How long before you shut it down?

[rugs]

I've owned a BX22 for a year and 60 hrs. I've always wondered whether to just let the sucker run all the time it's out of the shed, or to shut down between tasks. For instance: let's say I just finished a tree pit with the hoe. It's gonna take 15 min to roll the tree into the pit, rock it around a little, shovel in a little dirt, and get ready to backfill with the loader. Better to shut down for the 15 min or keep running?
I think I understand the reasoning behind letting big diesels run (tho I think it's stupid to run dozens of empty buses for hours outside a stadium), but what about tiny diesels like my BX? Shut down if the tractor will be idle for 15 min? 20 min? 10 min?
Thanks for all the great info on this site.

Bruce

 

[herbenus]

There was a post here once about this. It seems that the smaller diesels in CUTs should really not be allowed to run on like the big diesels. How long is probably your choice. Over 5 minutes I shut mine down.

 

[Hambone]

Big diesels no longer recommend excessive idling. Actually they never liked it much anyway. A older Cummins was bad about excessive idling, it would put raw fuel out the exhaust manifold.
I just got out the Cat book, it says if going to idle longer than 5 minutes to shut it off.
The Cummins book says 10 minutes.

 

[cowboydoc]

When the big diesels are running they are on idle controllers. They don't run at the same rpms all the time which is what is hard on the diesels. With regard to yours 15 minutes is too long. If it's only going to be 5 minutes give or take a little leave it running. If it's going to be longer shut it down.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I spec out CAT engines in our truck fleet and we instruct our drivers to shut the engine off whenever they leave the cab of the vehicle unless is it below 5 below zero.

As for my tractors, I usually turn them off, when I get out of the seat. On my NH there is a switch under the seat that automatically shuts off the engine when you get off the tractor unless you have in in "N" with the parking brake ON. In the winter I will let them run to warm them up before starting work, but only when the temps are well below freezing. Anyway, that's just what I do.

 

[Bird]

The only time I left mine running was if I just got off to hook up a chain or trailer, open or close a gate, etc. I don't guess I was ever off more than 5 minutes without killing the engine.

As for the busses idling, do you reckon it might be just to keep the heat or air-conditioning working?

 

[rugs]

Bird--

Re: buses, I'm sure that's the reason... but how long does it take to warm up a bus?

I'm very interested to know that most advice today seems to be to shut down even big D's. This makes sense to me. I do often see big rigs idleing away at interstate rest stops; these guys haven't gotten the news. Guess we treat big or small diesels like cars: shut 'em down when not in use.

I appreciate all the experience on this board.

Bruce

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( how long does it take to warm up a bus? )</font>

A long time if you're talking about making the interior comfortable for people instead of the engine warm enough for operating. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( often see big rigs idleing away at interstate rest stops )</font>

Yep, and having two brothers who used to drive those rigs, I know it can be (1) a concern that it might not restart if they shut it down, or (2) to keep the air-conditioning going while they take a nap. Some may have some other reasons such as keeping the battery charged so the inverter doesn't drain it while they're using their microwave, computer, TV, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

When my brother was a Matco Tool Distributor, his truck was never shut down except to refuel or when he got home at night (in addition to the odometer, the trucks have an hour meter for determining things such as time for an oil change), because that truck was an air-conditioned showroom so you always wanted it comfortable inside and with lots of lights inside. He also put an electric heater in the truck at night because you don't want any condensation on those metal tools the next morning. And it was interesting to run out there and start it up on a cold morning, then run back in the house for another cup of coffee while it was warming up, and hear it idling, suddenly rev up awhile, then drop back to an idle, etc.

 

[KubotaBling]

anything longer than 10 minutes causes engine combustion chamber to cool below 300 and causes fuel wash. I'd cut it off..