Anyone done the math?
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 568
Likes: 1
From: Kansas
Anyone done the math?
With the high price of diesel nowdays, has anyone ever done the math on how much fuel a 7.3L will use at idle for 15 minutes? I stop every morning at a convenience store to get coffee and just leave it run, and get all kinds of looks from other people that think I'm plum nuts for letting it run.
I'm adddicted to the sound of the stroker at idle and also it shouldn't cost that much in fuel for a mear 15 minutes! Just curious, Thanks.
I'm adddicted to the sound of the stroker at idle and also it shouldn't cost that much in fuel for a mear 15 minutes! Just curious, Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,460
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Their was some discussion a while back in another thread and I think that it was narrowed down to less than a gallon an hour or something like that I believe....I will go and see if I can find that other thread.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Missouri
I was told if the vehicle was only going to be shut off for a short time that it costs more fuel to start it back up than to just let it run. I think I was told like 10 minutes, but that was for a gasoline engine. It is probably longer than that for a diesel. Just going on what I was told.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,884
Likes: 180
From: Morgan Hill, CA
The idea that it takes more fuel to start up is not valid with modern fuel injected cars in my opinion. I spoke with a woman from Switzerland once and she said there they turn off their engines at a red light. Just prior to the green, there is another light to let them know when to start them back up. No kidding.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Missouri
Wouldn't that be horrible for the rest of the internals of the engine? Starting and stopping like that can't be good for it at all.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,884
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From: Morgan Hill, CA
UPS trucks start and stop a hundred times a day without too many problems. Your starter is going to take a beating for sure, and probaby the ring gear on the flywheel from all the engaging, but the internals on the engine are very stout.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 737
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From: LAKE FORK TEXAS
Not sure about a Powerstroke but a 3406 Caterpillar will burn about .75gph. We used to figure about a gallon an hr,, But i have had several drivers come in and sleep in their trucks at the yard for 8 hrs right after filling up and everytime they can pump right at 6 gallons when they wake up. I would think a powerstroke would use even less.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,864
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From: STEPHENVILLE,TX!!!!!
less than a gallon an hour
my bucket truck runs for 10hrs a day to supply pto power for bucket hydraulics and tool hyd. when the tool hydraulics are running its at 650rpms and when bucket hydrailic is needed it goes to 1200rpm.
with it running all day when i do the math at the pump i still get 10mpg with 15,000 truck that is as aerodynamic as a parachute and drives to the job then runs all day.
my bucket truck runs for 10hrs a day to supply pto power for bucket hydraulics and tool hyd. when the tool hydraulics are running its at 650rpms and when bucket hydrailic is needed it goes to 1200rpm.
with it running all day when i do the math at the pump i still get 10mpg with 15,000 truck that is as aerodynamic as a parachute and drives to the job then runs all day.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: arlington tx
In the paper last month was an article. Ups did a study. they left there trucks running a day while making deliveres. And then turned then off at each delivery. It said they saved a alot of money turning them off each time. The article gave the numbers, but I can't remember now.