Idle time

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Castel, Nov 4, 2010.

  1. Castel

    Castel Bobtail Member

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    Sep 22, 2010
    Miami, fl
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    usually after six days imon my way back, but this is whats been available for now
     
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  3. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    If you can cut that idle % as much as possible you will be flirting with 7's!
     
  4. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    Just to clear this up... his fuel economy while driving won't go down but his fuel usage will be reduced if he cuts his idleing time.

    Mine is about 3%... no APU but I do have an ESPAR bunk heater.
     
  5. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    good point krooser---but with a large idle time it does really give a false mpg doesnt it?
    and other than an apu the espar is the way to go---i have never had an apu,but wouldnt want to be without an espar
     
  6. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    Rock Creek B.C. Canada
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    I have taken apart lots of engines for a problem and when you look at the liners they are a light brown tone to them, and the rings are stuck, there is a cost to idling. When the motor is Idling the combustion preasures are low and the fuel does not burn completely the piston does not expand to the proper size, and everything carbons up. Then you drive it and put it to work and the piston grows to the proper size and leaves polished streaks down the liner.
    Their is no positive advantages from idling the engine that is why most come with a 5 minute idle timer. That is plenty of time to warm it up enough to safely drive.
     
  7. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    But you can't figure your MPG accurately if you figure idle time into the equation... they have to be separate.

    If you fill your tanks, run 1,000 miles and never idle you get X for fuel economy.

    If you run the same run and idle for 10 hours, your MPG # will fall...

    Your ECM never uses idle time to determine fuel economy... it only computes that info when the wheels are turning...
     
  8. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    ok--losing me a bit---so are you saying the ecm mpg would be accurate as it doesnt take the idle time into consideration?
    but a manual computation wouldnt work as it still has the idle fuel in the calculation?

    ??
     
  9. canuck in da truck

    canuck in da truck Road Train Member

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    hmmm i am sure on the detroit ---if you have to idle at night--when you wake up--your mpg is down cause of the idling--then thruout the day it comes back up during the day as your drive time eclipses the idle time
     
  10. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    ECM mpg is only computed when driving... at least according to a CAT service mgr. I know my 3406 wouldn't have a lifetime of 6.32 if you figured in the first 950,000 miles of ownership (the PO of my truck had a 55% idle time according to the ECM)...

    The only accurate way to figure MPG is to shut off the engine and not idle when doing it with a pencil.
     
  11. Smalltruck

    Smalltruck Light Load Member

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    Jul 3, 2010
    Elko, MN
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    On a detroit, in the fuel report section you can read overall fuel MPG and driving MPG. Thats where you can see how much idle affects the truck.

    Can't speak to how the cat works, don't have the software
     
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