The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Diesel engines, shut off or leave running?
When parking the ambulance at the hospital, most people back up in the ambulance bay and shut the unit off. I tend to like to park not in the ambulance canopy, but in the nearby parking spaces and keep the unit running.
Two small reasons are to not have to shut off all the light and utilities involved in pt. care while preparing to exit the vehicle, and also to keep the compartment warm during the winter months. The big reason, however, is that I"ve been told by many people that it's better for the health of a diesel engine to let them idle, rather than alot of starting and stopping.
I am by no means a mechanic, can anyone clarify if what I'm doing is of any use or not?
Two small reasons are to not have to shut off all the light and utilities involved in pt. care while preparing to exit the vehicle, and also to keep the compartment warm during the winter months. The big reason, however, is that I"ve been told by many people that it's better for the health of a diesel engine to let them idle, rather than alot of starting and stopping.
I am by no means a mechanic, can anyone clarify if what I'm doing is of any use or not?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by blair4630 on
-
Replies to This Discussion
Permalink Reply by Clay Matthews 1 day ago
You are right in my opinion. Because a diesel uses pressure instead of spark plugs to run. Not only that but it is better for the starter. It helps on fuel too. It takes more fuel to restart than it does leave running. A diesel is ment to run anyway. In the summer you can keep a unit cool in the cab and in the back of the wagon and like you said, keep it warm in the winter so you can help to make you and the patient as comfortable as possible.
► Reply to This
Upload Files
Attach File(s):
Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth 23 hours ago
I say leave them running but Its kinda one of those deals of how long your going to be, what the temperature is, and what your sogs say about it
► Reply to This
Upload Files
Attach File(s):
Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD 23 hours ago
In most cases, an often used, diesel powered emergency vehicle should be kept running, or at least run every few hours. The first reason is that "a failure to start problem" now doesn't exist and you're off and running to the scene. Other reasons include keeping the batteries charged when electrical power is needed during idling and keeping the engine near or at operating temperature. Most engine wear happens during it's warm up phase. Because a diesel engine needs compression for combustion, it's constuction is heavy duty, meaning it's cylinder walls are thick. That thickness absorbs more heat leading to cooler running temperatures and more time to reach optium heat levels which adds to engine wear, especailly in colder climates. Of course heath concerns from exhaust emisions should be considered also. TCSS
► Reply to This
Upload Files
Attach File(s):
Permalink Reply by FETC 22 hours ago
Blair,
Can you lock your ambulance completely while it is left running at idle? Because people have been stealing ambulances not far from us... Not to mention the hospital will not allow them to remian running under the canopy. For once I would love to see a hiospital engineer a vent hood for the canopy that would suck up the exhaust and vent it up and through the roof.
We can't leave them running therefore, we shut them off and leave them under the canopy which is close to the door and in the view of the hospital security cameras, but all of our meds and IV stuff are in internal heated compartments. The temp in the cab is not a concern because your turnaround time should be short enough that the heat hasn't fully dissapated and the engine temperature is still up to have isn't heat for the crew on the next run.
But, we also do not stay at the hospital for EMS reporting, we use FH CAD reporting, and just make up and get dems so our turn-around time averages less than 15 minutes once siging off at the ER. We then fax the patient care report once we are back at the station.
► Reply to This
Upload Files
Attach File(s):
Permalink Reply by Jeff Gaudio 22 hours ago
I own a diesel pick-up truck and found out some things. I can't keep it in my garage so it always stays outside. As far as turning on and off the truck, I don't think it really matters because when you start the vehicle again, the glow plugs and engine will still be warm.
What you really want to do is let the engine idle for about ten minutes after driving. The reason is that the turbo block needs to cool down after running. The engine will allow it to cool down as it needs to during idle time. If you shut the rig off immediately, you risk a chance of the turbo block cracking. This is actually in the owners manual.
After arriving at the hospital, I wait until the medic in the back says it's okay to shut everything down.
If you have to leave a diesel vehicle outside, just make sure you plug it in during the cold days. I plug my truck in every night using an extension cord. After I run my truck in the morning, it is okay for the rest of the day.
If the engine sounds sluggish from being cold, let it run for a few minutes to warm up before driving.
► Reply to This
Upload Files
Attach File(s):
RSS
Follow– Email me when people reply
-
-
Kinda ugly, but here's the responses to my accidental dual post. I've locked the other one.
-
Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
-
hey I knew I said somthing to that
-
-
We cannot lock the ambulances while running, would be nice if we could. I think that exhaust hood would be a great idea. I actually thought about something similar. Wouldn't it be nice if the canopies had the same things that are popping up in EMS and fire stations now, those yellow hoses that suck onto the exhaust pipes.
-
-
Why dont you get another key made to unlock the door. Then you can lock it up while it is running. Just make sure that someone on the box has the key.
-
-
another thing that not alot of people think about is if your riding the motor to get every possible thing you can get out of it and then just shut it off that isnt good at all for diesels
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
-
Last year our local hospital sent out a statement requiring all ambulances left unattended at or near the emergency entrance be shut down. No idling, period.
Reason given was that exhaust fumes have been showing up inside the ED and of course that is not good. So when we back up to the entrance, we shut the engine off as well as the master battery switch, after the patient is taken out of the back.
The driver usually, but not always takes the keys in while the bus is left unattended.
The trouble with this is that habits are hard to break. I always take my keys out of my car whenever I park it, so I have on occasion taken the ambulance keys home in my pocket. Thankfully I've discovered this before anyone else found out about it.
-
-
dont feel alone I have as well we had one medic that took home the keys to the med cabinet. Talk about sending the cops its almost as bad as loosing a knox box key
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
