Should You Idle Your Diesel Trucks?

[@michaelcrotty6898]

I’ve got 13 years RV transporting five years of car hauling with a four car wedge. Over 1.5 million miles on third GEN dodges, one Chevy and one 4th gen Ram. I always warm them up before I roll. and also idle them to stay warm at night. I don’t shut them off to get fuel. I just leave them idling. When I’m ready to end the day, I slow down for the last mile or so on the interstate and take it easy. And before I shut it off, I’ll let it sit for about a minute idling and that’s it. Never have a problem with it.

[@CPSteveMiller]

My opinion on the cooldown before shut off; I personally just wait until the exhaust temp is under 400 degrees. As for everything else, I agree as well. I leave mine idling when I'm fueling if it's cold or over 80. If I'm going to film or if the temp outside doesn't require me to have the heat or ac on, I'll shut it down. When I'm done for the day, If I'm going to sit at a truck stop, I'll try to get the cab either as cold as possible or as warm as possible before shut down. Then I play the "how long can I keep it off" game 😅

[@tallgeeseheavy5311]

@@CPSteveMiller ditto

[@michaelcrotty6898]

@@CPSteveMiller I also get the cab as warm or cold as possible to get it comfortable for sleeping and play that game to see how long I can keep the truck off before I need the HVAC on

[@plowboy6636]

Thanks for the video. It put my mind at ease. This truck had lost most parts and this winter it does idle when I am out plowing / salting / shoveling. Truck is a farm truck, but not just that as I plan on taking some trips with it as well. Appreciate the video.

[@michelmoss7559]

I have a 5th gen Ram 3500 dually. I warm it up in cold weather so the oil is thin enough to flow properly and the heat comes up in the motor and the cab. lol After that I idle as little as possible to keep the soot levels down in the DPF or I get a regen too often code, which is why I don’t use it around town. I have my little Hotrod Dak which I also warm up till the oil pressure drops to a lower pressure.

[@tonysowry3688]

YEP best to warm up your motor 🤟👌

[@merlepatterson]

I like my block heater because I like warm air blowing out of my heater vents as quickly as possible and I don't like waiting to get going.

[@CPSteveMiller]

I feel you! When I don't have much going on, I leave Bertha in the shop plugged in. The damn 6.0 is plugged in just so I can start it Monday 🤣 I forgot my extension cord at the shop so it's just going to have to enjoy a cold start tomorrow too!

[@merlepatterson]

@@CPSteveMiller Lol, yup

[@pdxlbz6504]

I agree. I'd let mine warm up 5-10 minutes cold start or let high idle do its thing until its warm after that idle down, let the turbo cool down after working my equipment 10+ hours a day

[@CoyoteWoods-fm3gj]

North dakota keep it plugged in and you be fine, just drive it easy when first pulling out. Take care of your vehicle anc it will take care you.

[@davidparker2328]

I've got a 94 12v i do same as you until grid heater stops then take it easy for a mile or so.

[@CPSteveMiller]

My 12 valve I used to start up and hold it to the floor until it smoothed out 🤣 That was one engine that just did not care

[@tallgeeseheavy5311]

Been waiting on this.

[@CPSteveMiller]

I actually wasn't planning on doing this. This was a this morning decision 😂

[@tallgeeseheavy5311]

We need answers lol. Even tho the majority of us knows the truth 😆

[@coryt-notctk6822]

If you buy some of daves additive youll be fine 😃

[@CPSteveMiller]

"Special sauce" 😉

[@DirectCurrent4u]

@@CPSteveMiller Secret Sauce!⚡︎🤣

[@edreeder9853]

I let my 550 in the western state warm up till temp gages start to move, I do take it easy till it up to temp. idle it about 5 minutes before stut down . I know the little engines might be different but I doubt it.

[@grrrr6999]

I agree to a warm up too. The glow plug relay bad on the 6.0 ?

[@CPSteveMiller]

They're working or at least some of them are.

[@grrrr6999]

WD40 in the air filter box. I learned something from my years at UPS and yes I had a 6.0 at UPS. The relay and the pump went and they replaced the motor (UPS loved to waste money)

[@davidbowen5608]

Dynamic warmup! How hard is that! Dave wasn't wrong. He was talking about newer emissions trucks!

