Shut it down or let it idle?

[Ironhand]

This weekend, I was pulling a number of small trees I had dropped across my lawn to an area I was going to burn the brush. I was pulling them to the pile, limbing them, piling the limbs, then grabbing the next tree. While I limbed each tree and piled the limbs, the tractor would idle for maybe 15 minutes each time.

I'm wondering, is it better for the tractor to idle and wind on the hours, or shut it down and restart? My first diesel...

 

[chickenman]

This weekend, I was pulling a number of small trees I had dropped across my lawn to an area I was going to burn the brush. I was pulling them to the pile, limbing them, piling the limbs, then grabbing the next tree. While I limbed each tree and piled the limbs, the tractor would idle for maybe 15 minutes each time.

I'm wondering, is it better for the tractor to idle and wind on the hours, or shut it down and restart? My first diesel...

i have a 4310 who's engine was first used for a generator so i understand and was designed to run at 3600 continuously, on the tractor it's derated to 2850 or so

diesels like to run at speed and carbon up at slower speeds

 

[beenthere]

I shut mine down if I don't want to listen to the noise. Don't see any reason to burn fuel and add wear/tear to the engine as long as it will start up when needed.
If it were old and tired, or weak battery and I didn't want to get hung out in a remote area, then I'd prolly leave it running.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Why idle - ever? If you get off the machine it should be off, if your off for more than a few short minutes.

Shutting it down saves fuel, wear and tear, hour meter ( for resale ) a idle hour counts the same as a working hard hour, safety reasons,.

 

[20 20]

I agree shut it down if it's going to be more the 5min.

 

[JD755]

Another vote for 5 minutes. That's what I do. My manual also refers to carbon buildup.

 

[Kubota 2350]

I uasualy shut down if it's going to be over 5 mins.

 

[texasjohn]

I always shut down. Have found that once I get off things tend to take time and it's a while until I am back in the seat....IMHO, anything more than 30 seconds warrants a shut down. Exception would be if you have been running at high RPM a long time and it is hot...and needs a cool down period at idle.

 

[Ironhand]

Great. Thanks for the quick replies.

 

[DANOCHEESE]

Depends on the temp outside. If it is cold -10 Let the thing run.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

There was a thread on this several months ago. As I recall, most folks tended to shut down after a certain amount of time was expected to elapse. In most cases, I tend to shut down if I expect to idle more than about 5 minutes.

That's about all I'll let it idle before I shut it off...

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Why idle - ever? If you get off the machine it should be off, if your off for more than a few short minutes.

Shutting it down saves fuel, wear and tear, hour meter ( for resale ) a idle hour counts the same as a working hard hour, safety reasons,.

I agree.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Normally I let it idle only when: I'm picking up something off the ground, hooking up a rope/chain, loading the loader by hand, or going in the house to get the camera to take pictures for TBN...

 

[tungularafishcamp]

What about the other hand, like your using it intermittantly but it is freezing or below and you need it every 20 minutes, do you shut it off so it gets cold and then stays cold and your starting a cold motor all day or do you leave it idle even though your using it 5 minutes out of every half hour or so? Rick

 

[CompactTractorFan]

What about the other hand, like your using it intermittantly but it is freezing or below and you need it every 20 minutes, do you shut it off so it gets cold and then stays cold and your starting a cold motor all day or do you leave it idle even though your using it 5 minutes out of every half hour or so? Rick

I haven't had the tractor in cold weather yet...I guess time will tell...

 

[RoyJackson]

I'll let it idle (at about 1200-1500 RPM) for 5 minutes...then I shut it down.

 

[Zebrafive]

No more than 5 minutes at 1200 rpm, not lower. Any longer than that, shut it down (with proper cool down time).

 

[RoyJackson]

No more than 5 minutes at 1200 rpm, not lower. Any longer than that, shut it down (with proper cool down time).

That idle at 1200 RPM (or so) with no load would be quite adequate for cool down, I should think...

 

[chickenman]

most wear on an engine is at start up

 

[RoyJackson]

most wear on an engine is at start up

True...so we have a dilemma...reduce start ups by leaving it idling, or use fuel and possibly coke up the engine.
Which shall it be?

For my choice, read post #17...but I don't stop too often. If I see something I want to pick up or move, etc; I'll finishing the first job (mowing or whatever) and go back.

BTW, you could install a pre-oiler.