My sister ask this question

Let's not forget about that 18 or 20 foot horse trailer (complete with 2 bales of last years road ditch grass *hay up on top) that we have to pull all over the country ..... .....Empty.

And let's park the whole noisy, smelly, smokin' shootin match right square in everyone's else's way.

Now, if we're gonna showboat this thing, let's do it right. :>)

Allan

Hear what you are saying. It is hotter n' blazes here too.

Did ya pick up on the fact that I like to stir the pot a little? :>)

A good one to you and yours,

Allan

Like buickanddeere said, it's the maucho thing. Everyone around my neck of the woods that has a Ford diesel that's 4wd thinks they are hot stuff. Get out of my way the road is mine or I'll run over you. And every time there is an accident on the interstate coming to work, one is involved.....like this morning.
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One benefit is diesels don't generate the heat gas fired engines do so in the summer time, it can idle, not overheat, and keep the truck cool with the A/C. Since fuel efficiency at idle is the best, it's cheap.

On long time idling truckers in the North especially, during the winter leave their engines on as it saves the wear and tear trying to get it started the next morning, and if they are in the bunk, it provides some heat. I know one trucking company that had specific procedures and time limits for it's drivers with respect to this subject.

There is the cool down potential damage problem however and that has to be factored in when it's cold outside and your engine is running cool. That's one reason for the zip up blinds on the radiator. When you don't want her cool, close off the radiator air.

Mark

Chevy recommends a few minutes cool-down, at most, for the turbo.

1hr per day at 5days at $1.75gal = $1365 in #2 per year.

I can't see it myself.

A Turbo needs 5 minutes after pulling GCWR on a flat road, 10minutes after pulling a grade.

Empty at hi-way speed it needs the trip to the house from the hi-way then shut off.

Any longer than 10 minutes of idle will cause wet stacking thats far more harmful to a pick-up diesel engine than shut off and restarting.

T_Bone

BUT..... in cold climates, it's a different picture. Up here, where it gets down very close to 50 below quite often, if you plan to shut a diesel off for any more than an hour, you best be inside a heated building or beside an electrical outlet to plug in engine heaters, or be rich enough to afford a fuel fired engine heater. I sure can't! Our trucks at work run for most of the winter. They cool down mighty quick when it's that cold, and I've seen them not start when shut down for 2 hours. Then it can be days before we can get them started again. My own trucks and tractor I don't start at all in the winter unless they're gonna be running most of the day or for a long trip.