[@CPSteveMiller]

Someone didn't watch my video? Just the first 30 seconds I assume🤣 Watch it all the way through and you'll see where I actually mentioned all that.

[@tallgeeseheavy5311]

Can you talk about high idling the truck vs regular idling over night in cold and warm temps??

[@CPSteveMiller]

If it's an electronic truck, I just let the truck do it's thing most of the time. The 12 valve, I'd use my high idle switch and leave it up otherwise it wouldn't stay warm.

[@tallgeeseheavy5311]

Honestly sciences has shown that idling your truck with used motor oil in the fuel is worse than not idling your truck with fresh oil in the fuel

[@slow_sylvs9643]

I got similar issues with my crappy edge monitor. Saying system error need to update software🤦🏽‍♂️

[@CPSteveMiller]

I started the truck up after work and it powered on just fine. Hasn't done it since

[@pacny]

CAN U EXPLAIN DIF BETWEEN IDELING GAS VS DIESEL

[@ardennielsen3761]

That power stroke had its last stroke how hard could it be to fix it so it starts like an old CAT? old CAT problems = idles, throttle does nothing = high needs for a 5~40lb/hr propane 1/2psi regulator... too "a pin with many 1/32 inch holes in it with a sleeve over top, movement on the throttle pulls/rotates the sleeve off more... dirty old tech. 1/4 inch opening would be 350hp, so a 3208 that idles 800rpm at 30hp would be bumped out to 3000rpm with the governor module switching the shutoff solenoid off then back on and off again... less its under a heavy load in gear".

[@russ8625]

I have 05 6 speed manual with factory exhaust brake dully 5.9 always starts right up no matter how cold is it 229k miles

[@jesusrieger2595]

Idle , Idle , idle , & warm up. Exception would be all night on a EGR equipped engine. What I do if i am idling for long periods of time. I steady rev the engine over 1500 RPM for 15 or 20 seconds to clean out the soot & and helps to sling more oil on to the cylinder walls. Plus I run 15- 20% lucas in the engine. Its thick & clingy. So....

[@LMM_WADE]

My opinion (based on my personal experience, im not an expert by any means) I idle my truck 2007.5 LMM Duramax "on a diet" depending on what I'm doing and temperature determines how long I let it idle, if im doing in town driving (very rarely) ill let ot idle 5 minutes minimum then drive it easy until its warmed up, if im driving highway (30 miles one way to work) I let it idle for 10 minutes minimum and then drive it easy until its warmed up.

[@dennislautner8917]

My Ram Diesel (with emissions) starts (with emissions) about after 3 revolutions in 10 degrees weather. I don't bother plugging in the engine heater until the temperature is below 10°.

[@CPSteveMiller]

I noticed my truck, ever since the 50hp injectors and tune, it'll always kick over and then start on the second kick. Doesn't matter if it's 80 or 0, it always starts the same way. Only recently has it been starting on the first kickover. Hoping to get an actual custom tune done once the VGT is on and that should fix that issue.

[@thehemiolds455]

I’ll stick with the Cummins ford strash

[@mattvanatti9531]

Very simple.....metals expand and contract in different temperatures....it's simple science...and metal fatigue happens in the extreme cold...witch means metal can break...

[@tylerdunn6578]

Damnit you should have said can I get an AMEN 🙏 brother after that preaching all I can say if your in -45 below and you don’t idle it to warm it up your not going far I even came up with a block heater / water heater to give it better chance of not being broke down generator cranks up when batteries get low keeping motor warm thank for your view I really enjoyed it and I’m not a Dave hater either met him in Florida way back in the day he is cool 😎

[@louiswilson2652]

222 views in 30 minutes? Bro fell off. All jokes aside love your content and keep going bro

[@CPSteveMiller]

I'm surprised it's doing this well at this time of night 🤣 I looked over and it was ready to go public so I thought, why not?

[@Denalirsps]

From what I’ve been told by many diesel mechanics, and dealers though, that excessive idle, they called more than 5 minutes, was more damaging then driving lightly when the engines are cold. Apparently diesels idling washes cylinders out. They say high idle after 30-60 seconds is better for them even bone cold, versus idling them cold. Now beyond that like hot idle and shit? I don’t see why it would be a problem. It’s designed to run.

