Idling/Fuel

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by CMoore2004, Jul 9, 2008.

  1. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

    1,119
    110
    Nov 2, 2007
    OTR
    0
    How much fuel does a truck really use idling over night? Some say 1gal/hour. I let mine run overnight in TX and the fuel readout on the computer said it used ~20 gal. I have an '04 FL with a MBE-4000
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. socalborn

    socalborn Bobtail Member

    36
    3
    Sep 22, 2006
    Lincoln, Nebraska for now
    0
    I'd like to know that answer to this also with regard to obtaining the always mentioned "fuel bonus". Also, are there screens that you can put over your windows or windows back in the sleeper of which I'm not aware?
     
  4. IROCUBabe

    IROCUBabe Road Train Member

    2,563
    1,024
    Apr 9, 2008
    Dallas, TX
    0
    Yes there are screens, 1 gallon an hour is base, it can go higher or lower depending on a variety of factors.
     
  5. Small Block LSX

    Small Block LSX Bobtail Member

    48
    9
    May 23, 2008
    Cottage Grove, MN
    0
    I was told in school its about 1-1.5g/hr. It all depends on the engine that you are using. If I were a company driver or O/O I would never let it idle overnight. Then again, I can pretty much sleep through anything once I am asleep.
     
  6. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,978
    Apr 4, 2007
    0

    You drove all night. You now have to take the break in the daytime. It is 115 degrees outside. You are not going to idle to keep cool?
     
  7. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

    1,119
    110
    Nov 2, 2007
    OTR
    0
    So, basically had I idled another hour, I would've ran out of fuel about 6 miles from here. I guess I got lucky on that one. I wasn't too happy. Pulled over somewhere on the Pennyrile Parkway (where I just so happened to meet another member of this forum) and cut an edge protector to see how deep it was. It seemed like there was more fuel than the gauge was showing, but I guess not.
     
  8. Stevens Sucker

    Stevens Sucker Light Load Member

    91
    17
    Jan 7, 2008
    charlotte nc
    0
    Carry 2 yard sticks with you and "stick" the tanks to see just how much fuel you really have. I never trusted the gauge .
     
  9. CMoore2004

    CMoore2004 Road Train Member

    1,119
    110
    Nov 2, 2007
    OTR
    0
    That's what I did, except I used an edge protector I cut to a smaller size so I could get it in through the holes that keep people from syphoning the fuel.
     
  10. curtislyn

    curtislyn Light Load Member

    164
    6
    Jul 16, 2007
    Montgomery, AL
    0
    EPA testing of idling heavy-duty diesel trucks, the average truck consumes 0.8 gallons of fuel an hour.
     
  11. Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,978
    Apr 4, 2007
    0

    Did they say at what RPM? The higher the RPM, the more fuel that is used.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.