Best idle practices?

MFGs have recommended for years that low load low rpm is the best practice for max engine life when warming it up.

However, turning a key on a cold engine at a rest area and driving normally results in high load during acceleration to highway speeds which is bad.

Medium or high load states on a cold engine is detrimental as it also is to idle more than 10-15 minutes as it doesn't promote complete combustion which has many side effects.

As with many things, moderation is the best practice.

Allow a little idle time to warm up and then try to gradually bring the load up on the engine.

Generally it is considered cold with water temps under 150° or oil temps under 160°F

 

I don't know about other people but I limited my idle time because of the Qualcomm. When my idle % got so high I got jumped by the company. I idled only as long as I had to to build up my air.

 

None of this stuff would be an issue if they would come up with an engine that stays warm and never uses fuel or oil

 

Diesel fired coolant heaters works great to warm up the engine using very very little fuel.
On new trucks the warm up and idle time are the most destructive to the emissions system.

 

In fact this idle % crap is the cause of one of my worse arguments with a fleet manager. I was out west in the winter. The wind-chill was in the negative numbers. I did not have an APU. I idled the engine to stay warm. Company jumped me and I jumped back.

 

As soon as it fires up I floor it. lol

 

Exactly why APUs should have been mandatory on any sleeper truck years ago.....especially the fleets that limit idle time severely.

Again, this is another example of how the FMCSA could make it safer for the public and drivers by guaranteeing a better rest in the sleeper...... but the FMCSA chooses to side with the mega rich/ mega carriers in increasing driver harassing regs like ELDs and logging that cannot be paused for rest periods instead.

This ultimately allows companies to push drivers harder and harder without increasing pay, thus increasing PROFIT margins.

Again, by not requiring APUs, companies can demand low idle time and not have to spend money on driver comfort.... While the driver suffers in roasting hot cabs or sub freezing temps trying to sleep.

The only real difference between a homeless hobo and many fleet company drivers these days is the hobo doesn't have a steering wheel in his box. Neither has heat or AC.