[thx2net]

Hi All,

Since we have pretty strick stay at home order in California and I'm in a risk category, my truck has just been sitting in our driveway most of the time. My concern is that it's a pretty steep grade so is the oil draining from the top front for too long?

Should I just go out for a drive occasionally?
How often should I start it and how long should I run it?
Should I just go drive it around or on the freeway once a week?
What's everyone else doing with trucks that just sit around?

At this pace, I'll have less than 20K miles on it after 3 years of ownership. At least I'll be done with payments in 6 months but it's brutal right now.

 

[Burgess159]

My wife works at a hospital here in Missouri so it gets driven everyday.

I can’t speak to your concern about oil draining but if you don’t drive it any during quarantine, when you do drive it, I might let it idle for like 5-10 minutes to let it get warmed up and lubricated before you actually drive it.

 

[MNTNBKR]

Hi All,

Since we have pretty strict stay at home order in California and I'm in a risk category, my truck has just been sitting in our driveway most of the time. My concern is that it's a pretty steep grade so is the oil draining from the top front for too long?

Should I just go out for a drive occasionally?
How often should I start it and how long should I run it?
Should I just go drive it around or on the freeway once a week?
What's everyone else doing with trucks that just sit around?

At this pace, I'll have less than 20K miles on it after 3 years of ownership. At least I'll be done with payments in 6 months but it's brutal right now.

Starting once in a while for a just short time will cause more wear. Startup is the worst for an engine. I have had engines that sat for 6 months and had no issues. There will still be a film of oil in the bearings and on most if not all surfaces. I would recommend that when you do start it, let it idle for a few minutes to get the oil pressure up and splashed everywhere, then just start out easy.

 

[thx2net]

Starting once in a while for a just short time will cause more wear. Startup is the worst for an engine. I have had engines that sat for 6 months and had no issues. There will still be a film of oil in the bearings and on most if not all surfaces. I would recommend that when you do start it, let it idle for a few minutes to get the oil pressure up and splashed everywhere, then just start out easy.

Thanks, Yeah, I wouldn't just start it and idle for a minute. Most engine wear occurs at cold-start and during the first few minutes before a hydrodynamic oil wedge is formed. Would never rev a cold engine either.

I'm wondering if I should let it idle for a good 15 - 30 minutes or so, or I guess I could just drive it to my office (7 miles - about 12 - 16 minutes depending on lights) on Sundays when no one is there verse taking my bike.

 

[scarfile]

Hi All,

Since we have pretty strick stay at home order in California and I'm in a risk category, my truck has just been sitting in our driveway most of the time. My concern is that it's a pretty steep grade so is the oil draining from the top front for too long?

Should I just go out for a drive occasionally?
How often should I start it and how long should I run it?
Should I just go drive it around or on the freeway once a week?
What's everyone else doing with trucks that just sit around?

At this pace, I'll have less than 20K miles on it after 3 years of ownership. At least I'll be done with payments in 6 months but it's brutal right now.

Put the battery on a charge once a month and top it off.

 

[KirkDob]

Hi All,

Since we have pretty strick stay at home order in California and I'm in a risk category, my truck has just been sitting in our driveway most of the time. My concern is that it's a pretty steep grade so is the oil draining from the top front for too long?

Should I just go out for a drive occasionally?
How often should I start it and how long should I run it?
Should I just go drive it around or on the freeway once a week?
What's everyone else doing with trucks that just sit around?

At this pace, I'll have less than 20K miles on it after 3 years of ownership. At least I'll be done with payments in 6 months but it's brutal right now.

Your fine. Oil doesn't collect in the top. It resides in the oil pan. Upon startup the oil pump sends it where it needs to go.

 

[lovemycolorado]

I always remote start and let it run for 10 minutes, sometimes when I don't get out to it in time, it shuts off after 10 minutes, which is fine as it should be warmed up. I have been driving short distances (central mail pickup and two pick-up restaurants in our community), but I try to get out on the freeway once a week as well and run it at 70-80 for 15-30 minutes. Hope that sounds right, opinions?

 

[ridenm505]

Brief running at idle won't let your exhaust system reach operating temperature to burn soot out of the system. I bought my truck used with ~40k miles, and it immediately went back to the dealer with ECU alarms about the exhaust. IIRC, diesel exhaust fluid is injected to raise exhaust temperature, burn soot cleanly, and maintain the catalytic converter. The truck has to run for sufficient length for this process to take place occasionally. The dealer only ran the truck long enough to move it around the lot, in and out of the car wash, etc., creating the scenario that contributed to the DEF system not being able to do its job. Once they followed the correct operating procedures as detailed in the manual, they returned the truck to me and it has since been trouble-free.

 

[18Z71Minimax]

I'll echo what everyone else is saying. Idling will do more harm than good. Every other week, take it out and drive it for 30 miles, with some highway miles if you can.

In regard to changing oil, it should be done at least once a year or more often depending on mileage. While it's true that oil sitting isn't subject to the high stress of towing and other high load situations, oil additives evaporate and condensation causes water build up. Plus, sitting stationary for too long can cause flats pots on tires and corrosion on brake rotors that result in vibrations when braking.

Just get it on the road a couple times a month and you should be fine.

 

[Jiggy]

I drive every day so mine doesn't sit. And I don't let it idle for long periods. I would say take a nice long road trip up the highway set your cruise control for 70 and enjoy the scenery. Maybe even put a little weight in the bed just enough to give a little load on the motor and keep the rpms up a little may be even in m5. Diesels like long runs. Short runs around town are doing more harm then good. I've only had the keep driving light on twice in 175000 miles and both times were after excessive idling. All other times the Regen happens the only reason I know it happening is the fuel mileage drops and some times you can smell it a little.

 

[oak1971]

I go out when I have to, every other day or so. Nobody to stop me. I have masks, face shields etc.

 

[thx2net]

Put the battery on a charge once a month and top it off.

Thanks, I've just decided to drive it to my office once a week.

 

[thx2net]

I always remote start and let it run for 10 minutes, sometimes when I don't get out to it in time, it shuts off after 10 minutes, which is fine as it should be warmed up. I have been driving short distances (central mail pickup and two pick-up restaurants in our community), but I try to get out on the freeway once a week as well and run it at 70-80 for 15-30 minutes. Hope that sounds right, opinions?

Yeah, decided to do that too once in a while and now I'm getting it out at least once a week. So all good!

 

[thx2net]

Brief running at idle won't let your exhaust system reach operating temperature to burn soot out of the system. I bought my truck used with ~40k miles, and it immediately went back to the dealer with ECU alarms about the exhaust. IIRC, diesel exhaust fluid is injected to raise exhaust temperature, burn soot cleanly, and maintain the catalytic converter. The truck has to run for sufficient length for this process to take place occasionally. The dealer only ran the truck long enough to move it around the lot, in and out of the car wash, etc., creating the scenario that contributed to the DEF system not being able to do its job. Once they followed the correct operating procedures as detailed in the manual, they returned the truck to me and it has since been trouble-free.

No sh!t .. I had an emission error once and reset it with my SPADE Tuner and it hasn't happened again. I wonder if it was from all the local driving I was doing and not really getting it over 45mpg or so much.