Husband’s idling only fouls air, wastes fuel
Dear Bob: I read, a few weeks ago, the column in which you said not to idle unnecessarily, because it wastes gas.
My husband has a Ford 250 diesel truck that he idles a lot, and he insists that it is different for a diesel, because the big-rig truckers do it all the time.
— N.N., in Pennsylvania
A: Some of that big-rig idling is being done by “reefers,” refrigerated cargo trucks that are idling to keep the contents cool while the truckers are eating or taking a break. A truck may also be left idling in order to run the air conditioner or the heater to keep the cab comfortable while the trucker catches a few winks.
Much of this is legitimate idling, but I doubt that your husband hauls sides of beef, vegetables or other perishables in his pickup, and chances are that he doesn’t pull over for naps on a regular basis. Assuming that to be the case, his idling serves no purpose but to foul the air. On top of that, he’s simply wasting fuel and wearing out his engine.
Don’t believe me? A couple of pieces in the March issue of Roadstar magazine, a trade publication for big-rig truckers, note that diesel idling can be harmful in more ways than one.
In his “Shell Rotella T Answer Column,” Shell technical expert Dan Arcy notes that a typical heavy-duty diesel engine uses about a gallon of fuel for each hour spent idling. For a trucker who idles eight hours a day while sleeping, eating or on breaks, that equates to about 2,000 gallons per year, which is a great deal of wasted money and fuel down the drain.
“Excessive idling will also shorten the life of your engine,” Arcy says, by significantly increasing the potential for fuel dilution of your motor oil. “This can result in a loss of viscosity and promote poor lubrication.”
Many states and local municipalities have laws that prohibit diesel-powered trucks from idling, Arcy adds, even while loading and unloading. Repeat offenders can be fined as much as $25,000 and may even be sentenced to jail time.
In an advertisement in the same magazine, Caterpillar driver trainer Phil Hook says that new Cat engines don’t require long warm-up and cool-down periods. He advises readers that, at start-up, they should simply go easy on the throttle while the engine is cold.
“Three minutes of idle time should be enough for cool-down,” Hook adds, further noting that cutting your idle time by 25 percent to 50 percent can improve your fuel economy by as much as 4 percent.
More and more, drivers of big, diesel-powered rigs are limiting their idling, as they come to the realization that all it does for them is to waste fuel and wear out a very expensive engine. Owners of cars and light trucks should learn from the big boys — and your husband should join this growing chorus with his itty-bitty Ford 250 diesel.