Prolonged Idling???

There has been a few times lately that I have noticed I have left my truck idling for say 30 minutes to an hour in park. The truck only has 8k on it and it has been mainly during colder temps outside.

Anyone ever have any problems with doing this? I know its not the best thing for the engine and have heard horror stories from guys that have done it all the time with older trucks.

 

Cop cars do it all the time. I think your fine.

 

30 minutes to an hour? That is a long time, you taking a nap?

 

No, roadhead just distracts me too much... lol

 

yeah why do you leave it on for 30-an hour?

 

Well there has been a few times lately where if I'm working from the road I either am doing paperwork or even pulling over to work from my laptop while on the phone. It just has been too cold to shut the truck down and freeze my balls off.

 

ok....so ur bangin some chick in the back seat, and your worried about the truck runnin. haha I guess Id be too.

 

You know if your engine is heated up I dont see why it would hurt, but then again I dont know shit.

I just hope I have to leave my truck parked and on for all that road head!

 

My work truck stays on all day

 

From my understanding that's when its a good idea to run synthetic. Since you don't have the same coolant and oil circulation at idle, there is a little more heat that builds up internally.

That's what synthetic is good at, it retains its lubricating properties better under prolonged higher temperatures.

I do it all the time with mine running conventional oil.

 

Keep this in mind too, its always harder on something mechanical to be started, rather than leaving it running.

Actually under normal conditions, about the worse thing you can do to a engine is start it.

 

I have always heard that about starting an engine but I thought that really applied to diesels... I do keep an eye on the temp and if it wasnt so cold out I would turn it off. Just wondering.

Good info in the synthetic oil too... Didnt really think of that but you're right for sure.

 

Well you're killing your gas by letting it run idle but if it's a matter of you freezing or not I guess I'd also pick not freezing. The gas burns off faster when the truck is idling, also I wouldn't say it harms your engine but it does make it run which over time can reduce the performance of your engine.