Idling...how many gallons per hour?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Gazoo, Aug 12, 2007.

  1. Gazoo

    Gazoo Resident Mental Patient

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    I know in my '06 Volvo, the dash showed .5 gallons p/h.
    Now, I have a '04 Columbia with a 14L Detroit. There is no on board computer showing usage. Any estimates or actual numbers you guys can share?

    1 gallon per hour? .75 per hour? More? Less?
     
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  3. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

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    I believe they use about 1 gallon per hour at 1100 rpm
     
  4. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    In the last Columbia ('03, 14L Det) I drove, if I kept the idling RPM down (around 650-725) then it burned around .75 gph, give or take some.
     
  5. Gazoo

    Gazoo Resident Mental Patient

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    Yikes, that is a lot of fuel. But, I didn't plan on idling at 1,100.
    .75 is still kinda pricey. :biggrin_25513:
     
  6. WiseOne

    WiseOne Inactive contact bullhaulerswife

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    Yea, that's what I have always noticed, it is about one gallon per hour when idling. So, sleeping 8 hours = 8 gallons = 48 miles lost per day = 336 miles lost per week = 17,472 miles lost per year. (I figured at 6mpg). If I calculated right, a conservative estimate is around $7,000 per year up in the air (along with the pollution, of course).
     
  7. Gazoo

    Gazoo Resident Mental Patient

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    Actually, this figure is easier to understand:

    US Avg: $2.81 Per Gallon x 8 gallons=$22.48 a day
    $22.48 x 5 days=$112.40 a week
    $112.40 x 52 weeks=$5844.80 A YEAR WASTED!!

    Kinda what you said.....I didn't originally read your last sentence.
     
  8. WiseOne

    WiseOne Inactive contact bullhaulerswife

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    True, I figured seven days as most aren't home every week, ESPECIALLY if they work for JB Hunt or one of those, LOL.
     
  9. Gazoo

    Gazoo Resident Mental Patient

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    [​IMG]
     
  10. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Along with the direct fuel cost there is extra engine wear costs. This is not an issue if you plan on keeping the truck for a few yrs. Kinda the use it and throw it away idea. But if this truck has to be around for you to drive for many yrs then the engine wear needs to be figured in.

    APUs run $7000 to $10,000. Takes roughly two yrs for them to pay for themselves. When you figure in that you are not in the truck every night of the yr.
     
  11. Gazoo

    Gazoo Resident Mental Patient

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    So, if I plan on keeping this truck for approximately 2 1/2 to 3 years...is an APU worth it or should I "Idleaire it" as many times as I can?
     
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