sitting idle

[bassnailer]

My fuel economy sucks right now. I'm getting about 400K per tank, so that's working out to about 8L/100(ish) I don't have a heavy foot, I drive rather slow. But I do have a turbo timer set for one minute. Is Idling an extra couple of minutes per ride going to really has an impact on my fuel consumption? Another question; is idling a diesel for any prolonged length of time a bad thing for the engine? (an apprentice diesel mechanic said it was, but I didn't like the guy very much, so I didn't believe him).

[jessef]

Idling a diesel is horrible for longevity.

12L/100km is average for winter diesel/driving.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Have you checked your air filter lately?

Falco.

[Luna-Sea]

is idling a diesel for any prolonged length of time a bad thing for the engine?

Yes,but the key word is "prolonged",I would say your turbo timer set up is
a good thing,especially after a good hard run.(cooling the turbo by running oil through)

As far as my understanding goes an idling diesel left to its own can build
up carbon deposits,coke ect. A good highway run is always a good opportunity
to blast out and burn off build up.
You can read/hear of stories of "italian-tune ups",
where an engine has become sluggish from too much slow,stop n go type driving.
This is remedied by the mentioned highway run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_tuneup
http://www.delica.ca/forum/the-italian- ... -8157.html
Definitely want to be sure your cooling system ect. are all A-1
before going to overboard.

Falco may indeed have it right with checking your air filter,
a good cheap easy place to start looking for your other 4L/100km for sure.
Do you use any additives? Might be some crappy fuel too.
Start there before going onto dirty/sticky injectors ect.



Good Luck!
Right On!

[bassnailer]

Well, my air filter is clean, and I am getting around 8k's, not 4, thankfully. I don't any additives either. My last fill was at shell. I normally don't use shell, but time and place dictated that event. So, i filled up with there premium type diesel. (had a funky name, can't remember it). Any how, I thought I was getting much better economy with it as I hit 300k at half tank. But the bottom half went in 100k's. Go figure.
Italian tune-up, eh? Should I have a pyro installed before attempting such a thing, or just go for it. The rad and hose are new, and I just topped up the fluids. I'm driving out to maple ridge later (from vancouver), maybe I'll give it a shot. Any recommendations?

[jessef]

how many times have you filled up and are you just ballparking your mileage ?

Note the odometer. Fill up. Note the amount /liters that go in. Drive and repeat. Then see how many km's you went on how many liters.

The fuel gauges can be off.

Winter driving with diesel is a little worse mpg than summer due to colder weather, winter diesel blend.

Average : 12L/100km so approx 50L / 400km

[FalcoColumbarius]

I'm not all that hot on Shell diesel, filled up the other month at Shell (they were cheaper in price) and my mileage was inferior to when I fuel up at Mohawk. I personally feel Diesel Max is generally the best fuel available on the retail level. I would like to understand diesel better so I can make the Miss Lil' Bitchi perform better ~ internet & truck stop diners are good for that.

Falco.

[nxski]

Last time I was talking to one of those "truck stop" guru guys I was told to put in 0.5 - 1 litre of transmission fluid with every fill-up and to give the engine a good workout every once in a while. I don't know how much actually works and how much is personal opinion etc... I like to see some solid statistics before I decide to promote anything.

[bassnailer]

I heard the same thing about AT fluid, but I have yet to try it. I'll give the diesel max a try, too, for shits and giggles. See how that goes. I live close to petro-can so that is where I have been getting the bulk of my fuel.

Anyhow, I was thinking about hitting the scales, weighing in and resetting my trip; drive for a couple hundred KM's and re-weigh. Do a little math, (make a little love, get down a lot) and see where I'm really at for fuel consumption.

I wanna go veggie.

[jessef]

AT fluid is okay. Same with veg. You're adding a lubricant. 2stroke oil is another good alternative.

[deli1733]

Are you running your van until your fuel light comes on, it takes quite a while to on E for that light to come on.

[bassnailer]

I have never let my fuel get so low that the light comes on. I was starting to think that the light may be broken. Maybe my fuel econ is not so bad as I thought. Maybe everything is ok after all.

[tonydca]

My L400 gauge is uber-conservative; probably a legacy from manufacturing aircraft

My gauge hits E at around 1/3 Full (25L left in a 75L tank). When the fuel light finally goes on, I have around 16L left.

My worst-case wintertime urban-leadfooted driving averages about 14L/100Kms lately. The aforementioned Italian tuneup does seem to help clear the pipes once in a while.

[Shaun Van Ramen]

I recently had this discussion with my boss - he's been coachman for many years - he says the biggest issue with prolonged idle is you start to starve the top-end of oil.

At idle the oil pressure drops very low. Most big diesels, if left running, are at fast idle - keeps the oil pressure up. On our coaches low idle is around 600rpm / fast 1100rpm.

[deli1733]

I have never let my fuel get so low that the light comes on. I was starting to think that the light may be broken. Maybe my fuel econ is not so bad as I thought. Maybe everything is ok after all.

I thought my fuel light was broken too so i took a can of diesel with me and just drove until it came on, and it eventually did.