diesels are they ok be left to tick over for a longish time?
Discussion
http://www.amazon.co.uk/15000mAh-Portable-External...
Got one of these a couple of years ago, does a good job.
Got one of these a couple of years ago, does a good job.
MJK 24 said:
Willy Nilly said:
Just about the worst thing you can do to a diesel engine is let it idle.
Ice Cream vans seem to manage ok at festivals in the summer!where a car running to power a selection of low voltage, low current electronics is under no effective load compared to idling.
It won't mean instant engine demise, but lots of idling or running at next to no load will cause carbon buildup in cylinders, on valves, in turbos, DPF etc. If it's infrequent and followed by a good run under load (e.g. Driving home on the motorway) you'll probably get away with it. Just be aware that it might cause you problems in future.
Don't know if it would be a practical option for you, but you can pick up small petrol generators for under a hundred quid. Would certainly save wear and tear on your car.
Don't know if it would be a practical option for you, but you can pick up small petrol generators for under a hundred quid. Would certainly save wear and tear on your car.
shake n bake said:
Willy Nilly said:
Just about the worst thing you can do to a diesel engine is let it idle.
Another of pistonheads worst case scenario's members with nothing to back up the post. It'll be fine, fear not. I've known of diesel cars been left running for hours without problem.
Including, filling it up with unleaded, or worse still lending it to me for a week
ging84 said:
In some place diesel train locomotives are run constantly, or at least constantly during winter to stop them from freezing up
I'll admit to watching "Ice Road Truckers" and they often do this with their trucks - especially when they're snowed up for a few days in -30' temperatures. Doesn't seem to do them much harm.MikeOxlong said:
I saw a TV program where some fellers were doing a road trip through Siberia in winter. If the engine was shut down then it would freeze so their 4x4 stayed on constantly for days until it was put in a heated lock up and finally switched off.
Yep, that was World's Most Dangerous Roads.I went for a job once at an engine testing place where they would put an engine on a rig and then run it flat out for days on end, and only stop it to check the oil and things. After the prescribed time they'd strip it to see what the internals looked like.
Not really relevant, but quite interesting I thought (I didn't get the job so don't know any more about it..)
Not really relevant, but quite interesting I thought (I didn't get the job so don't know any more about it..)
CharlesAL said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/15000mAh-Portable-External...
Got one of these a couple of years ago, does a good job.
This, seriously. A modern smartphone will use around 2000mah, and a tablet 10,000 or more, from completely flat to 100%. Pounds per mah vary, but cheap brands usually lie, Anker are good quality.Got one of these a couple of years ago, does a good job.
Also you probably need a new charger for your car. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dual-Port-Charger-Technolo...
The cheapo chinese chargers are terrible.
Same with cables, there are a lot of s
t cables out there that charge very slowly, so check those too. Please don't leave your engine idling for an hour!The solar ones I think still somewhat fiddly in comparison to having a nice charged battery pack to work from, but it depends on how long you are away for.
R33 - at work we used to run a Clarke conversion transit crewbus- eight seats plus heated handwash/hot water urn and microwave. It was microwave or urn, so on the way to a job, urn& handwash were filled up and turned on .On site ,it could be left there for a couple of days ,with shifts arriving /leaving in other vehicles, and to keep the utility battery pack charged with urn on ,it had to be left running.Proper Ford approved modification, so the fact that engine would be run a lot on idle must have been approved. Exhaust did smoke/pong a bit for a short distance on road. We had a variety of other Fords, from Fiesta /Transit Connect to Focus estates, and on night standby, they could stay on for up to 12 hours. I used to prefer my Transit LWB/Hi top for this sort of work . Taker it for a run to get engine warmed up , and then hunker down ,hoping nothing would crop up . problem was that on colder nights, the engine cooled down on idle. Unlike petrol engines that stay hot on idle, as properly cooled diesel will loose heat when not working. We used to keep our vans for approx 80k /three years and they did spend a lot of time idling, with us relaxing in the warmth. Didn't seem to do them any harm.
Yet Ford technical Dept recognise an engine problem colloquially referenced as RAC patrolman syndrome caused by long periods of idling not under load.
Also many sailing yachts suffer much reduced engine life and increased oil consumption because of extended battery charging.
The solution is to either only charge batteries when motor sailing so the engine is under reasonable load or install a generator which will be sized so that its engine is under decent load.
Despite all the anecdotal tales from drivers of company vehicles citing no problems one wonders how many of them would give their personal vehicles such repeated treatment. I certainly wouldn't especially with DPF and egr.
For charging phones then suggestions have already been made. Indeed I have a battery pack charger which is itself charged by solar cells. It's good for two phones.
Drying stuff more difficult. Don't campsites have drying rooms these days?
Also many sailing yachts suffer much reduced engine life and increased oil consumption because of extended battery charging.
The solution is to either only charge batteries when motor sailing so the engine is under reasonable load or install a generator which will be sized so that its engine is under decent load.
Despite all the anecdotal tales from drivers of company vehicles citing no problems one wonders how many of them would give their personal vehicles such repeated treatment. I certainly wouldn't especially with DPF and egr.
For charging phones then suggestions have already been made. Indeed I have a battery pack charger which is itself charged by solar cells. It's good for two phones.
Drying stuff more difficult. Don't campsites have drying rooms these days?
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