clean air idle sticker
 

My new truck is an '09 mack with one of those new exhaust aftertreatment systems on it. Many drivers at the truck stops have asked me if i can idle whenever and wherever i want to. I've had this truck since winter and i've idled it during the winter months and had no problems. I do shut it down when it is comfortable to do so, but my question is when it starts getting a little warmer out can i idle my motor without having issues? There is a sticker on the front of the truck that says something like clean air idle if that helps.

Are you asking about legally or technically?

Legally it does not matter how clean your engine idles. Idle laws don't make a distinction between engines.

Technically.....as will it hurt the engine.....I have no idea.

I seem to recall reading something about California allowing the clean air trucks to idle. You need to check their website to be sure. As far as other states, I have no idea if there is an exemption. The main ones are New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Basically, it is the communist states that don't allow trucks to idle.

NJ allows idling during a driver's ten hour break. Now, that exemption is set to expire with in the next year though.

NY allows a truck to idle when the outside temp is 25 or below. No exemption for summer months though.

were can you buy just the sticker??? Thats really all you would need.

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. Not allowed to idle in some states. Even at truck stops?

Even ANYWHERE, truck stops, rest areas, loading docks, you name it.

I guess that's where an APU would come in. You can't idle, but an APU can run? Funny.

That depends too. California has said that some APU's can't be run either. I guess they'd rather have dead drivers to deal with - they're not as mouthy.