What's up with all the trucks idling?

APU SIZE MATTERS:

Approximate Diesel Fuel Consumption Chart
This chart approximates the fuel consumption of a diesel generator based on the size of the generator and the load at which the generator is operating at. Please note that this table is intended to be used as an estimate of how much fuel a generator uses during operation and is not an exact representation due to various factors that can increase or decrease the amount of fuel consumed.

Approximate Diesel Generator Fuel Consumption Chart

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it sounds good until you realize the money you saved on fuel from not idling. goes back into maintenance on the APU. and thats if you buy a truck thats equipped with one already. if you option it at the factory or have it put on you truck. its around 10k price tag ive seen guys paying. the cost savings over time are negligable.

 

My 100% guess it's a hold over number from mechanical engines for 20+ years ago.

 

I don’t idle enough to justify the cost of an APU. I have an Espar bunk heater and that’s plenty. I idled through the night 3 times in the first 2 months owning this truck and even at 900rpm my readout said I was burning .6 gallons per hour.

In the summer I will idle during the day for an hour here and there while I shower, etc. Maybe handful of nights I will idle all night for A/C, nowhere near enough to cover the $12k+ for an APU. And I don’t like the looks of a homemade setup because I’m picky. And if I’m camping out for longer than a night I get a room anyway.

 

Everyone of the manufacturers throws out the .2 to .3 gph numbers and rarely tell ya that its just the motor with no load on it.

 

Ya they don't want you to know that the engine that could can use 1gl per hr with the right load... even saids so on the Kobota website

 

My truck will idle somewhere around .8 to 1.1 GPH normally. My generator lasts 20 hours on 2.5 gallons while running a mini split, running the fridge and appliances for cooking, and charging electronics. Pretty much anywhere that sells diesel is going to sell gasoline. It's barely inconvenient on most days to walk the gas can to the pump and fill the generator from a can. Initial cost to set it up would probably be around $2000, and it probably costs about $5 per day to run.

I think it'd be nice if there was less idling, but there are some times where it's unavoidable. I've had to idle when the starter and fuel primer were acting up. Some people don't own the truck they drive, while some trucks might not be able to fit the equipment.

 

Idle-Reduction Benefits Extend Beyond Fuel Savings

If you look on their chart you will see that no load is .64 gallons and with load is 1.51 gal. Even if you average the two it's a little more than 1 gallon per hour.

Re-read what I said because I was very clear about it.

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My generator cost me $900 I think including the 2 year warranty. If I have a problem with that generator or I just plain turn it in before the two years are over it will cost me like $130 and then I can get another generator and if I turn that one in it will cost me another $130.

I'm beginning to get the picture now. If what I'm hearing is correct there are people out there they will idle and defend idling and somehow say that that doesn't cost them money or there's no reason not to.

My generator runs 11 hours on 2 gallons of fuel. And that's with running my heater.

Let me know when you find a Class 8 truck engine that will do that because it hasn't been invented yet.

 

I don’t think anyone has said or implied that idling doesn’t have a cost. Most of us don’t want to deal with some homemade alternative to an apu, nor do we want to spend $12,000 plus on the real deal and hope that it ends up being a break even venture.

I really don’t see why your so upset over what others are doing.