Running the engine?

CamperJack

CamperJack

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Many of us will have vans and motor homes sat on the drive at home, not moving until after lockdown ends. ? ?

What is your opinion on running the engine every so often? The aim being to keep things moving and stop the starter battery going flat. Is this a good thing to be doing, how often and how long should the van be left running (if indeed this is a good idea)?
 
This subject been covered numerous times recently... you won't get a definitive answer but my view is if you can't take for a decent run to PROPERLY warm everything up then don't start engine at all. However plenty of others will say different
 
If you have reason to drive somewhere legitimately why not take the Moho.
I take mine to work once a month at the moment just to give it a run.
 
This came up a couple of weeks ago.
You will take more out of the battery than you are likely to put in unless you run the engine for at least an hour.
Either use a mains charger once a month or use a solar trickle charger all the time.
 
I haven't started mine since returning after The New Years Bash. I just hope it remembers what its supposed to do, when I do eventually turn the key!:eek::giggle: I know that It needs a good run to get everything up to temp, and a short one wont do the EGR, or DPF any favours.
I do keep the batteries topped up though, that apart from cleaning it is all I can do, if I dont want bricks thrown at me just now.
LES
 
I was unaware this topic had been covered. Sorry! Some interesting replies anyway.

Figaro said:
If it's a euro 5 onwards I think the answer is it's better given a decent run 20/30 miles or not run at all.
Older engines pre dpf and erg technology it's less of a problem.
Click to expand...

How do you know if it's a "Euro 5 onwards"? It's a Peugeot Boxer 2013 if that helps.
 
CamperJack said:
I was unaware this topic had been covered. Sorry! Some interesting replies anyway.



How do you know if it's a "Euro 5 onwards"? It's a Peugeot Boxer 2013 if that helps.
Click to expand...

Read the handbook!!!!!!

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It will be a Euro 5 engine. Boxers were fitted with Euro 6 engines from 2016. Your engine will most likely be a Ford. :oops:
 
We use ours about every third week, for the “essential” shopping run, I drop the wife at the shop, drive round the area until she has what she needs, then drive home a different way, to add time and a few extra miles, just to make sure all’s well and the battery is topped up. Not been challenged yet.
 
Always best to run any engine up to temp And cover a reasonable distance to get all fluids properly circulating so seeing as Fuel is relatively cheap why not go for a Food shopping run and find somewhere to fill it right up.

I take a couple of jerrycans on each food outing and so far my sprinter, crafter and even the tractor nearly all have full tanks now.
 
TinaL said:
I haven't started mine since returning after The New Years Bash. I just hope it remembers what its supposed to do, when I do eventually turn the key!:eek::giggle: I know that It needs a good run to get everything up to temp, and a short one wont do the EGR, or DPF any favours.
Click to expand...

Much good advice on this thread and in general I agree that vehicles with a DPF should not be idled to charge them or warm them up. Having said that I would be nervous about leaving a vehicle since last year without starting it especially if left outside.

I would be inclined just to start it and move it a few feet to turn the tyres and make sure everything is free. I would also be inclined to leave the hand brake off and leave it in in gear to ensure that the brakes do not seize on.

It is a shame that we cannot take out our motorhomes at present. Here in France the roads are completely deserted and when visiting the Hospital 70km away yesterday, the drive was absolutely fantastic.

Keep indoors and keep safe.
 
I received a general email from Jaguar a fortnight ago about maintaining the battery of our car (2016 Euro 6) whilst in lockdown.

The advice was to set the cabin temperature to 22c and run the engine for 30 minutes.

Thereafter, the company advised running the engine for 15 minutes for each successive week.

I have no idea if the advice is in any way relevant to a motorhome, but thought I'd pass it on.

I was slightly surprised but have followed the guidance - our Jag hasn't been on the road for nearly 2 months because we are observing a strict lockdown.

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We had a weird consequence of not going anywhere for a few weeks
I have a Fairly long gravel drive, I recently had new tyres fitted to our EV and took it to Tesco last week, as soon as I got onto the road there was significant vibration felt like something major had broken.

it turned out a considerable layer of gravel was stuck fast to each tyre.
This has never happened before the new tyres (Michelin cross climates) must be a very sticky compound indeed!

I have owned several classic cars many not used for months on end And rarely has there been any engines related issues, However I usually rotated the wheels regularly mainly in winter though to avoid the disks getting pitted or rusty in one place due to condensation especially where they are in contact with the pads
 
Ok, showing my lack of mechanical understanding here, but we are about to change our van from a 17plate fiat (DPF filter?) to a 20 plate Fiat which will be the latest Ad Blue set up.
Am i right I thinking that this will not have a DPF filter on, and if so, is it less of an issue doing smaller runs and causing possible problems.
Thanks.
 
All new diesels will have a DPF as well as the SCR (AdBlue) setup. Usual requirements apply I am afraid - regular-ish runs at reasonable speed. Issues should be less in a MH than in a car as the weight of the vehicle will mean the engine is working harder so should get up to temperature and start reducing soot sooner, though the AdBlue system actually works against you to some extent because it removes NOx which would otherwise be reacting to reduce soot under cruising conditions.
 
