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While do diesel 4-wheelers always idle their pickups??

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Harry Flashman, Feb 25, 2025.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Feb 25, 2025 #1
    Harry Flashman

    Harry Flashman Medium Load Member

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    Honest question, I have never owned a diesel pickup and I’m genuinely curious about this.

    I see this all the time at truckstops, gas stations, and elsewhere. Some guy pulls up in his diesel pickup and idles his truck while he goes inside, and there is nobody else inside his truck.

    I understand why semis idle (AC, power), however it has never made sense to me why these pickup 4-wheelers idle. You never see this same behavior with gas vehicles or gas pickups.

    Just ranting here because someone pulled up next to me in a very noisy diesel pickup (no trailer either) He left his truck idling for over an hour while he wasn’t inside. Fair weather 60 degrees, it’s not cold. I’m thinking to myself why do I have to listen to this crap? What purpose is this serving?
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2025
    Harry Flashman, Feb 25, 2025
    Harry Flashman, Feb 25, 2025
    #1
    Still undecided, hope not dumb twucker and Kyle G. Thank this.
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  3. Feb 25, 2025 #2
    Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    Eastern Iowa
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    They are pretending to be super truckers
     
    Kyle G., Feb 25, 2025
    Kyle G., Feb 25, 2025
    #2
    Still undecided, austinmike, wis bang and 14 others Thank this.
  4. Feb 25, 2025 #3
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    West Monroe, La
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    Some people just gotta do things... no reason really.
     
    Grumppy, Feb 25, 2025
    Grumppy, Feb 25, 2025
    #3
    okiedokie, Lonesome, Oxbow and 5 others Thank this.
  5. Feb 25, 2025 #4
    Arctic_fox

    Arctic_fox Experienced mx13 execrator

    4,447
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    I do this occasionally when im home. Mostly because my truck sits for 6-12 weeks at a time and it gives it a chance to deep charge the batterys that tend to get low after so much time. Especially in winter. But i never leave it unattended for longer then running inside to pay for fuel or something. Or while im chowing down in the cab.

    Otherwise no clue.
     
    Arctic_fox, Feb 25, 2025
    Arctic_fox, Feb 25, 2025
    #4
    unloader, Oxbow, OldeSkool and 3 others Thank this.
  7. Feb 25, 2025 #5
    Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    22,668
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    Michigan
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    Well some are not too bright - just look ...

    [​IMG]

    I've got one near me with 7-inch stacks on a second-generation dodge cummins, it is a real mess.

    Maybe ... or maybe not ... it could be trying to compensate for manly parts being ... small ...??

    Get this one ...


    [​IMG]
     
    Ridgeline, Feb 25, 2025
    Ridgeline, Feb 25, 2025
    #5
    Still undecided, Speedy356, Old_n_gray and 9 others Thank this.
  8. Feb 25, 2025 #6
    Texasgordo

    Texasgordo Medium Load Member

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    Gonzales, Texas
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    I've had a diesel pickup truck for about 20 years now in south central Texas and never leave it idling even in summer. I really don't see a reason to leave it idling if I'm not sitting inside.
     
    Texasgordo, Feb 25, 2025
    Texasgordo, Feb 25, 2025
    #6
    tarmadilo, OldeSkool, IH9300SBA and 2 others Thank this.
  9. Feb 26, 2025 #7
    Accidental Trucker

    Accidental Trucker Road Train Member

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    There’s an old myth out there that it’s better to idle a diesel than to shut off and start.

    like WAY before DPF.
     
    Accidental Trucker, Feb 26, 2025
    Accidental Trucker, Feb 26, 2025
    #7
    austinmike, hope not dumb twucker, okiedokie and 7 others Thank this.
  10. Feb 26, 2025 #8
    OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    New Hampshire
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    The same reason they like to fill up at the truck diesel pumps instead of the ones where the four wheelers are supposed to. It makes them feel good.
     
    OldeSkool, Feb 26, 2025
    OldeSkool, Feb 26, 2025
    #8
    Still undecided, hope not dumb twucker, Speedy356 and 6 others Thank this.
  11. Feb 26, 2025 #9
    Razororange

    Razororange Road Train Member

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    Milwaukee, WI
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    Except for the part where I use an EFS fuel card even for my personal truck. The car side diesel pumps don't take EFS cards so I have to use the truck pumps.

    As for extended idling, I'll leave it running during the winter for heat especially when it's near 0. I'd rather spend a few bucks on fuel over dealing with gelled fuel lines. Diesel pickup engines also take significantly longer to heat up than gas. Longer engine heat up times also means longer until heat blows inside.
     
    Razororange, Feb 26, 2025
    Razororange, Feb 26, 2025
    #9
    singlescrewshaker, Grumppy, Sons Hero and 3 others Thank this.
  12. Feb 26, 2025 #10
    drivingmissdaisy

    drivingmissdaisy Road Train Member

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    Jun 10, 2019
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    I have a 7.3 and sometimes she can be finicky to start. Once it's running, I leave it running until I HAVE to shut it off. I won't leave it running for an hour, but if I park to put fuel in it, or grab something from a fast food joint, if I don't go through the drive through, I'll just leave it idling. It doesn't burn enough to hurt anything and its a non-DPF truck anyway.
     
    drivingmissdaisy, Feb 26, 2025
    drivingmissdaisy, Feb 26, 2025
    #10
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