Question

Figured I’d ask the pros. I have a 2015 and I’m wondering how bad is it that I sit in the car while leaving it running for a good 45 min 5 days a week waiting for the kids to get out of school bc it’s 3 digits and it’s just too hot to turn it off. But how bad is it that I’m doing this? I’m getting mixed information online most sites say it depends on your car. For the record I don’t care about wasting gas that doesn’t matter clearly or I wouldn’t be driving a lifted tundra as my DD thanks in advance

 

Use the Tundra as you need to. If I have to wait and it is -15F out it doesn't get shut off when waiting for the kids.

 

It's fine, just make sure you put your wine in a tumbler so no one notices.

 

I would probably think about doing oil changes more often and maybe add some fuel system cleaner/treatment every now and again to keep the carbon buildup to a minimum.

 

Epic thread title.

 

The only way to be more vague would be...

?

 

its not great, does wear items just like driving, but it is not going to blow the truck up or anything. It can make injectors, plugs need replacement sooner and it degrades the oil, but so does driving it. I would avoid it if you can but you will probably not have an issue with the amount of time you are talking about.

Here are some articles
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-long-can-you-leave-your-car-running
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...or-extended-periods-in-the-winter-156003.html
https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/auto-and-light-truck/articles/effects-of-excessive-engine-idling/

 

Whenever I’ve had to idle for an extended period of time, I tend to give it a little rev now and again. Don’t know if it helps but it makes me feel better LOL

 

Perfect. Thanks everyone.

 

For quite a few years I managed road work and I would need to be parked and idling for hours at a time. Flasher lights running, air conditioner on, working on the computer, printer working, etc. other than getting terrible mileage the only downside seemed to be short battery life and a need for shorter intervals between oil changes

 

You can also get an engine hour counter, and just do oil change for every 120-150hrs.

 

In my old job we used to idle trucks 8+ hours a day with only regular maintenance. They never blew up or broke down.

 

I’ve read that if you idle a lot you’re better off doing oil changes by time instead of miles , something like 250 - 300 hours .

 

So good to know thanks for the info

 

The only thing is your oil is being ran through the engine without the miles going up. Do oil changes more frequently than your normal 5k. That is about it.


Just a little more, company does utility pole inspections, so I'm sitting in my work vehicle for hours a day doing paperwork and computer work. I live in the south and theres no way I'm not running that AC, just keep the oil changed more frequently.

 

This is all you need to do. If you change the oil and it smells like fuel, change it a little sooner next time.

 

If I had access to the necessary equipment I would try to overdrive the fan to move more air over the engine and past the converters.

 

You could add dual electric fans if you want it to run cooler.

 

In my job we would have the vehicles running/ idling non stop. We would hot seat them. They ran all the time. Lots of idling to full throttle for brief periods. More frequent oil changes. We’d have rides w over 100k miles on them, that idled forever. Only manufacturer that gave any recommendations was Dodge, they wanted us to idle in N with parking brake on.

on another note, never buy a GOV vehicle at auction, it has not been maintained as well as you’d expect.

 

Ford fleet manual used to say 1hr = 33 miles, which I think was bit aggressive, and probably a push to retired cars early, but generally the hotter the climate 1hr = more miles, I figure at 150hr that'll equal to 3000 to 5000 miles, hour meters are relatively simple, it requires 12v so it only counts when alternator is on, some can sense vibration + 12v to count.

GM has lower hr to miles ratio, I think 1hr=25 miles, but then OPP sometimes don't even follow that rule, they still go by odometer and most of them have been fine.

 

Only Dodge would recommend something that dangerous. It is a neat trick to sell more vehicles.

 

What's the trick ?

 

Forgetting to engage the very important “parking brake” which leads to into something…which then leads to buying another Dodge…

 

Same here as I work for the state. i almost feel like GOV vehicles are serviced more than civilian vehicles....

For us at CalTrans, anytime it goes over mileage, we drop if off and it gets serviced. PMs (preventive maintenance) if different than oil changes. These POS Fords that are 2016 plus have almost had zero issues in regards to gas motors. The older triton v10s and else are PooPoo. dont even get me started with those issues...

Besides that and answering the OP, run that thing all day with the AC blasting. I wouldnt worry about the 5.7 having excessive wear from idling. They run forever.

 

Wouldn't you have to be out of the vehicle in order not to realize the truck is moving ?

 

Which 2015 CAR are we talking about?

 

Generally yes…but I have seen people do some really head scratching things in and with a vehicle. So at this point in life, nothing would surprise me hence why I agree that it’s a risky “recommended” procedure.