How long can you idle a 2008 LMM

[EdSpaek]

With winter coming and a future project on a wind farm scheduled for this January, I have the need to idle the truck for periods of 8 hours a day to stay warm. Can the exhaust particulate filter handle this if I drive on the highway in excess of 50mph at the end of each day to regenerate it?

[Kennedy]

It's hard to say, but from what I have learned at the very least it will not be happy. Many that idle even less have had issues. If you are in the "bio belt" I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be worse yet.

One of my customers ran a PTO for what I believe was a toilet service using a Kodiak. Nothing but trouble until the truck was lobotomized and now all is well.

[LanduytG]

With winter coming and a future project on a wind farm scheduled for this January, I have the need to idle the truck for periods of 8 hours a day to stay warm. Can the exhaust particulate filter handle this if I drive on the highway in excess of 50mph at the end of each day to regenerate it?

I wouldn't even think about idling for a long period of time. Not only will the DPF not like you are prematurely wearing out the engine. Plus increased oil changes due to fuel dilution. There are other ways to stay warm but it cost about $1200 to do so. The Espar will run you out on heat and uses very little fuel.

Greg

[drakeremoray]

Hi guys,
Totally new to diesels and was wondering why your not supposed to let them idle? I have an 07 LBZ with 95k on it. I am doing Insurance Adjusting work and let it sit and idle for 20 min at a time while I scope damages, is that a bad thing?

More questions on the way but I am in research mode now to try and find the answers first.

Thanks, Stephen

[DmaxMaverick]

Hi guys,
Totally new to diesels and was wondering why your not supposed to let them idle? I have an 07 LBZ with 95k on it. I am doing Insurance Adjusting work and let it sit and idle for 20 min at a time while I scope damages, is that a bad thing?

More questions on the way but I am in research mode now to try and find the answers first.

Thanks, Stephen

Welcome aboard!

Idling your LBZ is no more concerning than any previous model. Later models, however, have new EPA gadgets that are not as friendly with long idling periods. Your 20 periods won't damage your engine. At most, you may experience premature EGR sooting, but they don't seem to be developing a trend attributed to any specific habit, other than higher power fueling modifications. There are methods for dealing with that issue (so it will never be an issue), but to do such a thing for on-highway use wouldn't be entirely lawful.

[Mark Rinker]

For what its worth...I have never logged hours, just miles on all the trucks below, but every single one has spent many, many, hours idling. Every single one (with the exception of the Kodiak) had a snowplow hung on it, so 100F summer peaks and -40F winter lows. Most of the long idling is in the winter, simply to keep the cab warm during breaks in the rounds of snowplowing commercial 24x7 convenience stores.

I never shut off my truck, from dawn until dusk when traveling hauling boats all summer - but the idle times are much less.

Only one winter of observation with the current 2009 LMM, but in spring/summer/fall its normal day is 10-12hrs of continuous running, whether I am rolling, fueling, etc. In the summer I would shut off the truck for a long lunch, but that is a rarity in itself. The LMM does have a great high idle feature, that brings the RPM up when the truck gets too cool at idle. It keeps the temps up, and the cab warm. I also leave the winter front in place for anything <10F. Above that, I take them off. The colder it is, the more likely I am to leave the truck running when away. i.e if its -20f and we go in for breakfast, then its going to run for an hour or two for sure until I go back outside.

I was afraid that the LMM would be a fuel waster. In actuality as its gotten broken in from 15K to now over 65K, the mileage has been going up and the unloaded (emptry trailer) averages are better than any other truck. My loaded / unloaded averages are over 11mpg, with stock tuning and stock DPF.

Not changing anything. Not even my idling habits. If the truck gets unhappy and sets a code, then I'll react to that. My suggestion for this thread owner would be to FEARLESSLY do the same, and see what happens, before worrying about it.

LIKE A ROCK!

[EdSpaek]

Guys

From necessity and experience this past winter I have idled my 2008 for 8 hours straight and have found as long as I drive the truck on the highway that evening to regenerate I did not have any issues. We have 30 of the silverados and a few of our guys state they will occasionally get a regenerate warning on the dash and will then have to leave the site and drive on the highway until the truck regenerates and the warning message clears

[Kennedy]

Excessive idle time is more a waste of fuel than anything else. I have a remote start on my 2005 and it has a 22 minute? timer. In the cold of winter or the hot of summer I will often step out and activate remote take over to keep the climate control operational with locked doors and no key inside. On our trips I will often leave on remote take over while stopped at a rest area as well.