Motor Running?

Ok. Maybe dumb question, but why are guys leaving the engine running for 45 minutes or longer? I'm Parked Next to these guys a lot lately. Some all night. Yes I can move but I was here first & they keep finding me. These aren't reefer trucks either. Seems to me like they're just working their engine & wasting fuel/money.

Ok. Maybe dumb question, but why are guys leaving the engine running for 45 minutes or longer? I'm Parked Next to these guys a lot lately. Some all night. Yes I can move but I was here first & they keep finding me. These aren't reefer trucks either. Seems to me like they're just working their engine & wasting fuel/money.

No APUs so if they don't have bunk heaters they are probably running their trucks for heat to stay warm and When it's warmer they run their trucks for AC to keep cool.

Reefer:

A refrigerated trailer.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Yeah but it is a comfy 60's @ night where I've been & that's what I don't get. Plus most of the trucks I'm whining about are newer. Tonight the guy just left it running while he was in the truck stop for 45 minutes.

Believe it or not, starting a diesel motor is harder on it than leaving it running.

Believe it or not, starting a diesel motor is harder on it than leaving it running.

That's what people used to say about computers. I disbelieve it on both counts. At home I drive a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins 5.9 diesel in it.

An engine built as strong as they are does not need to be babied like that.

The pickup & my Swift Kenworth get started when I drive and I shut both down when I'm not driving. On top of that, my Fleet Manager sends out messages every day for everyone to cut back on idling.

Yeah but it is a comfy 60's @ night where I've been & that's what I don't get.

I've been wondering the same thing this week, why do these guys need to leave the truck running? It's plenty warm to start out, get under some blankets, and it's cozy all night. Much quieter with the engine off!

Well, if they have a fridge and a bunch of other stuff sucking juice (like I do), it is a good idea to keep it idling so as not to run down the batteries. I have an apu but it has gone down on me once already forcing me to idle (which is a pain because if the temp outside is above 30 or below 80, it will cut off after a few mins). That would be my reason.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

That does make sense, RT.

Believe it or not, starting a diesel motor is harder on it than leaving it running.

That's what people used to say about computers. I disbelieve it on both counts. At home I drive a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins 5.9 diesel in it.

An engine built as strong as they are does not need to be babied like that.

The pickup & my Swift Kenworth get started when I drive and I shut both down when I'm not driving. On top of that, my Fleet Manager sends out messages every day for everyone to cut back on idling.

You do not put 100k miles on your truck in a year either. I don't care what you use for oil, it drains off the upper parts of the motor into the pan. While cranking there is less lubrication in the upper part of the motor initially. This causes more wear than idling. Sorry if you do not believe it but it is a fact.

You will probably never see this as a fleet driver because the trucks are traded out before the effects will show up. It may be the difference between 1-1.2 million miles before a rebuild and 7-800k miles before a rebuild. It always has been and always will be harder on a motor in the initial start cycle than letting it idle whether it is gas or diesel and always will be.

As for your computer comment, that actually was true. I suppose that you never had a power supply pop on you. They were notorious for the power supplies going on the initial power up. It was that initial surge that did them in. I can not even count how many I have fixed for this issue.

Ok. Maybe dumb question, but why are guys leaving the engine running for 45 minutes or longer? I'm Parked Next to these guys a lot lately. Some all night. Yes I can move but I was here first & they keep finding me. These aren't reefer trucks either. Seems to me like they're just working their engine & wasting fuel/money.

One thing you might consider is that new trucks sometime have to do a "Re-gen" to clear the particulate filter ... I know I was really irritated in the past before I realized what was going on ... these trucks will idle at a high RPM for up to 45 minutes ... check out this video all about these systems:

"Excellent Video re: Your SCR & DEF Systems"

I just nudged it to the top of page 1 but it may be gone before you can see it so so a search on the title ... if nothing else, it will explain a lot about modern trucks ...

Jopa