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Idling a diesel

Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 07:55

brett patrol

Hi folks,

I have heard numerous opinions from different people regarding idling deisel engines. Can anyone tell me whether it is bad for a diesel engine to be left idling.
I have a GU 4.2TD and always let id idle for around 10 mins before i drive off in the mornings. Am i doing damage or not?

Thanks
Brett
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ThreadID: 54105 Replies: 13
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AnswerID: 284887   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 08:18

Member - bushfix replied:

others more knowledgable will chip in i am sure but i believe as long as you are driving for a bit after the idle that should burn off any carbon build up in the head or cylinder glaze. If you were just to idle the vehicle at low revs regularly with not much driving (as can be the case with RFS tankers) then problems could arise I believe. You should be right I reckon but 10 mins seems excessive and I would hope it does not bother your neighbours :)
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Reply 1 of 13
AnswerID: 284889   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 08:25

Notso replied:

Most manufacturers now recommend that you start the car and then drive off at a reasonable pace until the vehicle warms up.

With the new oils and better design of oil delivery I reckon you may as well start it and by the time you are settled in the seat with your seat belt on just drive off and don't flog it till it warms up.
Reply 2 of 13
FollowupID: 549669   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 08:31

Member - Oldplodder (QLD) posted:

Agree with notso.

Light throttle will warm the engine quicker than idling, watching the EGT. Idle is about 160 deg, light throttle is in the 200s.

Start the engine, put on seat belt, glasses etc.
By the time I get to the bottom of the street the temp gauge is starting to move.

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FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 549681   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 09:47

splits posted:

I was taught at TAFE in the early 1960s to never warm an engine up by leaving it idling. You should drive off immediately but don't let it labour or work hard until you have driven at least about 20 to 30 ks.

About 75% of wear in an engine occurs when it is cold so the quicker you warm it up the better. This is why taxi engines last so long, they are always running at normal temperature. It is also why engines used for commuting to work over short distances or doing short trips around town for most of their life wear out much quicker. They rarely reach the correct temperature.

You must keep in mind that an engine has not reached normal temperature just because the temperature gauge says so. It is only measuring water temperature, usually in the cylinder head, and this area warms up rapidly. It takes a lot longer for parts lower down in the engine like the crank shaft, bearings, con rods, timing chains etc to reach normal temperature.

Brian

FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 284909   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 09:26

Moose replied:

It might be bad for you when an irate camper comes over and abuses you for noise and air pollution. :-)
Reply 3 of 13
AnswerID: 284910   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 09:33

hotfishez replied:

I travel alot and is not uncommon for me to snooze on the side of the road for anything up to an hour, vehicle running, aircon on, never had an issue myself. As for warming the vehicle up in the morning, my 79 will not achieve running temp for quite a while. Through a little research, the general rule of thumb is to get the needle off cold and dont give too much of a hard time until it has reached preffered operating temp.
Reply 4 of 13
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AnswerID: 284911   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 09:37

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

I let mine idle while packing up the camp.

I just like the sound.


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Reply 5 of 13
FollowupID: 550002   Submitted: Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 18:37

Member - LOS BUSH posted:

In my School they say Do not idle a diesel without any load on the engine ie without the a/c on high. Too much running at idle will glaze the cylinders walls and reduce the engine performance
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AnswerID: 284912   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 09:44

Willem replied:

It serves no purpose unless you are idling the vehicle to get a result. ie charging batteries or having a snooze in a lay-by

Its noise pollution
Its air pollution
Its annoying in Suburbia, Caravan Parks and Bush Camps.


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Reply 6 of 13
FollowupID: 549687   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 10:13

Alan H posted:

This reminds me of the Indian Doctor who lived next door to me in the UK years ago........... frost, ice or snow he would get in his Peugot 604 start it and then rev it's guts out for about 5 minutes before driving off! The noise was horrible.
It was a new vehicle but after 12 months blew blue smoke and had dents all round as testament to his lousy driving as well.

Now I've got a neighbour who insists on leaving his V8 ute ticking over at anytime between 0530 and 0700hrs while he loads up with guttering materials for his days work, so we get a deep exhaust rumble which I would like at any other time, and a clattering of metal as he chucks it on the roof of his trailer.
There's a lot of ignorant people out there.
Alan.
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 549714   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 13:51

Snowbunny posted:

Alan, I would wait till your neighbour has his next "blinder" of a bbq, friends over and all that stuff, then get up at 7am and decide to mow your lawn that morning!! Might change his tune then, sometimes its a whole lot different when the shoe is on the other foot. Then again, if your neighbour is a hells angel, dont bother with my idea.:)
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 549735   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 15:35

whyallacookie posted:

Or perhaps a quiet word over a beer with him might solve the problem, he may not have even thought about it. Most people if approached politely are reasonable, otherwise perhaps discuss a change in fence?
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 284916   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 10:25

TerraFirma replied:

Yes too much low engine rpm without a load etc etc can cause cylinder glazing and carbon build ups etc. I wouldn't worry though 10 minutes seems a long time to run an engine for nothing. You can start the engine and drive off straight away and drive slowly for the first 5 minutes as I do, if that is possible in your area..?
Reply 7 of 13
AnswerID: 284918   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 10:29

brett patrol replied:

Thanks for your replies. I think you hav answered my question.
By the way, i cant upset neighbours by idling my ute in the mornings as i am on 20 acres.
Much appreciated
Brett
Reply 8 of 13
AnswerID: 284929   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 12:04

_gmd_pps replied:

unless you have high idle switch and want to drive a PTO or charger it is useless and annoying.
good on ya for asking though and hopefully change that pollution habit in the future.
have fun
gmd
Reply 9 of 13
AnswerID: 284935   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 13:52

Dunco (NSW) replied:

The older engines used to have to warm up a little....and Turbo's were idled down when hot. With today's technology there is no need to warm up and engine for 10 minutes....and it annoys the crap outta me when I am sleeping in my caravan.


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Reply 10 of 13
AnswerID: 284936   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 13:55

Dunco (NSW) replied:

The older engines used to have to warm up a little....and Turbo's were idled down when hot. With today's technology there is no need to warm up and engine for 10 minutes....and it annoys the crap outta me when I am sleeping in my caravan.


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Dunco
Reply 11 of 13
AnswerID: 284938   Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 15:05

Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) replied:

your nissan handbook is your freind. it will tell you the best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive off steadily and avoid full acceleration until warmed up or such like

- bet your not popular with your next door neighbours
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Reply 12 of 13
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AnswerID: 285165   Submitted: Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 16:52

bob2 replied:

I have run the TD engine all night with the AC on and windows up in the tropics when mosquitos are thick and I am sleeping in the back. I have never noticed any problems.
Reply 13 of 13