[@hickorydickory]

i have a 2008 smart car,perfect

[@CPSteveMiller]

I need one for a beater or to take the kids down the the bus stop. My wife starts the Dakota up every day for 15 minutes in the morning and at night JUST to drive .2 of a mile to the bus stop and idle it 🤣

[@maliknolan5711]

DISCUSSION !!! Amsoil vs. Other oil companies OPINION ON oil intervals highway vs City

[@justnsaliga8518]

if your high pressure oil pump and ficm and your high pressure seals are OK. not even in perfect shape. you will have enough pressure to fire up the 6.0 in seconds. if it doesnt you're down on compression or your glow plugs are toast. Diesel RX glowplugs all the way. i rebuilt my motor after 230k not because it got worn out. aftermarket injector dropped a tip. went back to stock 6.0 starter it starts faster than i've ever seen a 6.0 start before. a extremly healthy 6.0 (good glowplugs good ficm good high pressure oil seals fires up before the oil pressure gauge reads pressure. and this was when i had a issue with my injector harness so this was 7 cylinders firing up instantly. your 6.0L has very uneven sounding cranking it sounds worse than my 6.0 that had no piston rings in one cylinder before i rebuilt it. and that thing fired up faster with 230k on the odometer.

[@Denalirsps]

If j had a 6.0, yes I’d idle it. I’d never shut it off till I got to where I had to go and back 😂😂

[@willieslawncareservice.8436]

I did that with my ram truck and ran like shit , i listened to what dave said, and that was a mistake , it's better to warm up the truck, at least 5 minutes or 10 minutes , i have a 2015 ram 3500 diesel.

[@CPSteveMiller]

I really feel like the ONLY wrong answer is getting in and going immediately. Sure, I'm guilty of doing that a time or two but that doesn't mean it's right and I certainly would not tell my customers to do that.

[@mikesatter7372]

I always idle my 12v cummins at least 15 minutes and plug in. But in my beloved state ny they will give you a ticket if you idle diesel no more then 3 minutes and gas 5 minutes. Screw them. Who the hell are these people tell you can't idle its time to move. ❤ Video

[@Itsa_Mea]

7:15 😂 You're kiddin right? That 6.0 has issues. Bigtime. My 2005 6.0 lit off immediately in single digit temps. And it had 198k miles when I sold it. That truck you got there is a piss poor example and cannot even be used to compare.

[@CPSteveMiller]

The problem is, this is the new norm. Most trucks aren't taken care of so the majority of 6.0's will probably start like this. You got a good one. My 12 valve after years of abuse starts the same way as this thing. It's easier to find an abused diesel than it is to find a maintained one anymore. That's not going to stop me from buying one, though!

[@Itsa_Mea]

I wouldnt say its the norm. Maybe its what you're seeing but its not the common for a guy to run a 6.0 with bad feed tubes, bad glowplugs, leaking oil rails and/or dummy plugs. I maintained a fleet of 6.0s from 2004​ to 2007s so I know them inside and out and have the knowledgeand equipmentto repair them properly. Im tellin you, that truck needs diag bigtime. And idling them dilutes the oil and is detrimental to the high pressure oil system and injectors. But like I said, as 6.0 guy that truck is not an example of how the majority start and is not exceptable. @CPSteveMiller

[@CPSteveMiller]

I'd love to buy one and make it run like it's supposed to. We'll see how these next few months go. If I can keep busy in the shop and stay off the road, I'll strongly consider it. I really want to be able to do all of the big 3 but it gets the point across more when I can prove my own truck runs well.

[@Itsa_Mea]

@CPSteveMiller I will say this about that truck, in the last video it had a good crank sound. It sounded smooth and even. So mechanically it's easily repairable and can be made to run well. It's definitely got oil leak down issue and probably glowplugs issues. One thing with a 6.0, it will rarely throw a check engine light. You need a good scanner to dig deep for codes. I have IDS on my laptop and VCMII that I use so I'm able to do everything a dealer can. The tests on IDS alone makes working on 6.0s cake.

[@curtkinney7131]

Your truck runs like shit

[@richardbalkavich479]

Steve my 04’ 6.0 with 162,000 starts right up when cold. That 6.0 is not how most well taken care of 6.0 start. Just my opinion from what I see of that Ford.

