Leaving it idle for heater

[DanMK7uk]

Hi guys

My two vans In signature

Any big issues leaving them running say an hour a time ?

Iv no catch can so assume my inlet manifold will not be greatful anything else to worry about EGR etc ? Any possibility’s it will bother them ?

Im gonna pull the inlet in spring and decoke it all anyway.

Cheers

[metalworker0]

Well i can tell you what my connect would do if subjected to what you suggest.

If stated up from cold with the heater on and blowing .. at what it's been today; 5 degrees c
Well it will never reach operating temperature, not even in 1 hour... it will probably hover around the first segment on the gauge, and barely putting any warmth into the van.

Diesels don't make much heat at tick over ... as unlike petrol that ticks over at 14:1 a diesel ticks over at 50:1 ... so no real heat made.

It will not be good for the engine and the EGR will be open all the time this is going on .. so depositing crap in the inlet tracts and the back of the valves, the oil will not really warm up and will be unable to achieve full flow, condensate will form in the engine. dpf will clog sooner.

Suggestion .. it used to Eberspacher or Webesto diesel heaters that was fitted as optional extra costing 1000's ---- they were an expensive option .. but in recent years the Chinese are now making full kits for any vehicle for as low as £70.

all the best.mark

[bortaf]

Mine often idles for 30 mins or so, it allways makes it up to temp (water) within 20 mins ish, when i drive off it pours out smoke but it clears after a few mins of having the engine loaded (in my case i think it's the turbo seals), my vans approaching 300K and it's been idled LOADS all it's life as an ambulance BUT it's had an immaculate service record, i don't like doing it often i tend to use the diesel heater when i can but someimes i need a charge and heat so it gets idled once a month over winter.

[T350camper]

Hi Dan,

I notice one of your vans is a camper. Does it have a diesel heater? I've just spent the night in mine at Silverstone where the ambient temp was just above zero. The diesel heater was fantastic...in fact it was impossible to leave it on full for more than 30 minutes as it became so hot in the van that it was uncomfortable. Used less fuel than the engine would and was quiet. I wouldn't want to leave an engine running unattended for that long...if anything started to go wrong...who'd turn it off in time? Also consider your insurance...if any toe-rag decides to steal it, you wont be covered.