Tractor idling

[Alan46]

Hi all,
I was wondering what is the norm for letting my Kioti 3 cylinder diesel idle between using and then doing some hand work, say for 5 to 10 minutes. Would you shut it down or let it idle? Thanks as always for the expert advice!

 

[tacticalturnip]

I'll idle my Kioti for 5 or so minutes at a time, occasionally longer. I've always been under the impression that a diesel would much rather idle than start and stop repeatedly.

 

[seville009]

Idling won’t hurt it; I’d let it idle.

 

[ptsg]

Depends on the mood most of the times. Some times I let it run, other times I shut it down. Other times I alternate. Let it idle 2 or 3 times in a row and shutdown the 4th time.

 

[scootr]

Normally I would say let it idle but with a regen system you are loading up the muffler with unburnt particles that will need to be burned off sooner or later by a regen cycle. So anymore than 5 min I would turn her off.

 

[ericm979]

I'll turn it off if it's going to be idling for more than a few minutes or I'm working with another person and need to communicate. It's a quiet tractor but you're still raising your voice to be heard. I'll turn it off if I smell exhaust fumes as I don't like diesel exhaust. Sometimes I'll turn it off just to have quiet.

I think that the idea of letting diesels idle because they're hard to start comes from the old days of gas pony engines instead of electric starters and big truck engines that were hard to fire up. Modern CUT diesels start easily.

 

[rScotty]

I'll turn it off if it's going to be idling for more than a few minutes or I'm working with another person and need to communicate. It's a quiet tractor but you're still raising your voice to be heard. I'll turn it off if I smell exhaust fumes as I don't like diesel exhaust. Sometimes I'll turn it off just to have quiet.

I think that the idea of letting diesels idle because they're hard to start comes from the old days of gas pony engines instead of electric starters and big truck engines that were hard to fire up. Modern CUT diesels start easily.

That's the same as I do. And for all the same reasons I often work it at idle or a fast idle....rarely at full chat unless on the road going somewhere.

 

[ruffdog]

If it is cold out and the tractor isn't really up to full temp, I would let it idle. Otherwise I would shut it off, especially in hot weather.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I dont idle a lot, but I’ll let it sit at 1800 RPM while doing other things.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

Not advisable. I was letting it warm up to full temp for snowblowing and not shutting it off doing other things.
Not anymore. Newer diesels don’t like it.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

No engine likes to idle. But for some reason many think that it's okay to let diesels do it.

That's probably because truckers used to do it while stopped for the night, to get heating or cooling. And those engines' piston rings weren't even made to seal at idle.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

No engine likes to idle. But for some reason many think that it's okay to let diesels do it.

That's probably because truckers used to do it while stopped for the night, to get heating or cooling. And those engines' piston rings weren't even made to seal at idle.

I had a boss who would ask if the starter on that dump truck you’re driving is broken? If not why is it still running?

 

[Alan46]

Thanks everyone for the advice!
It’s a 2005 so no regen system!

 

[scootr]

View attachment 807555
Not advisable. I was letting it warm up to full temp for snowblowing and not shutting it off doing other things.
Not anymore. Newer diesels don’t like it.

It's not your grandpa's Kubota -
Get a kick out diesel truck owners who feel they have to leave it running while they go into the store to shop or whatever.
I call it Big Rig syndrome

 

[tacticalturnip]

It's not your grandpa's Kubota -
Get a kick out diesel truck owners who feel they have to leave it running while they go into the store to shop or whatever.
I call it Big Rig syndrome

People still do that? Crazy as the world is now? That's a good way to get your pretty truck stolen.

 

[LouNY]

Depending on the temperatures I may let my pickup idle when I go in some place in town for the AC or heat.
Same with my tractors if I going to be more comfortable if I leave it idling I do so.

 

[Cycledude]

Turbo equipped ?

 

[tibadoe]

I let all my diesels idle within reason with no issue.

 

[John0829]

A diesel doesn't care about starting and stopping anymore than a gas engine does, the reason to idle your diesel is if you have a turbo. Idling lets the oil cool down the turbo bearings before shutting down to help prevent the oil from coking and plugging up oil ports.

 

[IndyJay]

Normally I would say let it idle but with a regen system you are loading up the muffler with unburnt particles that will need to be burned off sooner or later by a regen cycle. So anymore than 5 min I would turn her off.

Scootr, that is what I thought when I bought my DK4510, that you want to keep RPMs up and not run at idle. I have rethought that recently thinking that you should not lug the engine, I.E. work it at low RPM. I think that parked idle is not going to load up the DEF because the engine is sipping fuel at idle and burning it completely.

Others, if I am wrong, please tell me where I am wrong. I do let it idle a several minutes before shutting down from hard working as well. I can see where running under load at low RPM would load up the DEF.