| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
SlacTrac
Joined: 10 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
Location: On the Farm South of Canton, Texas
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="gmh"] Whammo wrote: Could someone please explain to me in newbie terms about the "turbo" and why it needs to cool off, and why with the engine running?
Running at idle lets the turbo spin slower, but oil keeps moving, so it cools down. Then engine can be shut off without turbo damage.
\
Also to add to this, when an engine is running hard, the oil and engine components are hot. To cool the turbo and the other engine components down the engine should be allowed to idle until oil temps come down to lower temps. A few minutes will suffice. This allows the turbo and other components of the engine to cool before shutdown, extending times before a repair / replacement is needed. :arrow: |
|
| Back to top |
|
bigtimba
Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 216
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: > It's a numbers game . . |
|
|
. . let's say the top 10% of heavy idlers do burn company cash unnecessarily. So, the company sends the "We'll fire you . . " message to the top 20 - 30 - 40% with the hope that an aggragate reduction will bring the fleet into compliance. A few drivers will get canned, many more will endure a greater sacrifice and some manager will earn his bonus.
The majority won, democracy was preserved and the casualty count was relatively small.
Right? |
|
| Back to top |
|
countryhorseman
Joined: 04 Jan 2005
Posts: 732
Location: The Great State of Texas - Seguin
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I totally understood what your were getting at, just figured I would lighten up all the other stuff! Dang, a guy cannot even try to be funny anymore!
Mr. Ford95 wrote: country, your a riot with the smartas comments back :lol: Sorry if I wasn't clear enough for you but Tom knew what I was getting at.
Gotcha Tom, I shake my head at the one's who complain how their idle % is so high, yet they refuse to turn the truck off when they shutdown for their 10 hours, barring some medical condition. They seem to not understand the problem is, go figure...... |
|
| Back to top |
|
gmh
Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 391
Location: Southern Maryland
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| bigtimba, this is exactly what I was thinking. If the problem is idling, address idling. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Rawlco
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 1166
Location: Central Maine
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
An interesting clause in the Maine law is that there is a $500 fine for any SHIPPER or CONSIGNEE that causes trucks to need to idle excessively. Geared towards the creeping line type problem. Rather than fine the driver the law is trying to get at the root of the problem, I thought that was interesting.
By the way with the new Maine law you are exempt if you are in the sleeper berth anytime. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Malaki86
Joined: 28 Aug 2004
Posts: 2125
Location: West Virginia
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
TomB985 wrote: Malaki86 wrote: But idling in upstate New York when it's -5f IS optional?
Nope, not optional one bit...I was just using hot weather as an example, that's all...
When my APU was put on, my company reset the ECU on my engine, taking away the ability to idle. Theoretically, the APU's supposed to keep the engine warm...but I do NOT trust it as far as sub-zero temps...I expect to get towed a couple times next winter......
Yeah, in that weather, I wouldn't shut the truck down either...
Ahh - ok. So it's ok to idle when it's -5f. What about if you're in El Paso, TX in the middle of August and have to sleep during the day when the temp outside is 105f in the shade?
Not everyone can go without heat/cooling the same. Myself, I need temps between 60-75 when I won't idle unless there's a hot sun beating down during the day. Other than that, sorry, I believe in comfort. If I'm not comfortable, I can't sleep. If I can't sleep, I'm a danger on the highway. |
|
| Back to top |
|
TomB985
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 240
Location: Columbus, OH
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't think I made myself clear on that...
What I should have said was that I agree when it comes to idling for a reason...there are many, many circumstances where idling is important to stay comfortable...I'm not talking about sucking it up and dealing with awful conditions here...we all live out here and it's important to stay comfortable.
I just don't like the idea of running the engine for the sake of running the engine...like so many drivers like to do... :) |
|
| Back to top |
|
Colin
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 1416
Location: Kennewick, WA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
BigAtrukn wrote: Be happy they dont charge you for idle time like May does
How about you finish that comment?
"...after reaching a 30% idle time for that week unless you ask for idle time extensions due to extreme weather." |
|
| Back to top |
|
Colin
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 1416
Location: Kennewick, WA
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
TomB985 wrote: Well, let's figure this one out....
Say you run 10,000 miles in a month, that should put your engine time at ~200 hours for the driving time...so you take that and add half of that to your total, that means you idled 100 hours.
100 hours of idling would burn ~150 extra gallons of fuel...which would cost the company something like $600 extra EACH MONTH!
IMHO any idle time even approaching that is downright rediculous. Way too damn often I see drivers who just will not shut their truck down for anyone. Going in the truck stop for a meal, showering, fueling, waiting...cold out, warm out, nice out...daylight, dusk, dawn, night...ALWAYS IDLING. This is WASTE.
Take a night out where it gets down to 50-60 degrees...perfect sleeping weather for most...and walk around the truck stop...a good 1/3rd of the trucks will be idling...for no reason whatsoever.
Does Werner provide you with a bunk heater? That's one way to cut down your idle time. I never idle more than I absolutely have to...just doesn't make any sense to waste that much money.....
There is no one size fits all for idling. What works for you may not work for someone else.
What if someone was idling because they were sick and needed extra heat a 60 degree night did not give them? You don't know what's going on in every truck. Of course some people idle, but you appear to paint a very broad stroke. |
|
| Back to top |
|
wackyncrazy
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
Posts: 14
Location: Nebraska
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Myself I work for Werner and they are putting APU on all new trucks and it just takes time to get them all out there on the road. I drivers they are firing for ideling are the ones who you will see in a truck stop or term for 3 hours goofing off and there truck is out there idling for no reason. Alot of people think just cause they drive for a company and the company pays for the fuel that they don't need to do there part on saving fuel cost, but alot of people don't see that if the company is burning up $$$$$ on fuel for no need idling that you the driver don't see anymore money for you the drive on raises and fuel bonases. if you just shut your truck off when your not in it or sitting at a shipper when weather permits you can bring your idling down alot. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Jumbo
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 909
Location: Northern Wisconsin
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I spent last night in a pilot in Arkansas Of the 15 trucks in my row 12 were idling. It was 60 degrees out. I have been from Calgary to Arkansas in the last two weeks and haven't had to idle the truck one night. I am not bragging I am just saying that I do see alot of foolish idling. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
