00Dog

I drive my truck so infrequently (and my insurance is so expensive) that I just put my truck into "storage status" with the insurance company to save some money. I'm allowed to drive it every 21 days for a weekend or so. Do you think this is often enough for engine longevity? I've thought about the idea of just running it after maybe 16 days then driving it on the 21st day. Right now I never like to let it sit for more than 14 days in a row. I think it is in my signature but it is an 07 5.9 if it matters. I'd hate to save a few hundred now to spend lots later.

BILTIT

Its ok to let it sit but when you do drive it i would pull something with it. It really helps clean out the engine with a load, thats what these engines are designed for.

Guardrail

Pulling a load doesn't do anything different to the engine besides use more fuel and get it hotter. There is nothing to "clean out" of modern day engines.

Diesel engines can sit for years on end without harm. Just make sure you use a good additive in the fuel and put a maintainer on the batteries.

I would be more worried about rodents and what they do to vehicles in storage then the engine.

Guardrail

BILTIT

I disagree, a "modern day diesel" still can get some soot buildup in the turbo etc. My friend with his 06 sees it just the same as I do. His sits for months at a time, every so often he hooks up a load and works the engine and it always runs better and cleaner after that. I see the same results with my 91.

ctnv

My 2007.5 2500 4x4, slt, quad cab 6.7 auto 6sp runs without turbo sooting if I work the sh-- out of it twice a yr towing cross county pulling a car hauling and a total of tow/haul 11 to 12 tons. If I baby it, it soots up the turbo and I have problems. It sits for 2, 4 or 6 wks at a time with a good additive and covered or indoors yr round. I have a battery tender on it. It only has 70k miles on it.

Hodge

Short of a solid study being done, I agree that working the engine is better for it than babying it around every three weeks or so. Especially a diesel. They were designed to work hard.

SOhappy

All the trucks I've owned run much better (and get better mpgs) after a good hard tow.

00Dog

Thanks. You've all put my mind at ease. Sit for three weeks it will.

nkennedy

The engine will probably be OK, but other systems don't like being shut down that long. I let mine sit a lot, and the brakes started to drag a little. Now I try to make sure & drive it once a week.

bkrukow

My 06 sits for weeks on end with no isues. This last winter it dident get touched from Thanksgiving to the end of march. Fired rite up and drove away when I wanted it this spring.

SIXSLUG

The variable geometry turbos, especially on the Ford 6.0, need to be run every couple weeks or the ring that adjusts the vanes corrodes and locks down, usually in the most inefficient setting.

As for the newer Cummins', I am not sure, but do know that anything I have ever let sit too long starts to leak fluids and acquire guests...Tires also develop flat spots and batteries die, etc

ctnv

Keep tires over inflated, use a rodent plug in on se line as battery tender.

Busboy

In my opinion the best thing you can do for a truck that sits a lot is to use synthetic oil and a good filter. Since retiring almost 10 years ago I hardly ever use my truck all winter, I do start it up and move it from the garage to the driveway (30 feet) when I'm working in the garage or need to get the skid steer out to clear snow then I move it back when finished, never had a problem but I do use a fuel additive during the winter mostly for gelling and throw a charger on every couple months. When I do drive it it's almost always towing something but I think the short runs help keep everything moving especially the turbo and the AC compressor front seal lubed. Works for me.

ctnv

Do that with a 6.7 and it will soot up.

DaveB.inVa

I drive my 2007 5.9 pretty infrequently, sometimes going a couple months without driving it. I do oil analysis and everything has always came back fine so I don't worry.

I will say they all do run better have having a good workout!