Stopping to Pick Up a Six-er. To Leave It Running or Not?

[mdavis203]

Just curious. If I stop at a gas station for 3-4 minutes to pick something up on the way home, I normally leave it running (locked, of course). I've read on these forums that it's better for the turbos than shutting it off and cranking it back up. I was just wondering if the benefit here is worth the extra diesel burned, or if maybe I actually burn more diesel by cranking it than I would have by letting it idle for a few minutes. I was just updating my fuelly site and started reading the "fuel saving tips" and read one written by a gasser about killing the engine if you're gonna be idleing for more than thirty seconds, and it got me to wondering.

[jac97psd]

All I know which is what I read on here is our trucks don't like to idle for a bit. Supposely it's not good for the DPF, but if you don't have that anymore then I don't know. That's a question I would like to know is if you don't have the DPF, can you let the engine idle longer then when you had the DPF on the truck.

[AGpowerstroker]

My answer and what I do 100% of the time is to let it idle. If I leave it locked or unlocked depends on where I'm at. In small towns in Texas, unlocked is just fine.

All my friends who work engines (more knowledgeable than me) say that it takes more fuel to start the engine than to keep it running. The proof is in the RPMs; they are low for diesels, which is what makes em more efficient for us. OK, that and torque, but u know what i mean.

i have been to many of a beer joint in the country where there are a fleet of diesels chatterin away, owners inside, so I guess it is also a bit of a badge of honor too, but that don't exactly answer your question lol...

[mdavis203]

Yeah, if you idle your truck for more than ten minutes, you need to have the high idle mod (which I do). If you use the high idle mod, then long idleing times aren't really an issue, as I understand it. I was more concerned about the health effects to the truck of killing it then cranking it a few minutes later versus letting it idle, when I stop at the gas station to pick up a drink or something.

[mdavis203]

Yeah, AG. I've heard that too about taking more fuel to crank than leave it idleing. I was just wondering if it's true.

[Duffie112]

i heard the same thing..

[AGpowerstroker]

well, not totally sure about the 'truth', but i know most guys just let it run, so I trust that. seems to make sense. besides, lets the a/c keep it cool for the beer and when i leave a lit cig in the ashtray, keeps it going

[mdavis203]

Originally Posted by AGpowerstroker

lets the a/c keep it cool for the beer

Very good selling point.

[Spatel23]

Its also not a real good idea to shut off the truck until the EGTs are down...........I always wait til they are under 400.

So I just leave it on and run in, rather than sit and wait for it to cool off

[Shinny]

If you only have the stock gauges, how would you know the EGTs are under 400? I would let it idle for a couple minutes to run in for frosty beverages