Why leave a diesel running?
Diesel Bomber
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 29
From: Childress,TX
Thanks for the input. People complain about the fumes or that we waste fuel or about the noise. If people actually ask us about it we tell them why. Its tough to explain about exhaust temp and turbos to folks who have already made up their mind they dont like what you are doing. Also I attempt to explain about the air brakes, which bleed if not running the engine or plugged into the compressor at the station. I try and walk them though some of the electronics like lights, radios, chargers, monitors, suction, primer pumps, thermal cam and a bunch of other stuff. They think we waste fuel but really these rig consume about a gallon a hour at idle. Most of the time I think these folks just want something to bitch about. I am supposed to put the reasons we leave our rigs running onscene onour website to help explain and was just looking for more tips, so thank you and keep em coming
i would say the fact that your there to help them should mean enough that they shouldn't complain. if there house is on fire and they're trapped inside are they gonna be complaining that your truck is still running when you bring them out? i would hope not
Diesel Wrench
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 574
Likes: 29
From: ND
Just tell them the fire Dept doesn't have enough money to put new batteries or to replace the starter. So you have to leave the trucks running because it is to heavy to push start. Sometimes stupid questions deserve stupid answeres
Diesel Wrench
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 500
Likes: 36
From: MEADVILLE PA
Why leave a diesel running?
I'm not sure if you are a pump operator or not, but when it's cold outside, the truck needs to run with the pump in gear so that the water in the tank circulates and doesn't freeze. If the water freezes in the pump it'll split the pump and at that point you might as well just buy an entire new rig. Plus if it's dark outside (which at night is when people complain most about idling) and you need to run scene lights, something needs to be generating power. Those scene lights will drain your batteries in like 30 seconds haha. Actually, most trucks scene lights can't be turned on unless the unit is running. So tell the bystanders to let us do our job!!
Thread Starter
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Diesel Fan
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
I'm not sure if you are a pump operator or not, but when it's cold outside, the truck needs to run with the pump in gear so that the water in the tank circulates and doesn't freeze. If the water freezes in the pump it'll split the pump and at that point you might as well just buy an entire new rig. Plus if it's dark outside (which at night is when people complain most about idling) and you need to run scene lights, something needs to be generating power. Those scene lights will drain your batteries in like 30 seconds haha. Actually, most trucks scene lights can't be turned on unless the unit is running. So tell the bystanders to let us do our job!!
Diesel Wrench
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 500
Likes: 36
From: MEADVILLE PA
Why leave a diesel running?
If it's a volunteer service a lot of people just think they're jokes. There's really a lack of respect. I'm a firefighter/paramedic and it's rare to get a thank you out of everyone
Diesel Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 135
Likes: 3
From: Temple, Tx
Yeah tell those guys to buzz off. Cluless people are cluless people plain and simple. Your fine Idleing just use the hie idle switch! We got guys who will sit in the crashtrucks during a refuel and never kick the idle up. Its hard on the engine and other things. It helps keep the temps up in the cylinders kepps fuel from getting washed into the oil. Other things as well. If your running sence lights and pumping then your putting the engine under load anyway so thats all good. It takes a good bit on juce to turn over a big cat or detroit and those bateries need to recover and they need a bit of time to do so. Anyhow man thanks for what you do and dont argue with idiots .
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