Opti-idle question

[flatbedder]

Im looking for some insight from drivers that have dealt with the opti idle. I understand the way it works, just wondering if it keeps you comfortable in the heat and cold. and how long does it take you to get used to the truck turning on and off?

[Fredog]

Im looking for some insight from drivers that have dealt with the opti idle. I understand the way it works, just wondering if it keeps you comfortable in the heat and cold. and how long does it take you to get used to the truck turning on and off?

if it's very hot or very cold, the truck wont turn off. in normal weather it keeps pretty comfortable, when the sleeper temp varies 2 degrees from your setting, it will start up and heat or cool.
the hardest thing to get used to is the warning beep before it starts up.

[flatbedder]

Thanks Fredog, that beep sounds like they coulda done without it but oh well. Im glad to hear it keeps the cab cool and warm anyhow.

[Fredog]

Thanks Fredog, that beep sounds like they coulda done without it but oh well. Im glad to hear it keeps the cab cool and warm anyhow.

the warning beep is necessary in case someone is working under the hood and it starts up

[bob h]

Thanks Fredog, that beep sounds like they coulda done without it but oh well. Im glad to hear it keeps the cab cool and warm anyhow.

the warning beep is necessary in case someone is working under the hood and it starts up

Optimized idle uses a mercury switch interlock under the hood... to disable the system when the hood is pulled open.

[Fredog]

Thanks Fredog, that beep sounds like they coulda done without it but oh well. Im glad to hear it keeps the cab cool and warm anyhow.

the warning beep is necessary in case someone is working under the hood and it starts up

Optimized idle uses a mercury switch interlock under the hood... to disable the system when the hood is pulled open.

and I saw more than one of those switches bypassed..

[headborg]

Thanks Fredog, that beep sounds like they coulda done without it but oh well. Im glad to hear it keeps the cab cool and warm anyhow.

the warning beep is necessary in case someone is working under the hood and it starts up

Optimized idle uses a mercury switch interlock under the hood... to disable the system when the hood is pulled open.

hence the reason why the warning buzzer is a total b.s. device that only serves to wake up a tired driver every 20 minutes and should be disconnected.

[bikerboy]

Leave yellow brake button pushed in, pull out red buttom, bump idle up to 1000 rpm or else put a stick on the throttle to hold rpm's at 1000, and i bet you the truck will stay running!!
I sure wouldn't put up with truck starting and stopping if i really needded heat or AC.

[bikerboy]

..

[sbatson]

I have this switch on my dash and it lights up when I push it but there is no display in the back to set it, so is there some other way to set the temp.?Its a old Prime truck if that matters.

[headborg]

Leave yellow brake button pushed in, pull out red buttom, bump idle up to 1000 rpm or else put a stick on the throttle to hold rpm's at 1000, and i bet you the truck will stay running!!
I sure wouldn't put up with truck starting and stopping if i really needded heat or AC.

I bet it won't-- the throttle is electronic the old idle rod trick/stick to hold the pedal down doesn't work. No mechanical linkage. Also there's no bumping up the idle with the cruise control on a Crete truck- it's disabled. Yes, leaving the tractor brake disengaged will let the truck idle for a little longer that the 5minute cut-off, but it still shuts off after 15min? or so.

[lowrange]

I had it in a lease purchase truck I was in. I'm an Olympic-class sleeper so the starting and stopping didn't bother me. Some can't sleep well like that.

Mine started and stopped quite a few times in a single night, the tractor doesn't hold the heat. I don't think I'd use it now for the simple reason that I wouldn't want the wear on the engine- I'd rather just leave the engine on and try to limit it to 6 or 7 hours a night.