Leaving A 5.3l Running All Night?

[leverlution]

Anyone left their truck running all night (5.3L)? I'm probably going to end up sleeping in my truck somewhere in Ohio/Indiana/Illinois. Trying to plan this trip out so I don't have any surprises. Figuring on it being too cold to cuddle up in a blanket and pass out for a few hours. Not planning on sleeping 8 hours, but I'm the kind of person that doesn't wake up at all until 8 hours exactly.

 

Just curious how much gas I should expect to burn etc. or any tips for sleeping in the truck. Only had to do it 3 other times. Once was a ford ranger, but we slept in the bed with a cap, and the other two were old conversion vans with it running. Anyone have any idea on what to expect gas wise, or any ideas that prevent running the motor all night?

 

Thanks.

[Bish]

I used to bring a sleeping bag and shut the engine off. Not too comfortable leaving it running while sleeping. I've woken up and fired it up for a blast of heat but not too sure about sleeping with it running. My parents had a mercury Monarch burn to the ground idling in their driveway. Cats got hot and up she went

[mike94silverado]

Anyone left their truck running all night (5.3L)? I'm probably going to end up sleeping in my truck somewhere in Ohio/Indiana/Illinois. Trying to plan this trip out so I don't have any surprises. Figuring on it being too cold to cuddle up in a blanket and pass out for a few hours. Not planning on sleeping 8 hours, but I'm the kind of person that doesn't wake up at all until 8 hours exactly.

 

Just curious how much gas I should expect to burn etc. or any tips for sleeping in the truck. Only had to do it 3 other times. Once was a ford ranger, but we slept in the bed with a cap, and the other two were old conversion vans with it running. Anyone have any idea on what to expect gas wise, or any ideas that prevent running the motor all night?

 

Thanks.

 

We run our work trucks 24/7 all winter with no issues I'd just make sure you got a pretty full tank and call it good

[dsch]

My opinion is that an engine does not create enough heat to burn clean and effecient at an idle. But it is better than freezing.

[Wingnut]

I've done it a few times. Not for 8 hours...But at least 5 or 6.

[BigZed]

Hey Leverlution,

 

I drive crown victorias or impalas and they are running 24/7 not matter what. I would say it's safe to leave it running 24/7 if you are using it as a place to sleep and then drive to get where you want to go.

 

I live in Ontario Canada so I think it would be fine for 8 hours. Hell if you had good sleeping bags id say it would be easy to sleep a couple hours without the engine running at all.

 

If it was me I would say invest in some good sleeping bags and sleep 6-8 hours then continue on driving.

 

BigZed

[jro909]

i would just shut the motor down and bring a nice sleeping bag, thats what i do alot of things could happen in the course you sleeping while the motor is running...i sure would not do it if it was hot outside, i've always been curious how semis can idle for hours on end while the trucker sleeps...i know diesels run alot cooler then gassers but it seems like alot of wear?

[RyanbabZ71]

I will ask the obvious, why not stop at a hotel or something?

[clemsonblozz]

i would just shut the motor down and bring a nice sleeping bag, thats what i do alot of things could happen in the course you sleeping while the motor is running...i sure would not do it if it was hot outside, i've always been curious how semis can idle for hours on end while the trucker sleeps...i know diesels run alot cooler then gassers but it seems like alot of wear?

 

 

They run around the same temps as automotive engines. Infact idling is not good for trucks either,, it pollutes the air, it increases the fuel in the oil, and can effect the new aftertreatment systems on trucks now..

 

The reason they idled so much is because of a seemingly unlimited amount of fuel under the cab.. And the fact that a 14 liter engine can idle on about a gallon an hour.

[leverlution]

I will ask the obvious, why not stop at a hotel or something?

 

Cash. Company isn't picking up the tab until Monday. Already paying for one night in a hotel out of pocket so I'm not driving 14 hours and going STRAIGHT to work. Can't spring for two nights. This was kind of a last minute deal.

 

I have a good -20 mummy bag, just didn't know if the inside of the truck would get "dangerously" cold up in the northern US. Appreciate the input. I may try just the bag. Just worried I won't wake up if it gets too cold. I don't wake up easily.

 

Any of you that have ran them for a long period of time at idle remember how much gas you burned?

 

Thanks all, every bit of input helps

[SD 6.4]

Longest I've ever idled my truck was for 6 hours. Middle of nowhere, and I couldn't keep on driving, so I pulled over and slept like a baby with the truck on.

 

I'd say go for it! There are plenty of trucks and cars that idle 24/7 and they exceed 300k+.

[Hieneken49]

u can get some pretty cheap deals on motels late at night off the highway. if your in the sticks somewhere id say 30 bucs should get u a night in a motel.

[leverlution]

Longest I've ever idled my truck was for 6 hours. Middle of nowhere, and I couldn't keep on driving, so I pulled over and slept like a baby with the truck on.

 

I'd say go for it! There are plenty of trucks and cars that idle 24/7 and they exceed 300k+.

 

Yea. That's kinda my plan. Drive as far as I can, pull over in a rest area and pass out when I get too tired. Hopefully western OH/Indiana area. Wake up, use the facilities, and keep going. Just wanna have an idea of what the expect gas wise if I have to run the heat. Although, its been in the teens/low 20s at night here lately and the inside of the truck doesn't get THAT cold.

[KMGZ400]

i would not be comfortoble leaving it running that long. maybe leave the heat on full blast for 15 mins before you go to sleep and then shut it off and it should stay warm for a while.

 

is your truck a CC or SB? where are you gonna sleep, the backseat?

[SD 6.4]

i would not be comfortoble leaving it running that long. maybe leave the heat on full blast for 15 mins before you go to sleep and then shut it off and it should stay warm for a while.

 

is your truck a CC or SB? where are you gonna sleep, the backseat?

 

There would be no point in having the heat on for 15 minutes, and then turning it off. The cabin can get cold in a minute or two.