Why is it so often I see diesel trucks filling up without shutting off their engine? Its not like a diesel light duty truck is difficult to start. It happened just today with a guy filling up a POS 15 year old Dodge with a Cummins. Not real pleasant having to breath the fumes while he filled his 30 gallon tank. Just wondering.

Aggiemike96 said:

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Texasclipper said:

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breath the fumes

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You're referring to the sweet smell of diesel exhaust?

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Yes, I believe I am!

Picard said:

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You don't mess with a Dodge that's actually running. Restarting it could lead to a drive shaft failure or a fire.

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This doesn't apply to the vehicle you described, but for my Duramax, if the vehicle is going through regeneration and you turn it off too many times which interrupts the regen process, it makes you continue to drive until regen is over. So, when I am in regen, I let it idle instead of turning off when only stopping for a moment.

But, I have DPF so you pretty much don't smell anything anyway.

Be sure to tell refineries that diesel won't burn from hot surfaces.

I'm sure they could save a ton of money on safety stuff and not having to install it.

You could make a mint by being a consultant and tell them that.

~egon

schmendeler said:

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Because big trucks do it.

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Twucks. And this is exactly why. Same with running lights on top of pickups. Big twucks have them.

If you are seeing this behavior in Baytown, Pasa-git down- dina, etc. the driver probably works in one of refineries/Chem Plants where they have been trained that diesel engines are safer than gas engines in areas with the potential for flammable vapors. Or they could just be lazy and want to keep the truck nice and cool.....

I will say it is a little spooky to watch a diesel engine suck in flammable vapors and start to "run away" and you cant shut it off......

IDAGG said:

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schmendeler said:

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Because big trucks do it.

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Twucks. And this is exactly why. Same with running lights on top of pickups. Big twucks have them.

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There's a certain vehicle width where DOT requires those lights. It's why the Raptor has them stock as well as some of the other HD trucks.

I'm sure they get added too though.

TMoney2007 said:

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IDAGG said:

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schmendeler said:

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Because big trucks do it.

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Twucks. And this is exactly why. Same with running lights on top of pickups. Big twucks have them.

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There's a certain vehicle width where DOT requires those lights. It's why the Raptor has them stock as well as some of the other HD trucks.

I'm sure they get added too though.

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80"+ width it's required. Which is why most 1/2 ton - 1 ton SRW trucks are right at the edge of that limit. Dually's it's required because the wheel wells in the back stick out. Raptors are 86.3" wide, which is why they have to have them, but they are more subtle than the HD trucks. Since they have to put them on the dually's, the truck cabs can all be outfitted, and some just choose to get them. My wife hates all the lights, so we opt out.

I'll offer a little bit more of an actual scientific/engineering answer...

Diesel engines actually vibrate much more and much more violently upon the startup of the engine as compared to gasoline engines, thus the actual reason to keep the diesel running is to reduce the number of times to start the engine to minimize this vibrational damage.

The flip side is that since diesel engines are much heavier they handle the vibrations during idle much better than the lighter gasoline engines.

The requirement of DPF/SCR/EGR in the modern diesel engines does provide a counter argument to the diesel idle as you will clog the DPF more regularly creating additional exhaust back pressure more often until regen is complete.

I do it to keep my turbo cool if I've been running it hard

Centerpole90 said:

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They teach you that at diesel pickup school. Start it in the morning and kill it when you get home at night.

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You laugh, but when I drove a dodge diesel service truck for septic work, that's what I did.

Start it when I leave in the morning, and it'll run or idle until I get back.

milkman00 said:

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Texasclipper said:

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a POS 15 year old Dodge with a Cummins.

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You lack of diesel knowledge is evident.

That POS is one of the best year models Dodge made. Many of them are selling for half price of new despite 200k on them.

Were you at a place that sells diesel at every pump? If not, try using a pump further from the diesel pumps so I don't have to wait for one of the two bays that sell diesel while you fill up your gas vehicle, when plenty of other gas only pumps are available.

Thanks.

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Yes, i admit that. The only diesel i use regularly is a 1969 International diesel tractor. I ocasionally fill it up at a nearby gas station and and always shut it off.

I experienced this latest incident at a WalMart gas station and i was across from from the dude and not blocking a diesel pump with my lowly gasser.
>
So the answers I have gleaned from this are:

- cuz we can and there no danger of explosion of fuel vapors unlike you gassers
- Twucks, cuz the big boys do it we should to
- preserve the turbo bearings
- keep the A/C on

Or cause my starter is out, I'm not parked on a hill, & I'll replace it when I get around to it.

I mainly just do it because I can. If you weren't 'requested' to shut your gas engine off at the pump, would you still do it? Keeps the A/C cool in summer time, I don't have to worry about the kids in there when they are with me, etc.

I never shut my gas truck off at the pumps in the Summer.

I rarely shut my gas vehicles at the pump either. After living in Chicago for almost 7 years you learn that continuous heat is just as good as A/C in a Houston summer.

It just smells really good. That's all.

#7.3life