Cool down period?

[NewfieDan]

Do any of you take few minutes to let your Diesel engine cool down before shutting down completely. This struck me the other day after driving my truck out on the highway.

My truck has a turbo that requires me cool down to a specific level. I don't like to shut down my truck with the turbo above a specific temperature. This requires me to take a few minutes to let my truck idle to bring the temp in the turbo down.

Does the same apply to SCUT tractors? I know they don't have turbos, but do diesels in tractors need a cool down period.

 

[davesl708]

I let my BX idle down for a few minutes after work. Lets me listen for any problems.

 

[msb1766]

In my manual it says to let the engine idle for 2 minutes before turning off, I have a Yanmar diesel engine no turbo.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

I treat mine like I treat any other motor. Throttle it down and let it idle for about a minute then shut down. I would probably idle longer if it was really hot. However, this is my first diesel so someone with more experience will hopefully chime in.

 

[MHarryE]

From the time I started working with my dad in his farm implement agency in the 50's the word we drummed into our customers was to always idle for several minutes before shutting down so engine parts cooled evenly. That was driven home on some of the equipment we sold that had Wisconsin air cooled engines - back when tractors didn't have the PTO power to properly run pull type combines, balers and the like. If you plugged a combine or baler the rule was first to start the engine as quickly as possible (hand crank days) before attacking the plug or the valves would seize. Early turbos needed to be cooled but things have improved so although it is still wise to idle after working hard, good solid engines can take a lot of abuse. Visiting test sites where my proto engines were running with the rest of customer's fleets, I would cringe at lunch time because all the drivers would come driving up to their personal vehicle and I swear turn the key to off before coming to a stop so they didn't miss a second of their lunch break and I never had a heat related engine failure. Still my own equipment gets idled for several minutes before stopping if it has worked hard but I have to admit my diesel cars never have had any idling before stopping although there is a cool down time between pulling off the highway and finding a parking place.

 

[DKCDKC]

I always allow an engine to run at idle for a few minutes before shutting down - gasoline or diesel. My father drilled that into me. I also retract the bucket on the tractor so the hydraulics are fully retracted and not exposed to the weather... And I flip up my seat. I park in a big shed, but rain and snow can and do blow in sometimes.

 

[Sodo]

If its been working "hard", putting out all its rated horsepower. For example running a brush hog, cultivator, working the soil, then yes. Maybe 20 seconds? A whole minute or a few if the temp guage was running high.

If all its been doing is moving the tractor around, or working the hydraulics, then i'd idle it for maybe 5 seconds before shutting down. One hundred one, one hundred two, one hundred three, one hundred four, one hundred five. Yep thats plenty!

 

[cormier]

I always do a walk around check before putting it away to make sure noting is out of the ordinary and let it idle for a minute or 2. If it needs greasing i do it while hot so the grease flows better and let idle while doing so. Mine is turbo so its better for it.

 

[vtsnowedin]

I follow the owners manual's advise on my turbocharged 5045E. If I stall it hot I immediately restart it and I let it idle a couple of minutes before shutdown to allow the turbo bearings to cool down. I expect the turbo will be one of the first parts to wear out as it works under such hot conditions. I'm trying to make it last as long as possible by treating it right as I go along.

 

[Baby Grand]

After working the tractor hard I take my time getting it back to the shed, running medium revs & very low torque.
Back it up into the shed in low gear and shut it down.
Maybe 3-4 minutes of cool down driving, then 1 minute to park it & off it goes.
Then drop the FEL, rock the loader stick thru curl & lift & drop the 3pt to relieve any hydraulic line pressure.

 

[Looking4new]

I grease and fuel while idling/cool down and when I back it into the shed I pay attention to the temperature gauge and if it isn't cool enough then I will idle for an additional 5 minutes.

 

[Zebrafive]

I too let it idle at least two minutes. There usually something I can do in those two minutes. I too do a quick check for anything abnormal, a walk around so to speak.

 

[bigbull338]

i idle my tractor for 3 or 4 minutes then shut it down.

 

[MoKelly]

I need to lower the ROPs before I put the tractor into the shop. So, the tractor idles while I lower the ROPs.

That is my cool down period.

MoKelly

 

[DK35vince]

When done using the tractor I will run it easy to get to the shed to park.
By then it has had enough cool down

 

[FTG-05]

If its been working "hard", putting out all its rated horsepower. For example running a brush hog, cultivator, working the soil, then yes. Maybe 20 seconds? A whole minute or a few if the temp guage was running high.

If all its been doing is moving the tractor around, or working the hydraulics, then i'd idle it for maybe 5 seconds before shutting down. One hundred one, one hundred two, one hundred three, one hundred four, one hundred five. Yep thats plenty!

This is what I do.

When I've been bushhogging and working the tractor hard but I need a break, I'll take the tractor into my shop and open up the hood while it's still idling. I'll then use compressed air to blow clean the radiator, which is almost always partially plugged up from field debris. By the time I'm done, it's cooled down all it's going to cool and I shut it off. I then blow clean the air filter 'cause it's usually pretty dirty as well.

 

[FTG-05]

If its been working "hard", putting out all its rated horsepower. For example running a brush hog, cultivator, working the soil, then yes. Maybe 20 seconds? A whole minute or a few if the temp guage was running high.

If all its been doing is moving the tractor around, or working the hydraulics, then i'd idle it for maybe 5 seconds before shutting down. One hundred one, one hundred two, one hundred three, one hundred four, one hundred five. Yep thats plenty!

This is what I do.

When I've been bushhogging and working the tractor hard but I need a break, I'll take the tractor into my shop and open up the hood while it's still idling. I'll then use compressed air to blow clean the radiator, which is almost always partially plugged up from field debris. By the time I'm done, it's cooled down all it's going to cool and I shut it off. I then blow clean the air filter 'cause it's usually pretty dirty as well.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would not just shut off a machine that has just been working, or one that has been running really hot in the middle of summer, but usually the trip back from whatever you were doing, at low revs is enough of a cool down in my book.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If its been working "hard", putting out all its rated horsepower. For example running a brush hog, cultivator, working the soil, then yes. Maybe 20 seconds? A whole minute or a few if the temp guage was running high.

If all its been doing is moving the tractor around, or working the hydraulics, then i'd idle it for maybe 5 seconds before shutting down. One hundred one, one hundred two, one hundred three, one hundred four, one hundred five. Yep thats plenty!

After working the tractor hard I take my time getting it back to the shed, running medium revs & very low torque.
Back it up into the shed in low gear and shut it down.
Maybe 3-4 minutes of cool down driving, then 1 minute to park it & off it goes.
Then drop the FEL, rock the loader stick thru curl & lift & drop the 3pt to relieve any hydraulic line pressure.

When done using the tractor I will run it easy to get to the shed to park.
By then it has had enough cool down

I would not just shut off a machine that has just been working, or one that has been running really hot in the middle of summer, but usually the trip back from whatever you were doing, at low revs is enough of a cool down in my book.

Thotful and realistically assessed posts. Turbo esp needs some cooldown after hi load condition. A bit less when using syn oil.
larry

 

[big bubba]

all sound advice here. my rule is while the engine is idling several minutes before a shutdown, i'll grab a beer & hang out a while, allowing us both to cool off after a workout. that way we both congratulate ourselves on work well done without any complaints....