Idling trucks is the cause of premature engine wear and causes problems within the aftertreatment systems of the truck. Truck engines manufactured today are designed to operate at higher temperatures to burn the impurities out of the combustion chambers of the engines. That is the reason your fan hub will not engage until the engine reaches between 200 and 205 degrees. While idling, your engine temperatures will never reach these levels. These higher temperatures will only be reached as you are driving down the roads or highways. Idling, the engine temperature will never reach the temperatures it needs to burn off these impurities, resulting in carbon packing of the piston rings and letting the impurities clog up the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters). This results in premature cleaning and baking the filters out.

At the end of the day, idling an engine costs much more than the fuel used during the idling time.

6 Tips on Keeping Your Idling Down

• Never idle for more than 1.5 hours at a maximum. Turn off truck for 2 hours. Repeat only if it necessary.
• Utilize idle only for short periods only to cool the truck off and then let the APU do what it’s supposed to: maintain temp.
• Try to avoid idling with the sunshine directly on the truck. Try to find a shaded area for your truck if possible. And use sun visors.
• If your loads will allow it, drive during the daylight hours and park and rest at night. It is much easier to keep your cab cool without the sunshine beating down on your rig.
• Always pre-cool your bunk area before your break begins. Your APU will maintain that temperature longer and will not have to work near as hard pulling the temperature down.
• Lastly, Keep your bunk curtains closed. Any APU is designed to only cool the bunk area, not the whole cab area of the truck.