Engine Shutdown Timer

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · August 24, 2018, 07:42:48 PM

My Eagle with the Series 60 engine had the DDEC shutdown timer set to 5 minutes when I first bought it. That did not work well when I was idling thru a parking lot after just starting it because of course, it shut down half way thru the parking lot. The first time, it took me about 20 minutes to figure out what was going on because my MC-9 with a 6V92 never did that. Ahhhh, the pleasures of an electronic engine I guess.

So last year while in Eugene, Or I had it changed to 15 minutes by Joe Maser who did some engine work for me. That was great except while at a rest stop when I stop to Pee and walk around the bus and stretch my legs and check everything out as I almost always do when the bus stops. Then about when I was ready to shift into gear, it would shutdown. I could of course prevent that by turning on the fast idle or goosing the engine now and then, but I didn't always do that. I am not one to make any more noise than I have to. Or when in a mile long line when you are just creeping along like one of the Fruit checks coming into California whilst just idling.

So last week while at PC Industries in Afton, WY I had the mechanic disable that setting in the DDEC. On my first trip out over the past couple of days, the engine now never shuts down and I love it. Now I am in full control of when it shuts down and I like that the best.

So the question is, if you have this capability, what is your shutdown timer set to and do you like it that way?

chessie4905 · August 25, 2018, 04:29:07 AM

OR, you could leave it at 15 minutes and start taking Flomax.

luvrbus · August 25, 2018, 05:11:48 AM

I disabled the shutdown on mine and it was set for 30 minutes,the series 60 idle so rough I have my idle set 685 rpm,I do miss the old 2 stroke when it comes to idle

buswarrior · August 25, 2018, 05:39:16 AM

Why is your bus sitting idling in the first place?

You got money to burn?

Auto engine shut down is really exciting when your starter has failed, or the batteries have a problem... and you forget to nudge the fast idle...

Turn your engine off yourself, right after the parking brake is set, and you'll be fine?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Bill Gerrie · August 25, 2018, 05:41:06 AM

Luvrbus
Is it possible on a DDECII to raise the idle slightly? A friend of mine has an 8V92 DDECII that could use a little more rpm on idle to raise the oil pressure slightly so the engine doesn't shut down. 15 to 25 rpm should do it.
I can't find anywhere that will let you do this.

luvrbus · August 25, 2018, 05:53:39 AM

I know construction equipment is different to bus nuts saving a a gal of fuel,we started our engines at 7 am and never shut one down till 5.30 even during lunch break.The reason was no way would I let a battery or a 300 dollar starter shut a operation down for hours.Like a loader wouldn't start and no way to load a hopper at the batch plant with 6 trucks setting idle plus labors waiting on the material idling was ok with me.I am not shutting my bus off in the middle of no where either unless it is for the night

buswarrior · August 25, 2018, 05:58:03 AM

commercial operation has a customer to pass the costs thru to.

Gary is always telling us he's broke?

He'd have more money for forum upgrades, if he stopped idling the bus?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

chessie4905 · August 25, 2018, 05:59:57 AM

Maybe he does that to keep otr working on hot day. For what these cost to use and run, a little fuel burned idling is chump change.

luvrbus · August 25, 2018, 06:29:24 AM

Quote from: Bill Gerrie on August 25, 2018, 05:41:06 AM
Luvrbus
Is it possible on a DDECII to raise the idle slightly? A friend of mine has an 8V92 DDECII that could use a little more rpm on idle to raise the oil pressure slightly so the engine doesn't shut down. 15 to 25 rpm should do it.
I can't find anywhere that will let you do this.

I used the DDCSN software and changed the parameters in the ECU I never could do it with a Pro/Link a DDEC 11 I'll do some checking for you it may take a translator box

Bill Gerrie · August 25, 2018, 07:18:36 AM

Thanks luvrbus.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · August 25, 2018, 08:15:11 AM

I used to operate heavy equipment in a previous life and luvrbus has stated, we would start the equipment first thing in the morning and not shut them down until it was time to go home, usually at least 12 hours later. We always felt that it is much less wear and tear on the equipment to leave them running but that was back when diesel was 36 cents per gallon.

Now that fuel is hovering between $3 - $4 / gallon I generally do not shut my engine down unless I plan to park more than a half our or so. I have had a few times with this bus when I shut the engine down or it shut down by itself only to have it not start so I am still a bit gun shy. I replaced my starter before I left on this trip and since then it has started every time so my confidence is building.

If the noise is not bothering anyone else, I plan to keep my current habits because even though the cost of fuel keeps rising, so does the cost of repair bills and a hot engine is a happy engine. At $120/hr for engine work, fuel at $3.50/gallon is cheap.

Iceni John · August 25, 2018, 06:31:45 PM

Quote from: Bill Gerrie on August 25, 2018, 05:41:06 AM
Luvrbus
Is it possible on a DDECII to raise the idle slightly? A friend of mine has an 8V92 DDECII that could use a little more rpm on idle to raise the oil pressure slightly so the engine doesn't shut down. 15 to 25 rpm should do it.
I can't find anywhere that will let you do this.

Or would using straight 50-weight oil help the oil pressure just enough to keep it above the shutdown pressure? (What is the DDEC II shutdown oil pressure anyway?) If idle is more than 600 RPM, would it cause the transmission problems when engaging gear?

John