It's been pretty cold out here lately, about -22F. I was told when i was new that it's best to leave your truck on when it's super cold. Over 15F I just use the bunk heater.
Is their any benefit to leaving the engine running or is it just a myth?
At what temperature do you leave the truck running?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Canadianhauler21, Jan 22, 2025.
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I keep it running like 1/2 the night below 10'F. I dont really know. I'm my mind. Batteries get colder they lose power. So really cold weather means batteries have 50% of their power? That plus a cold engine means it might not start back up. Then your screwed. But in the mid west that doesn't happen often. I also have a generator in the headache rack and a good battery charger on the truck.
6 weeks will be March.
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Last edited: Jan 23, 2025
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-15 or less Fahrenheit
Depends how well you truck handles fuel gelling also77fib77, hope not dumb twucker, Canadianhauler21 and 1 other person Thank this. -
You may want to have a look at this recent thread too.
At what temperature do you idle no matter what, even if you have an apuCanadianhauler21 Thanks this. -
If I’m uncomfortable I fire the engine up. But I don’t have a modern electronic engine like most of you, so I don’t shut it down when it’s below 20 degrees with no way to plug the block heater in.
I’m the driver, the mechanic, the owner, and the bean counter, I just do my own thing.
I still run a Big Cam Cummins, I idle it up to about 1200 when it’s real cold, if not it will start wet stacking eventually with this N14 air to air setup….. -
Idling is rough on the engine. Can't make enough heat so you eventually start slobbering unburnt fuel into the exhaust. I would never consider leaving a truck running at under 1200 RPM regardless of the ambient temperature.
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