Have you started practicing methods of saving fuel?

[shinnlinger]

Hi,

I was under the impression that letting the diesels idle was more efficient than stopping and starting....

Is that true? or just an old wives tale as they say...

[Ron Wenrich]

I remember hearing that when I was a kid.  That was a long time ago, and technology has come a long way.  I know guys who let there pickups warm up.  But, car manufacturers will tell you that 15 seconds is more than enough.

I have a scan guage in my truck that will tell me how much fuel I am using, amoung alot of other data.  My better milage figures come when the engine is heated.  But, idling will kill any milage increase and make it a loss.

[shinnlinger]

THanks Ron,

I now remember when I was a kid at Boy Scout camp when one of the counselers remarked at an idling backhoe that every time it started it burnt 15 minutes worth of fuel.....THat WAS a while back!

BUt here again, 2 of my 3 diesels are 25+ years old so Hmmm

I think it is time to adjust the old habits a bit though anyway

[PineNut]

As I recall with some of the older tractors, leaving them running was not a matter of fuel consumption.  It was some of the problems getting them started. Electrical systems were not very well maintained and if it used a pony engine, the electrical system was probably nonexistent. So you had to manually crank the pony engine. Now, I shut down rather than idle for a few minutes.   

[Warren]

Bought a '94 Toyota Corolla with 180K miles last year on a whim for $500.  Originally thought about cleaning it up for the boy.  Consistent 32 mpg.  It is now my daily driver.  The '05 diesel Ram doesn't leave the farm unless I'm hauling or pulling...

[slowzuki]

The most recent figure I have seen are about 45 sec of idling is equivalent to fuel burnt in startup of a diesel.  So, more than 45 sec, shut her down.  I believe that one included the fuel burned to recharge the battery from starting.