cold weather idle

if I idle my truck, it's because it's below +5*F. The bunk heater just can't keep it warm enough it seems that cold.

When I do idle for extended periods, it's at 900 RPM.

You get poor oil distribution, generator isn't kicking out enough amps to keep everything charged and fuel dilution of the oil at curb idle.

 

If you start to see drool coming out out of the stack, it diesel slobber and you need to idle up.

Your engine is running too cold.

 

I'm currently in Northfield, Mn and have to idle for the first time this season. I'm in a Volvo w/ a Cummings in it and idling @ 600 rpm's...so this is bad?

 

Your engine is not going to generate enough heat in this cold to keep the fuel all burnt. You'll evaporate it out when you leave again and get everything up to operating temps.

It will also only get up to about 150 * too.

 

My operating temp is at 175 but had no clue about the fuel issue...and here I was thinking it was pretty cool I use less than a 1/2 gl an hour idling. But if I need to bump the rpm's up, so be it. Thanks!

 

When the company gave me a '09 KW the other drivers had already been talking about needing to idle up to 900 rpm's. After four months a mechanic asked if I'd been to the KW shop? During this time the truck had not giving any signs of trouble, but he said that truck was a regular to the shop during the previous year, mostly with DPF issues. The Cummins rep. has told the company to have us idle up to 900 for several reasons including maintaining a higher temp for keeping the exhaust cleaner.

 

Remember, a diesel engine fires from heat and compression, if it is too cold, it doesn't get complete burning of the fuel. Which, in turn will lead to fuel in the oil, carboned up turbo and moisture in the exhaust which can lead to corrosion in hte exhaust system. IF you walk through a truckstop and see trucks with what looks like vapor coming out of the exhaust, they aren't running hot enough.

I used to do this when I drove a Mack day cab for the one company, I kept a piece of cardboard in the cab, when I had to idle it at night while I was in the hotel. I would put the cardboard over the grille to help keep heat in the engine and idled it up about 1200 rpm. I never had a problem with diesel slobber.