Truck Idling For Long Period Of Times, Any Long Term Damage?

07.5_Z71 · May 26, 2009

Without me getting into to many details about what my job is and involves, I sometimes have to be in my truck for long periods of time, 6 hours and sometimes longer.. Of course down here in Louisiana it is hot. So my truck stays running alot parked. I shut my engine off as much as I can and still be comfortable but all in all it stays idling alot... Might be a dumb question to some of you, but I am curious so I will ask. Will this constant idling cause any long term harm to my truck?? Is there anything I can do to help the situation out? Of course I watch my thermostat and what not.. I noticed the other night that my truck was idling kind of funny, it was a little jumpy it felt like, could feel the vibration in my truck seat. Talked to the dealership and they said it was all within standards, but that is my reason for asking this question to all you guys...

Any comments and suggestions appreciated..

BuckFeverZ · May 26, 2009

I don't know but I'd be curious to see other peoples opinions.

07.5_Z71 · May 26, 2009

I don't know but I'd be curious to see other peoples opinions.

I am also, I have heard that constant idling could harm a civilian gas engine. Never was given a reason for this, just heard...

brims · May 26, 2009

I'm not an engine mechanic, not have I ever pulled apart an engine larger than 1 cc so this is purely a guess, but I don't think it would cause damage. Though it may develop a ridge on the piston wall that can crack the rings when you get on it, at high RPMs with high heat, the piston stretches a little bit.

That rough idling might be the standard shimmy that these engines have at idle. It irritates the hell out of me, but it seems to be a common thing.

fcknmaw · May 26, 2009

Fuel dilution. Just keep on top of changing your oil, and you'll be fine.

P71_CrownVic · May 26, 2009

I don't know but I'd be curious to see other peoples opinions.

I am also, I have heard that constant idling could harm a civilian gas engine. Never was given a reason for this, just heard...

It pretty much ruined the valve train on my Crown Vic. Not the valves themselves, but where the chain runs on it's long path from the crank to the cam shafts.

But, it was a Ford, so that probably has a lot to do with it.

vikinghogue · May 26, 2009

I think it will hurt your catyliac converters idling for long periods of time.

Ra Lynn · May 26, 2009

My old man (ASE certified) would jump my ass if he ever saw me doing it. Don't know why, he just said I should always avoid it if I could.

allterrain08 · May 26, 2009

I have been told your oil generally doesn't circulate as well at idle. Not sure if its true.

ScottyBoy · May 26, 2009

I know one time my truck overheated due to idling in the Louisiana heat. I was helping a friend unload some furniture and boxex, etc from a self storage unit one weekend and it was very hot outside, so I left the kids inside the truck with the engine running and AC on. I had the TV playing, so they were content. After we got the trailer loaded, (about 45 mins or so), I jumped back in the truck and my temp guage was on 270 degreez and a "check coolant" message kept flashing on my instrument cluster. I immediatly shut off the engine and let it sit for about 15 mins, the temp went down to about 260, but still in the overheating range. I decided to drive it up the street to a gas staion and park it in the shade for a while to let it cool off. The gas station was onl;y a few hundred yards away, but actually driving that distance evidently got my fan moving faster which got my temp back down to 240 by the time I got up the street. Now I'm wondering if my truck would have even got so hot to begin with if I had electric radiator fans.

cbxeric · May 26, 2009

On a modern fuel injected engine, prolonged idling shouldn't be a problem. A Lot of the old issues went away with computerized engine controls and fuel injection. Of course its still good to blow the carbon out of it once in a while

bossier62guy · May 26, 2009

Read this online earlier....

Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

bossier62guy · May 26, 2009

I don't know but I'd be curious to see other peoples opinions.

I am also, I have heard that constant idling could harm a civilian gas engine. Never was given a reason for this, just heard...

By the way, just what is a civilian gas engine?

farmallcub · May 26, 2009

Try to avoid shutting down a hot engine. That is, one that's heated up from sitting idling. You need to try an cool it down a little before stopping the movement of all those parts. A short drive like you noticed Scottie, will get the coolant circulating, flow air across the radiator and engine. You might even notice a little throttle while sitting will help cool things down some.

I would say that if your temps stay under control idling, there would be no problem.

I think "civilian" engine means something other than a cop car or something designed to sit and idle.