Hey guys, just have a question regarding engine idleing and warm up. So I know according to the owners manuel your not supposed to idle your engine for a long period, and of course it doesn't specify what a long period of time is but aren't you supposed to warm it up in the winter? If this is the case iv'e noticed since owning this diesel that takes quite a while so wouldn't this hurt the engine since your not supposed to leave them idle for long periods of time? confussed. just another newbie question

Like every Cummins I have looked up they want 3-5 minutes of operation before a load, and no more than 10. So depending on where you live, and your load I would adjust accordingly. Something to to consider is the effect of cold idling on fuel burn, atomization, and carbon buildup. If you cold idle then drive 5 miles to work it's harder on the motor than cold idling and then running 500 miles at 26K lbs.

There are several Cummins engines at the plant I work in. A p7100 5.9 in a 25T and a 55T Grove, an 8.3 in a 130T Grove, and 3 shuttlewagons with CR 5.9s. Sometimes they get plugged in in the winter, sometimes they don't. Regardless they almost always get started up, idled long enough to run through a prelim check, and then it's balls to the wall. Same with shutting them down, nobody cares enough to let them idle for a few minutes to cool down. They run em hard at a high idle for hours at a time right to idle then shut em down. I've tried explaining the detrimental effects of running them like this but I honestly don't think these guys believe me because in the case of the cranes that have been around since the late 90s/ early 2000s there has not been one engine related issue with any of them. Never in a million years would I treat my engine that way and whenever I do get in a crane I will go out and start it in advance or give it a few minutes of idle to cool down after running all day, but these engines have been continuously abused and have never missed a tick...yet. They are pretty tough platforms to say the least.

For those of you with hour meters "03 and Newer" look at it and figure your average MPH over the life of the vehicle.Just figured my 2010 hemi and came in at 39.8 MPH so far 59xxxmiles and 14xx hours, will get numbers from my 05 cummins later on. Good indicator of your driving habits and idle time.

For those of you with hour meters "03 and Newer" look at it and figure your average MPH over the life of the vehicle. Just figured my 2010 hemi and came in at 39.8 MPH so far 59xxxmiles and 14xx hours, will get numbers from my 05 cummins later on. Good indicator of your driving habits and idle time.

At at my last refuel I was at 93,211 and 2311 for an average of 33.4. My average since purchasing the truck has been 33.8, and now I will start a new one with the rebuild.