T398

Is there any reason to not let the CTD idle for long periods 45 minutes/1 hour. I have a bad habit of always leaving my truck running and was just curios if I was offending my CTD in anyway.

TexasCTD

I have heard it mentioned on here numerous times that the trucks don't produce enough heat at idle to thoroughly burn the fuel which can cause cylinder washdown. The answer is to turn up the idle or turn it off.

But, on the other hand.........I have never heard of anybody with a damaged engine from idling extensively. Big Rigs do it all the time.

Does anybody know of any documented evidence that it damages the engines to idle them for long periods of time? I don't.

Hounddog

Big waste of fuel for one and probably helps carbon injectors.In winter or cool temps causes or helps with rings sticking,poor combustion.Just NO reason to extend idle really.

Patrick Campbell

If you are going to do it I would suggest keeping the idle up around 1200 or so. I always turned the AC compressor on because it puts a little load on the engine and also because I was sleeping in the truck Now I would ask is there reason TO do it as opposed to reason not to do it?

Rambunctious1

When I took diesel classes in college, this question came up. Per the instructor, it will not damage the engine. It will, however, cause carbon build up on the injectors over time. This is due to low combustion temps not completely burning the fuel which will lead to deposits on the injectors.

Buffalo

These new injectors will carbon-up with just normal, easy driving. I can only imagine what will happen with extensive idling.

I had injector knock on my '03 for quite awhile. DC would not address the problem. So, I fixed it with additives. Took awhile but, it worked. I did not idle my truck anymore than just waiting at stoplights. To run properly, these new engines need to be run hard on a regular basis. Otherwise, additives seem to keep the tips clean.

What the others have said, cylinder washdown, etc., I have heard, also.

Joe F.(Buffalo)

TexasCTD

I tend to agree with all the comments about it. But, has anybody ever actually heard of or know personally of an engine (or even injectors) that were damaged from extended idling? I can't recall hearing of anybody on here. I know I hear about some guys who crank their trucks up in the morning and don't shut em off till they are done for the day....like 12 hours later....with a combo of driving and idling.

djbikeman

I have read a few posts where DC has attributed injector failure to extended idling. I haven't read anything about cylinder or piston failure. If carbon is building up on the injectors during excessive idling, it is probably building up on the pistons as well.

There is a post by JMAC about oil leaks that has a mention of light load operation from an email sent by a DC rep. It basically says that light load operation can cause excessive oil blowby on new engines.

IMO - Shut R Down.

abc4yew

Idling is bad, warranties have been flagged for having excessive hours burned for the mileage indicated. Fuel being so cheap I can see why you want to burn some off. I try to keep my hours of use down...I guess it is because I'm used to paying for hours of usage on rental equipment. If I do have to idle to prepare for a highway fast start I use the rev stick to keep it between 1200 and 1500. ks

vernl

I have't heard first hand of any issues with long term idling in the last year or so but in the last 2 or 3 yrs it was a big deal around here. I work in a business where various supervisors may sit in their truck and idle for 12 to 14 hours a day . In the winter, temps vary alot with lots of dips to the minus 40 range. This was causing alot of problems with cylinder walls and injectors etc causing problems from loss of compression to sticking injectors....needless to say it raised a few red flags at the warranty dept...this was passed along to us owners in the form of a memo stating that periods of regular 750 rpm idling...not high speed idle... especially in cold temps will be cause for warranty disputes for certain problems....not long after that the ''high idle '' feature magically appeared and now is being improved by having it as a variable user set option....so i guess the bottom line is..perhaps in warm climates a few hours iding may be no big deal..but in day in day out idling at very low temps even the mighty cummins needs a little help and for us cold climate dwellers beware...or get a gasser

planetdell

I suggest you review your owner's manual! Mine says no prolonged idling.

Ripper01

Whats this vairable idle?? Do you know how it works.. I have have heard there is a high idle feature for the new 06 dodges but i dont know if you have to do anything to it to make it work..

vernl

i have heard of this being available on manual tranny but cant say for sure perhaps someone will chime in and say yay or nay.... but for a few yrs now on autos it has been a dealer activated option allowing you to adjust the idle via the cruise control buttons in stages up to 1500 rpm...failing that in older trucks or perhaps manual tranny's ...aftermarket options can be purchased to do the same thing

Trickflow

I have had my 05 for 10 months and have 63,000 on it. When out hauling cars in the winter I would just let it idle. Pretty much didn't shut the truck off until I was back home. I do have the cold weather front and would close the flaps at night when I stopped to sleep. I just use additives and haven't had any problems. With the flaps closed temp would stay right around 180 or so.

magman

Iam by no means a mechanic but when I drove over the road I would idle my truck all night while I was sleeping, that truck had around 700k on it and I never had any problems with the motor. There are a lot of big trucks on the road that have over one million miles on them and are gong strong if they have been serviced right. I know what the owners guide says about idling our truck and I also know that there is a diffrence between our truck and the motors that are in the big trucks but Im not worried about this idling issue. I guess everyone has there own opnion!