel not getting properly burned and used and slips past the injectors and into the oil/crankcase.

I would not recommend doing so in the 6.0L truck unless absolutely necessary.

Good luck,

 

I guess we need to define "Extended Idling" before we can approach this. How long do you feel you need to idle? I know that the boys back east and up north let their engines idle for hours. I have 19,000 miles on my 04' PSD and have idled for times as much as an hour when it was chilly outside with no ill affects. (so far) If you're going to idle any longer than that, then the issues Beachbum has mentioned could, and most likely will become problems for you to deal with. There are factory designed fast idle options for the 04's and newer. And I'm pretty sure there are aftermarket options for all years. (some remote start modules have high idle or cool down/hold idle features)

I will say, when I let'r idle for extended periods, my fuel economy numbers do reflect it. But, in my small community, if I walk into the corner market, I leave the engine running. I monitor EGT's and don't just shut down unless pre turbo temps are below 350 degrees. I also let my engine warm up in the mornings to nearly half normal operating temperatures. This is a good 15 minutes of idling every day. Other times, working a side job moving equipment or trailers around, I don't start and stop the engine much. I let it idle. No issues so far.

-Steve

 

if you want to let it idle for a while go ahead, heres a tip run some diesel kleen in it that will help prevent the problems already mentioned. And disable the EGR, if u want thats just my opinion

 

Thanks for the info. Just wondering because a buddy of mine with a Dodge was talking about doing this so that his dogs would stay warm in the truck at night when it was cold outside.

 

just wonderin but wouldnt it be easier just to put them in the house? If your goin to let your truck idle all night in the cold your goin to need an idle control

 

Can it idle w/ the EGR dissabled?

What about the trucks way up north in the diamond mines that never shut their diesels off in the winter because they won't start? 24-7

 

yes it will idle with no egr. it has been covered a few times try a search and you will find the procedure.

 

how long .... 8 - 10 hours at a time .... yes ...the egr is unplugged ... one of the many Ford dealers did it , after i plugged it in outside the shop door

she's idling right now in Battle Mountain NV ... keeping me cool ...
and when it is -20 in Montana , she runs to keep me warm ...sorry cant move my truck and a trailer inside for the night

 

Hmm....good way to extend the life of the starter motor