why is idling so bad in a 6.4?

[H0USE]

Is idling for long periods of time terrible for these motors? I thought diesel engines were excellent to idle, burning about a gallon of fuel for every 3 hrs of idling. I read everywhere that it is frowned upon to idle. Even shutting it down if you are in traffic?

I have a buddy who works for one of the local utilities and they have dozens and dozens of 6.4s and he says he most of them usually work 10 hrs a day and might only drive 25 miles during the entire day, with the truck idling the entire day, even during his hr lunch break. Doesn't the programmed high idle take care of any build up a lot of idling may create?

[First_Ford]

Idling is now an issue due to EGR valves and turbos mostly. My fleet has had some issues with extended idle time and EGR and turbo clogging. Old diesels did not have these and could sit idle all day.

[mor4wd]

The real issue with the 6.4s is the DPF. Even at idle the engine produces soot and it gets caught in the DPF. The most recent flash for the ECM will not allow the DPF to clean if the truck is idling, so it just sits there slowly clogging up. It's worse if it's cold outside. I've idled mine for 10 hours a day and after about 3 hours of idling without moving it immediately went to the clean the DPF once I put it in gear. It billowed out white smoke and ran piss poor for about 2 miles until it all blew out. This is definitely related to the EGR, but I've never heard of the turbos clogging.

[Jacob_24]

so it's safer to idle longer periods when dpf/cat deleted?

[mor4wd]

Yes. There's no longer anything left to clog up, plus there's not as much back pressure on the turbo so the soot will just blow right through instead of building.

[Big Angry Hillbilly]

^^ What he said.

I would also put an elevated idle switch in ANYTHING you were gonna idle for extended periods, on the PTO sense, or at the VERY least on the Battery Charge Protect circuit. I prefer the PTO sense, as it runs the engine at 1200RPM, and will allow for better airflow across the cooling stack should the truck start to warm up and the fan clutch duty cycle come up.

Just my opinion.

And even WITH particulate filters and junk on there still, SEIC is a good idea, just to at least try an help prevent wet stacking.