Ok for the vehicle to idle for 3-5 hours?

tahoe_highcountry · Dec 14, 2024

Hi everyone,

I have a 2023 Tahoe diesel engine.

I live rural in a temperate climate with rainstorms. During fall/spring at least once a month the power goes out because trees fall.

Anyway, during this time we need to charge our electronics and hang out in a warm spot because power doesn’t get fixed for 1-2 days.

Is it ok for the engine to idle for 3-5 hours at a time? We use this time to charge our phones and iPads.

Thank you.

strutaeng · Dec 14, 2024

Why don't you buy a generator if it's a reoccurring thing?

Excessive idling is not too good in general, although it's probably worse if you are stuck in traffic than in your case. I otherwise don't know the answer TBH.

tahoe_highcountry · Dec 14, 2024

Had the house for less than a year. Good idea I will look into buying a generator. Thank you.

ReaperHWK · Dec 14, 2024

Well it’s not a good thing to do but a diesel is way more forgiving for idling. Truckers do it all night.

That being said get a generator if you can.

Stbentoak · Dec 14, 2024

It won't help it... but it won't hurt it either... Just take it for a good romp after power comes back and all will be well....
I've stopped worrying about what will "hurt" my vehicle. It's here to serve me in whatever way I need it.....

GMCChevy · Dec 14, 2024

Why risk any potential issues doing that when you can get a generator that can power more for a fraction of what the Tahoe costs. Especially when you seem to need it that often.

B-train · Dec 14, 2024

All new diesels hate their life.......they are made to run like stallions and forced to breathe through wet paper bags. Idling for hours on end is not what they can handle. Sure, they can DO it, but a regen is right around the corner.

Gone are the days when 10L Cummins could lull a guy to sleep at 450 rpm, consuming maybe 0.5 GPH after working all day pulling 82K lbs worth grain at 6 mpg.

Joseph Garcia · Dec 15, 2024

As folks above have stated, the most effective hedge against power outages is a portable generator (less than $1000). If you want to get fancy, you can get an automated standby generator which will automatically start when the power goes out ($5000).

We periodically lose power here in NH, and my first experience with an extended power outage was when we lost power for a week, after a winter ice storm. After power was restored, and I fixed the burst water lines to the radiators, I purchased an 8000 watt continuous power generator (when they came back into stock). I can run my whole house on it with prudent power usage monitoring, and I would never be without one again.

Doubeleive · Dec 15, 2024

tahoe_highcountry said:
Hi everyone,

I have a 2023 Tahoe diesel engine.

I live rural in a temperate climate with rainstorms. During fall/spring at least once a month the power goes out because trees fall.

Anyway, during this time we need to charge our electronics and hang out in a warm spot because power doesn’t get fixed for 1-2 days.

Is it ok for the engine to idle for 3-5 hours at a time? We use this time to charge our phones and iPads.

Thank you.

so in the past so far this last year.....when the power has gone out for 1-2 days what has been the game plan with say things like food? have you just thrown up your arms and said 0'well I guess all that frozen stuff can just go in the garbage can and well go buy more? well just sit here in the dark but hey we can go run the suv and charge are devices so we can all pokemon.......
this makes no sense to me.

tom3 · Monday at 12:10 AM

I sure agree with the generator deal. Many (many!) years ago I spent a couple hours hauling 5 gal. buckets of water up out of our small basement to keep the furnace and hot water tank dry. Bought a generator, best insurance I ever bought, never actually had to use it. I keep it ready and a couple 5 gal cans of fresh gas just in case.....

Ok for the vehicle to idle for 3-5 hours?

tahoe_highcountry

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strutaeng

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tahoe_highcountry

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ReaperHWK

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Stbentoak

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GMCChevy

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B-train

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Joseph Garcia

Doubeleive

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tom3

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