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Thread: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

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    webbster713's Avatar

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    Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    Hello,

    Our fire department predominantly runs Cummins and caterpillar diesel engines in our rigs.

    Everything is stock from the manufacturer.

    We currently work 2 days on 4 days off schedule (48/96) starting at 7 am.

    We start our trucks daily.

    Day 1 is typically 10-15 mins of runtime per apparatus, and every piece of equipment ran.

    Day 2, the engine is started, runs for approximately 15 - 45 seconds.

    Hardly any idle time unless the battery is dead on an older apparatus (90's) which a charger stays nearby for such cases.

    Every apparatus is housed in a temperature-controlled bay and plugged in when they aren't in use.

    There's been discussion on not starting them on day 2 to save fuel/ use on starting them, prolong engine component life, etc.

    The rationale being they've been checked/ ran the previous day and are new enough, they will hold a charge and not need a 7 am start.

    With that background, my question is, does starting them (diesel engines) without xx idle time bad or hard on the engines?

    Would this be beneficial not to start them on day 2?


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    MOD watersupply189's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    When you start and shut them down after 15-45 seconds is not good on a diesel engine, especially if each shift does this.

    It would be best if you run them until they get to full operating temperature.

    Do you have Kussmaul charger systems on your trucks to keep them plugged in to keep the batteries maintained?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    2016 RAM 3500 4x4 Laramie Crew Cab
    Cummins,G56, Rough Country level, Morimoto LED fog lights, LED headlights, Lund Attitude Steps sprayed with Line-X, DRL's Activated, 35x12.50R18 Falken Wildpeak ATW3, Fuel Vapor Wheels Matte Black w/Dark Tint, A.R.E. Truck cap and swing boxes

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    Badger2078's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    It takes that much time to circ the oil through the journals.

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    I WILL STAND! AK Bob's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    Agree with the above; 15-45 seconds run time is not productive or good for the engines.

    Your batteries should be maintained on float charge.


    2014 RAM 3500 (Aisin) 3.73 4X4 Limited Crew Cab Long Bed DRW. Oil Bypass Filter, Fuel Filtration Kit and 50 Gallon auxiliary fuel tank.

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    2014 RAM 3500 (Aisin) 3.73 4X4 Limited Crew Cab Long Bed DRW. Oil Bypass Filter, Fuel Filtration Kit, Cold Air Intake, City Diesel Actuator and 50 Gallon Aux Fuel Tank.

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  9. Top Of Page | #5
    webbster713's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    Yes, all our frontline apparatus have the kussmaul chargers. I think our concern is the truck not starting. So, only way to check is to start vs trusting the charger/ battery to do its job. Plus old habits die hard.... We hate 2 things. Change, and the way it is. ??


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    webbster713's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    Thank you all for responding!


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  13. Top Of Page | #7
    MOD watersupply189's Avatar

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    Re: Starting Diesel Motors Daily - Fire Apparatus

    Understand that. I retired recently with over 38 years in the fire service and was in charge of the Fire Department’s fleet.

    If you have good batteries and keep them maintained with the Kussmaul, you shouldn’t have any issues.

    Now getting folks to plug them back in after a run.

    Well, that’s a different story… LOL


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    2016 RAM 3500 4x4 Laramie Crew Cab
    Cummins,G56, Rough Country level, Morimoto LED fog lights, LED headlights, Lund Attitude Steps sprayed with Line-X, DRL's Activated, 35x12.50R18 Falken Wildpeak ATW3, Fuel Vapor Wheels Matte Black w/Dark Tint, A.R.E. Truck cap and swing boxes

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