just letting tractor idle - probably a dumb question

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If your tractor has emissions equipment on it (only on 25hp or higher engines) the emissions equipment doesnt like idling as much. I'll leave my machine idling for 5 minutes or so in a heartbeat. But if it's going to be much more than that I'll think about shutting it down. I did about the same with my pre-emissions L3200 though.

I pick this one.

 

[big bubba]

all good points above. you are breaking in the engine. more than worrying about idle length of time, my suggestion esp on a new engine would: 1) vary tasks & rpm 2) avoid multiple short cold runs.
3)work the tractor at least 30 min or longer for each session. 4) after a workout, allow engine to idle @ low rpm for several minutes before shutting down

enjoy your new machine

 

[bdhsfz6]

I was warned years ago by the dealer when I bought my first Kubota, not to stop and start it frequently. His reason was the alternators don't put out that much current and take a while to to replenish the power used in starting. Frequent starts can lead to a dead battery especially if the battery is weak. Let it idle up to 10 minutes was his advice. Newer Kubotas have bigger alternators however and this may no longer be an issue.

Newer tractors may have bigger alternators but many also have DPF and EGR pollution control devices which foul quicker at idle. As others have suggested, I also subscribe to the 10 minute rule.

Besides fuel waste, the other down side to excessive idling is it runs up the engine hours. In extreme cases, this can lead to wasted maintenance $$. Some tractors have hour meters which only read time above 1500 RPM or so. Many however read when the ignition switch is in the on position. Just something to consider.

 

[Jstpssng]

If your tractor has emissions equipment on it (only on 25hp or higher engines) the emissions equipment doesnt like idling as much. I'll leave my machine idling for 5 minutes or so in a heartbeat. But if it's going to be much more than that I'll think about shutting it down. I did about the same with my pre-emissions L3200 though.

I don't worry about it, that's one of the many things about emissions which is grossly exaggerated. When I'm using my winch in particular it spends a lot of time idling, and I very rarely operate at recommended RPM's.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I don't worry about it, that's one of the many things about emissions which is grossly exaggerated. My 3301 is setting outside idling right now, I started it 1/2 hour ago and haven't gotten back out to plow yet.

What isn't exaggerated is the fact that in a cold engine the diesel injected isn't all burning like it does in a hot engine. What the unburned diesel does is wash the oil off the cylinder walls on it's way into the oil. So you get a double whammy. Diesel washing the lubricant off of the cylinder walls and diesel diluting your oil. Diesel is not a lubricant, oil is.

So I usually don't let my diesel engines idle to warm up very much. I'd rather work them in a slower gear and not full throttle as they warm up faster like that. I also don't let them idle excessively to cool down. In my vehicles the last mile of road or so is driven at less throttle. Same with my tractors. When I'm done I idle them into the shed. You don't need to cool the engine off to shut down. All you need to do is even out the internal temperatures of the engine.

 

[Diggin It]

I vote for a trailer to load the wood on rather than carry any distance on/in the bucket repeatedly.

 

[Jstpssng]

What isn't exaggerated is the fact that in a cold engine the diesel injected isn't all burning like it does in a hot engine. What the unburned diesel does is wash the oil off the cylinder walls on it's way into the oil. So you get a double whammy. Diesel washing the lubricant off of the cylinder walls and diesel diluting your oil. Diesel is not a lubricant, oil is.

So I usually don't let my diesel engines idle to warm up very much. I'd rather work them in a slower gear and not full throttle as they warm up faster like that. I also don't let them idle excessively to cool down. In my vehicles the last mile of road or so is driven at less throttle. Same with my tractors. When I'm done I idle them into the shed. You don't need to cool the engine off to shut down. All you need to do is even out the internal temperatures of the engine.

Good points, I will keep them in mind from now on. :thumbsup:

 

[bunyip]

I turn mine off when working in front because of the exhaust and the noise, I wear hearing protection but happy to get it off when not needed.

 

[deserteagle71]

The owner's manual for my Kubota specifically warns against letting the engine idle too much. I assume the Kubota engineers know what they are talking about so now when I have to do something like get out of the the cab and throw something into the bucket I don't throttle down, just let the engine rev. But my Kubota does have a DPF.

 

[Deere Dude]

If was doing puttering around type jobs and if more than a minute I shut it down .

If really working it, I would let it idle for 5 minutes and if I can see an extended break coming up, why not shut it off.

The hour meter goes up fast enough, why double the hours just to tell a prospective buyer, "But, it was just idling so it doesn't count against it."