How long is too long to idle?


bigjohncs

10+ Year Member

Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
9
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3,001
Vehicle Year
1996
Transmission
Automatic
Would I run into any problems, other than wasted gas, if I were to idle my truck for 30 minutes to an hour at a time? In the winter I need the heat sometimes, but I don't want to destroy anything. I remember hearing about some engines not getting enough oil distributed to every part of the engine under excessive idling.
 
As long as the oil and rad are kept topped up and changed as required, the only problem you would have is burning gas...these trucks are used in fleets and are left running for hours at a time...while the workers keep their shovels propped up with their bodies...

I left my Zuki running for two hours when I first got it...locked the keys in it...and it was a hot summer day...my Ranger I usually leave running while I do yard work and have never had a problem...especially if it's cool outside...and that's where the good heater comes in real nice...

EDIT: I should also mention that belt driven cooling fans are my preference...simply because my Tempo had the electric version and it tended to crap out on me at the most inconvenient times...
 
Too long can be any determined amount. If you are not going to need the engine running, then shut it off. Problems that may occur with the engine idling for extended periods is excessive oil burn off, poor mpg, overheating, and improper cooling of other systems. But if the engine coolant system is good, oil is kept full and clean, and the fan cooling system works. Then the engine shouldn't have a problem with idling for long periods.
 
If you want a quicker warm up a plug in engine coolant heater on a timer may be a good thing to install.

It would save gas, and avoid any potential problems with leaving your truck idle unattended (which is illegal in some states)
 
bigjohncs said:
Would I run into any problems, other than wasted gas, if I were to idle my truck for 30 minutes to an hour at a time? In the winter I need the heat sometimes, but I don't want to destroy anything. I remember hearing about some engines not getting enough oil distributed to every part of the engine under excessive idling.
Click to expand...
Where do you live? I can't imagine needing to warm it up for more than 10 minutes to get the interior warm. While I live in PA, I did spend a year in Upstate NY where it would get to about -33*F. :icon_surprised:

We got my wife's Taurus used, it was originally sold in Canada and has a factory engine block heater. I don't bother with it unless it's below 20*F but it does work like a charm.
 
No, I didn't mean warm up. During the winter, I am regularly waiting for ~30 minutes at a time due to my weird schedule, and I must wait in my truck. I don't like sitting outside in 10 degree weather, so I run the truck for the heat.
 
Then run it for a couple minutes abd shut it off for say 10- 15 min. Then run it a couple, if you absolutely must. If you insist on idling extended times, you cannot go off of mileage for oil changes, coolant, trans services, you will need an hour meter.
 
Hmm that sounds interesting. Would it be a big/expensive task to install one? I've never even seen one on a gas engine except for my lawnmower.
 
biggest potential problem is exhaust. have any leaks under the truck? can you see the exhaust "building up" underneath the truck (leaks or not)? since you said you wait in the truck, thats the first alarm that went off in my head. crack a window, and maybe get a carbon monoxide detector.
 
Before I got my cordless 28V Milwaukee set I was building an 8x8 deer stand with a buddy and used my 3.0 as a generator with a converter to run tools. It ran many hours in a row day after day and had no problem. In my old National Guard unit we had a 2.5 ton that when if ran for long periods of time it would have to stay revved above idle or it would leak oil, but I think we've advanced since 1950s technology.
You'll be fine.:icon_thumby:
 
Thanks a lot guys. If I were to use my laptop in my truck with a power inverter, does anyone have a rough estimate of how long the battery would last? Is a laptop the equivalent to leaving your headlights on? I bought this battery last year.
 
I thought I remember reading somewhere that you can burn over a gallon of gas per hour of idling. I don't know if anyone can confirm or deny that.
A nice feature of my fathers Silverado is that it shows, in hours, the amount of time the engine has been running.
I traded away my ZX2 with about 65K on the odometer, but in reality that wasn't really all that accurate. I would go to my car on break at work to smoke, and in the winter I'd run it for the heat, summer for the AC. 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for years. Lord knows how much gas I totally wasted away. And I believe running it excessively like that contributed to some of the problems I had with it. I vowed never to be so cruel to my Ranger.
 
bigjohncs said:
Thanks a lot guys. If I were to use my laptop in my truck with a power inverter, does anyone have a rough estimate of how long the battery would last? Is a laptop the equivalent to leaving your headlights on? I bought this battery last year.
Click to expand...

I use a power inverter for various devices all the time in my truck. I try to only use it if the engine is running, and I only use it for about an hour at a time with the engine off. Haven't had any problems.
 
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