[@CPSteveMiller]

Yeah, I see some that do very well. That's the biggest problem today, though. How many diesels are actually taken care of? In my opinion, the majority aren't so this is sadly the new norm.

[@ardennielsen3761]

when a 3208 is cold, hitting the throttle... does nothing. need a 5~35lb/hr propane kit

[@cambrian7119]

Pd diesel who owns 26 Ram hotshot trucks and a few 18 wheelers disagree with Dave too. Modern engines have dissimilar metals that warm and cool at different rates. That 20 or 30 second warmup suggestion is ludicrous with cold oil resembling mollases. I respect Dave, but on this issue he's dead wrong. Michael Rzewuski

[@CPSteveMiller]

PD knows his stuff. I used to watch him all the time. I really do feel like Dave is just capitalizing on the views and controversy but going about it the wrong way. It's one thing to put out info that is controversial. It's another to just put out blatantly false info that can cause someone catastrophic damage. I really hope Dave will do better with this in the future because I liked his content prior. Dave's forgotten more than most of us know and that's another reason it's so sad to see this info being thrown around like this.

[@Itsa_Mea]

No. The answer is no. But sometimes you do what you have to.

[@Capo120]

I have a 22 Cummins not deleted drive 45min to work or 10min to a bar and leave it run there I have 35000 on it with no problems yet

[@CPSteveMiller]

45 minutes on an emissions truck is way better than my 8 to 10 minute commute 🤣 I only do these short drives when there's salt on the roads. It's supposed to snow up to 8 inches on Monday so I brought it home just in case. Monday I have a 2 hour commute to make all over the place and I want to be prepared!

[@Capo120]

@ ya we r going to get hammered here in pa

[@6ohpowertower612]

That 6.0 engine doesnt sound anything close to happy. Smthn is majorly wrong with it. Mine jumps on 4th crank in 22F.

[@curtkinney7131]

Emission laws has nothing to do with how many cylinders the engines have

[@CPSteveMiller]

Actually, it did. The egr rule started out with all diesel v8s in pickups a few years before it moved to all 3/4 ton+ diesels. That's why cummins wasn't required to have it until late 07 when the epa got more strict.

[@georgecostanza9387]

Diesels just don't run good cold they really don't run right until they are up to operating temp and a lot of them run better when they're actually a little on the hot side

[@CPSteveMiller]

I've explained that to customers in the past. When I'm towing, Bertha runs between 205 and 212 all day everyday whether it's 100 outside with the ac on or 20 degrees with the defrost on. I don't like seeing anything under 195. No head studs, just retorqued head bolts. Never had head gasket issues which is usually what people complain about with the 6th cylinder on the Cummins.

[@leehensley7711]

The problem is most ppl that own these trucks are using them as grocery getters

[@jamesmoore8271]

Garbage truck mechanic here *lots of stops and goes* all of our route trucks are about 2014 era we are plagued with aftertreatment issues. One had a dpf meltdown when it was about 2 years old. Not many issues with the ISL's specifically. Also I'm tired of Dave's content.

[@CPSteveMiller]

I really liked Dave's content before this. There was so much good info. I hope he goes back to how it was and realize not all publicity is good publicity. Stop and go is the absolute worst on these things. You aren't building any heat for it to do it's job so it's just going to be a problem.

[@jamesmoore8271]

@CPSteveMiller refuse is probably the worst place for these systems. But it's the name of the game we get to play. Luckily we service 3 different small towns in the area so they do get the chance to work them once or twice a week. Sometimes that's just not enough. We have had motors drop liners at about 20,000hrs and we'll under 200k miles.

[@darrellheinemeier9120]

Bad fuel in the Ford

[@CPSteveMiller]

Probably a lot more than that. Up to the customer if I get to go in that deep. It's in just to get all the leaks fixed, engine bay cleaned up, and fix the interior. Fingers crossed he's happy enough with the work that I can go deeper in and fix the rest of the problems!

[@sailingwiththegods538]

I've always idled my vehicles when they're cold, only because I don't like to ride in a freezing vehicle with a frozen windshield and windows. Modern vehicles, diesels especially, with variable pressure oil pumps and extensive emissions are another animal altogether.