Idiling...a Criminal Offence

I got to thinking about that supposed 6:1 ratio.
I figure that's a result of some old time research turned old wive's tale.

I think, based on todays' ultra low sulphur fuels & synthetic oils, the degree
of damage brought by idling is not as bad as suggested.

Either way, let's look at those numbers based on that 6:1 ratio.

Let's take that 390 hrs per/mo of idling that I established in a earlier post.

390/6=65 mi's x 12 = 780 mi's over 12 mos.

I'm not seeing a big problem in idling yet.

What am I missing?

 

All the math is making my head hurt!

Go Gators beat Ole Miss Saturday!

 

I'm sorry.

At least it's not that "new math" like the goobermint uses.

You know, how they figure they can spend all of this years tax revenues along with the next 20 years worth of expected tax revenues on something that should have been finished & paid for by last year.

 

Oh boy, have a look at this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h17AMZ5gpw

 

Guys
I cited the $1100 a month saving based upon an owner/operator who said quote "I idle more than most due to my type of operation". Unquote.

The more commonplace savings based upon owner interviews suggest $750 to $850/month based upon current fuel prices.

What I find at the moment is that most owner/operators are faced with a bewildering array of APU's to put on their trucks. Currently there are about 23 manufacturers out there all promoting their units as the "solution". To give you an example I fielded a call from an owner in Henderson Co who had been "on line" looking at APU's and was no further ahead on selecting a unit than when he switched the computer on!

To start with prices range from about $10,000 installed for something that is acceptable to as much as $15000 for a high end APU. Weight can also be an issue especially for a car hauler so the "wet weight" of the APU should also be a strong part of the decison making. 400 lbs to 650lbs are commonplace

For those of you still looking, here are a few pertinent issues to consider.

APU's are either stand alone generators most developing 115 volts and utilizing an additional A/C-Heater unit under the bunk area. Domenico makes the most universal assembly accepted in Freightliner and Volvo future applications.
The other types are the fully interfaced units (like a Willis) that feed heat and A/C refrigerant into the existing truck comfort systems so there should be no difference in theory on the heat or cooling irrespective of which engine is running.
The down side of a Willis type is that if you have a big engine problem A/C-Cooling then this will affect the APU. I consider the Willis is a great product for the tech savvy owner/operator who does his own maintenance or knows what makes his truck tick and can influence the numb skull propensity that sometimes propogates thru truck repair facilities!

The "stand alones" are a cheaper buy but don't always have the features that an integrated unit has to offer. Look for shore power features and ample output for add ons. I like the Power Technologies twin cyl Kubota or Cat unit and the Idle Air Solutions 3 cyl Perkins unit specifically but not limited to Freightliner trucks. The Frigette unit for car haulers is an interesting unit. By far the three cylinder units are smoother than the two cyl variants. Emissions and the future should also be taken into consideration if your truck is a 2007/2008 unit. Rigmaster is supposed to be touting theirs shortly as a totally Calif compliant. (we'll see) Cummins is supposed to be close on their heels as well.

Given the cost I am not surprised that many of you would baulk at the price of admission. I think ease of credit is crucial to selling APU's to owner/operators. I have been working with several banks on leasing, purchase of units and currently the emergence of a credit card issued to your business seems to be the most effective/promising due to how bankcredit card debt is conjured up. (A story by itself!) From what I can see you need a personal rating of about 600 to get an offer of finance.

For those who have no credit we are working on an a la carte solution; where you could say buy the gen unit and an a/c unit for the summer operation period then add a bit later on the heater unit etc. In short spread out the cost over a year or so.

Part exchange is always another variant in decision making and I am sure this will come up as APU's become more commonplace as will be the ease of portability from one truck to another or the complexity of that idea.

The future holds alot of exciting possibilities like batteries and fuel cells.
Cheers
Actros
The APU HQ in Golden Co

 

I did not see an answer to the gelling in the cold. Im sure Im missing the obvious like if its that cold you are gonna idle or move??? How can these cities or whatever decide how hot or cold we should be? Its too bad that we could not cut off these places. NO idle NO trucks NO stuff!!!! When the lawmakers cant get ther scotch and steak and cigars then they will get it!!!!

 

I'd be On the phone to my dispatch saying, Screw you Hippy!! I am gonna dolly down here and find someplace warm. At 25 below, that's well beyond life threatening endangerment.

On a side note, APU's, if you're an o/o, pay for themselves.
Most companies wont put one on their company truck, for "Liability Reasons" and ##### that you idle... sounds fair, right?

 

Gents
On the issue of gelling.
Like I mentioned not all APU's are created equal.
Most units are connected to the fuel tank so return warm fuel is being returned to the tank and ok for most situations. Others or in very severe conditions might need an immersion heater in the tank to prevent gelling. Hence the need to look for a reserve of amperage should you be operating in those sub zero temps or have an APU that doesn't have some form of heat exchange.
Once again knowledge is power get savvy on what you need should you be at the point of buying one
Actros.

 

How have you found that an APU has paid for itself?
I'm not talking about anti-idling tickets by the way.

 

Like this,............

If a Big truck driver idles the BIG engine, it's generally accepted that Big engine will burn about a gallon of fuel an hour.
If the BIG engine is idled for 8 hours a night, at $3.00 a gallon, that's $24 a night.

Idle for eight hours five days in a week, and that adds up to $120. And $480 a month. And $5,760 a year.
That's just in fuel savings.
Figure less wear and tear on the Big engine, and longer periods between oil changes too.

It's not impossible to SAVE around $6,000 a year just in fuel.
Apply the savings to an APU.
Two to three years to recover the investment.

It's a good selling point if the APU can be removed and put on a new Big truck when trade-in time comes.
I hear some APU companies will remove the unit and perform any upgrades, store it for the owner, then reinstall it on the new Big truck when it arrives.