TinaL said:
I haven't started mine since returning after The New Years Bash. I just hope it remembers what its supposed to do, when I do eventually turn the key!:eek::giggle: I know that It needs a good run to get everything up to temp, and a short one wont do the EGR, or DPF any favours.
I do keep the batteries topped up though, that apart from cleaning it is all I can do, if I dont want bricks thrown at me just now.
LES
Click to expand...
OK I am blonde but what is ERG and DPF? I keep telling my husband that it is better not to start It at all. He did today, it was last used mid Feb. Battery is fine as it has a solar panel and I can check battery on the tracker app on my phone. It is a 2018 model coachbuilt on a Ducato base.
 
TinaL said:
I haven't started mine since returning after The New Years Bash. I just hope it remembers what its supposed to do, when I do eventually turn the key!:eek::giggle: I know that It needs a good run to get everything up to temp, and a short one wont do the EGR, or DPF any favours.
I do keep the batteries topped up though, that apart from cleaning it is all I can do, if I dont want bricks thrown at me just now.
LES
Click to expand...
I left mine for three months without starting but on a solar panel with a topped up battery. The issue I found, this is a euro 4 fiat 2.3, that the fuel filter was gushing diesel as the seal had failed. Maybe this was due to not keeping the fuel running through. Any ideas. Got the kit and replaced the seal and filter with no problems once I read how to do it.

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JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants said:
OK I am blonde but what is ERG and DPF? I keep telling my husband that it is better not to start It at all. He did today, it was last used mid Feb. Battery is fine as it has a solar panel and I can check battery on the tracker app on my phone. It is a 2018 model coachbuilt on a Ducato base.
Click to expand...
ERG = Exhaust Gas Recirculation
DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter

As the engines have been required to meet more stringent environmental emissions standards devices are added to the exhaust systems to try and capture, burn off, convert the more noxious particles and fume gasses into less horrible things. In some cases additives like adblue are also needed to induce the chemical reactions.

Essentially these devices tend not to work until not only the engine, but also the entire exhaust system is up to temperature. Many engines are not efficient if only idling and need a certain level of revs and load. Often the resolution for some of the early faults that the DPF systems are gumming up is to run the vehicle at higher revs and load for a few miles - it's why courier type vehicles often don't have problems as they tend to get thrashed, yet we like to drive our motorhomes gently for fuel economy. Starting your engine and leaving it idling for 20 minutes isn't going to burn off the gunk accumulating on those filters.
 
Thanks all for the good advice.

Kannon Fodda said:
ERG = Exhaust Gas Recirculation
DPF = Diesel Particulate Filter

As the engines have been required to meet more stringent environmental emissions standards devices are added to the exhaust systems to try and capture, burn off, convert the more noxious particles and fume gasses into less horrible things. In some cases additives like adblue are also needed to induce the chemical reactions.

Essentially these devices tend not to work until not only the engine, but also the entire exhaust system is up to temperature. Many engines are not efficient if only idling and need a certain level of revs and load. Often the resolution for some of the early faults that the DPF systems are gumming up is to run the vehicle at higher revs and load for a few miles - it's why courier type vehicles often don't have problems as they tend to get thrashed, yet we like to drive our motorhomes gently for fuel economy. Starting your engine and leaving it idling for 20 minutes isn't going to burn off the gunk accumulating on those filters.
Click to expand...

That was very informative and well explained. Thanks!!

..................................................................................

As advised I will not start the engine. If the battery does go flat in lock down I have a friend who works for a breakdown company. I'm sure he will be able to help me out with a battery charger or jump starting it when Boris lets us out to play again.
 
I have just had an email from a dealer telling his customers what to do with their motorhomes during this period.

All we ask is that you follow these simple steps to prevent common problems occurring.

They are the same ones we use here at the dealership to make sure

our Motorhomes stay in tip top condition while on our forecourt.

  1. Start and run the engine up to temperature at least once a fortnight.
  2. Open the doors and windows (weather permitting) for a time to keep the interior aired.
  3. Over inflate tyres a little to prevent them flat spotting.
  4. If you can - move the Motorhome so the tyres don't remain on exactly the same spot.
  5. Clean away any crumbs, and remove any food from inside. This discourages pests.
  6. Keep away from tree cover and other places birds congregate.
  7. Connect an intelligent battery charger - keep the battery topped up safely.
All very sensible advice but number 1 appears to be at odds with what the vast majority of people here are recommending?
 
May I ask? What about having to run the engine for the benefit of the Air Con? Something I thought you had to do about once a month.

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Very interesting question. Yes I do this for my car having been caught out years ago by a non working aircon system at the end of one winter. Will be interested in replies.
 
Times may have changed but when I was learning my 'stuff' I was told that starting an engine from cold and letting it tick over was a bad thing. It is on full choke, therefore unless the engine is heating up quickly by doing work, excess fuel will enter the bores and cause all sorts of nasties! With this in mind I've always driven off straightaway, without revving the engine too hard until it is warm. Touch wood, never had any engine problems...:giggle:
 

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