Go BottomTo let idle or cut off that is the question
 | 8NFord
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 29 Six Mile, SC 
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2003-06-25 58271
When I'm doing landscaping work in my yard, I often have to get off of my BX1500 to rake, or shovel, or do something. Is it better to let the tractor idle or turn it off? (Say I'm off for 5-10 minutes)
Thanks,
JD
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada 
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2003-06-25 58275
I think to some extent it depends on how hard you are working the engine.
If you had been running at high throttle settings it would be a good idea to let it idle down for a minute or two before shutting down.
Also keep in mind that your BX builds up hours pretty fast due to the way it tallies the hours, so letting it idle for long periods will look like it has a lot of actual work hours on it. ....
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 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2003-06-25 58283
I let mine idle for a few minutes if I have been working it hard and shut it off if I am going to be off more than 5 minutes or more. ....
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 | AC5ZO
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 928 Rio Rancho, NM 87144 
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2003-06-25 58287
I mentioned something about this on another thread.
I let mine idle if I am going to be off the tractor for just a couple a minutes. That is because starting an engine causes a good deal of wear on the main bearings. It is hard to estimate for certain, but starting may cause wear that is equivalent to an hour of continuous running. A continuously running engine maintains oil pressure to the bearings and coolant flow to the cylinders.
Letting it run for extended periods adds costs such as depreciation in value by logging more hours and by the associate operating costs. ....
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 | WillieH
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 543 New England 
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2003-06-25 58312
8NFORD -
I am inclined to follow AC5Z0's line of thinking insofar as the tractor's ability to maintain lubrication and cooling. The 'difficulty', if you will, is as Mark H. mentioned, the design of the hour meter pickup, will eventually show a ridiculous run time, even though it may have only been idling as opposed to actually working hours.
I have always kept my engines running if I plan on stepping off for awhile to do 'chores' of landscaping or the like. Remember, as soon as you shut off the ignition, the entire cooling system stops. If you were working it hard, you may run the risk of overheating the engine,(probably not on a newer unit as yours is), especially the older the engine.
If you are concerned about the hour run time accumulation, one could always disconnect/bypass the hour meter.(LOL)
Willie H. ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2003-06-26 58336
Good oil is the first step to the engine not having much wear when starting. Cold engines do let partially burnt fuel into the base to affect the quality of the oil. To allow them to run for five minutes of idleing when in use is not a problem. To let them sit and run for 10 to 15 minutes while doing other labor is excessive. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2003-06-26 58358
Many diesels cool down rather than warm much at slow idles. Especially on cool days, an engine can cool below operating temperatures and produce the incomplete fuel burning Art mentioned. It certainly sludges up the oil, and people who do it should at least shorten oil change intervals. You'll know it's happening if the engine makes gray smoke for awhile after it starts working again after a long idle.
In addition to wear from starting an engine frequently, starters also are very expensive. If I'm going to idle mine for very long I leave it at about 1,500 rpm, which is were I have it for warming up the engine.
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| GregH
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2003-06-26 58387
Per an article some time ago in Progressive Farmer, both Cummins and Cat stated if you are going to idle longer that 5 minutes, either shut it down or move to high idle. They further advise a 5 minute low idle cool down period before shutedown.
Greg H ....
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 | harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY 
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2003-06-26 58392
My$.02 worth. I hardley ever idle little tractor eng during the summer. When I have been working the engine very hard mowing I bring it back to the garage a a medium idle in a lower gear that way the head and other parts cool down evenly.
During the winter I am apt to let engine idle a little longer than I probably should. But like Tom said I keep it at a fast idle to keep it warm.
Turbo charged engines need to idle down for a few minutes to allow the turbo to spin down with lubrication before shutting down. Other wise the turbo spins down with no lubrication.
Harvey ....
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