| Author |
Message |
bobm (68.35.160.48)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 3:41 pm: | |
I keep my 4104 at an RV storage site with no shore power. I usually try to run the unit once a month and drive for an hour. A diesel mechanic friend says winter starts solely for the purpose of a monthly start is not benefiting the longevity of the DD671. He suggests removing the batteries to keep them charged and letting the unit sit until needed or until spring whichever comes first |
John Feld (Deacon) (150.199.209.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 4:53 pm: | |
I agree with your mechanic. |
FAST FRED (63.233.189.76)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 5:50 am: | |
Your mechanic is correct IF you only started the unit and Ideled it to death.
However about an hours ride IS enough (almost) to warm up the rest of the coach running gear.
IF your attempting to keep the entire coach in good running order , Keep doing what your doing , but contemplate stretching the drive out to 2 hours , or 100 miles , monthly.
The time & fuel is the lowest cost investment in the entire coach you can make.
Plus you learn a bit on every run.
FAST FRED |
John Rigby (24.174.233.93)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 8:35 pm: | |
Great input Fred.Your correct Every outing is a wonderful experince.Its just great to be behind the wheel.
John |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.210.156)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:49 pm: | |
Hello bobm.
I'm with FF and John Rigby!
Drive that bus!
Everything just keeps working well if you run it regularly. All sorts of problems start cropping up if you leave it sitting. Cooling system, injectors, air system, auto tranny, brake linings rusting to the drums, etc.
When it was in fleet use, it was started cold every day, or left idling. You won't hurt it starting it once a month and then taking it on a good run. Don't idle it any longer than to get the air pressure up. It warms up better driving it.
A qualifying note or two: provided you aren't overdosing on ether to get it started. In that case, the engine damage is due to misuse of ether, not winter starting!
Also, it would be prudent to choose warmer days, not the 40 below ones! Without some form of engine heater, the oil will be awfully thick, and cranking speeds for starting will be slow, requiring the use of some ether to help start. It's ok for your once a month drive to stretch to 6 weeks or more...
You are pulling the battery switch while the coach is parked, so the batteries will be fine when you return?
(I had the misfortune of having to leave mine sitting for 5 months in the storage yard without starting due to leaking fuel tank issues. Put the battery switch back on, and it started as if it had only been shut off the day before.)
Does that mechanic actually have any of his own money invested in a heavy diesel engine, or ever plans to? Somehow, I doubt he does.
Talk is cheap, as they say.
I'll add that it would be good to refill the fuel tank near the end of your monthly drive, since the fluctuating winter thermometer promotes condensation in partly empty fuel tanks.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Nick Morris (Nick3751) (65.117.139.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 8:10 pm: | |
Just out of curiousity, Bus warrior or whoever, I've always heard that if you have to leave a diesel running for a while you should idle it up. Also would it be benificial to let one run at say 1500-1800. Personally I'd rather go for a drive but just for my book of facts. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.211.195)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 12:00 am: | |
Hi Nick.
It is popularly held by the bus community that engaging a fast idle device when idling is a good thing for oil pressure and primarily to make more electricity for all of the fans and lights. The truck folks are less likely to support fast idle, since they don't have the electrical demands.
I would think that 1500 to 1800 is a little fast to be running an unloaded engine. Fast idle is somewhere down near 1000, a little lower for a four stroke, a little higher for a two stroke.
In winter conditions, for me, if all I could do is idle the engine and not drive it, I'd be thinking to not bother starting it at all. The engine will not reach anywhere near operating temperature, a lot of unburned fuel will be washing down the cylinder walls into the oil, and more than likely, there will be a lot of burning oil smoke from the loose fitting parts whacking around in there.
Yes, "whacking around in there" is now promoted to a technical term... feel free to use it where appropriate, and in suitable company.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
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