Gas

302cj

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Location
Sanford
Being gas is approaching $4 a gallon and the State is always bitching about money, why do all the state workers and cops always leave their cars and trucks running? I understand about the cops when they have someone pulled over. But when they are in the store flirting with the girl behind the register the fricking car should be turned off. Around here in Sanford it is easy to pull up at a store or grill and and there be 8 people in a duece and a half sitting there on lunch for an hour with the damn thing running when diesel is more than gas. Anyone else ever see this?
 
With so much equipment in my patrol car that pulls power, it kills a battery fast when everything is on and the car is turned off. Thats why. Not very good to get a "HOT" call and im out there trying to jump start my car cause the battery is dead.
 
we had a situation with a state trooper occur the other day, and he left he engine running, and I was thinking about this same deal.

There were two other vehicles involved, and we both had them turned off, and there was no doubt that we weren't going anywhere, being that I flagged the guy down myself...and he still left it running...
 
they dont care.
 
tknopp said:
With so much equipment in my patrol car that pulls power, it kills a battery fast when everything is on and the car is turned off. Thats why. Not very good to get a "HOT" call and im out there trying to jump start my car cause the battery is dead.
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There are a lot of reasons to keep the running (Fail to start, quickest take off, etc.) But I seriously doubt this is a legitimate one. Most alternators arent even charging at idle.
 
Its cause we pay for their gas! They write us tickets to keep those cars running idle.
 
I wanna know why the F%&* the SHP is running f'in Tahoes!? Hell, why not run H2's as well!
 
The majority of Tahoes is going to the DOT guys. It helps hold all scales to wiegh trucks.

I agree if you are a trooper sitting behind a bush, tree, house, etc waiting to catch someone run the air and the laptop. not while in a store where the radio is not heard. Mywife,daughter and I went to eat the other night. 3 Patrol cars running in the parking lot, they are sitting inside laughing having a good time. They dont care, but if i had said something now im a bad guy. sorry if this offends any law officer but this affects all of us
 
y2kcrawler said:
Its cause we pay for their gas! They write us tickets to keep those cars running idle.
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really? And here I was thinking because they wanted to get to know me :D

they pull you over because you are doing something stupid and wrong... Or in some cases they really are a dick head. I met one dick head cop.she pulled me over when I just arrived at the store... it just started drizzling.. and I had no top. So AS she was writing the ticket in her car with the door shut I went to put the cover on... ooh no. I can not do that she says, I must stay in my car, or by it. Now it is pouring... I can not put the cover on, I can not run inside to at least save myself from getting soaked... I have to wait in the rain. When I explain to her how crazy she is making this she threatens to arrest me for something, disorderly conduct, assault on an officer or something... . WTF Inever raised my voice, I did get tense because I was getting soaked (no umbrella) but I never made a threaten move toward her.
 
Diesels use more fuel starting and stopping than they do idleing for a while in a parking lot. Why do you think big trucks leave the motor running while they stop to load/unload and even to go in and eat?

I would also be more concerned about the police that you see doggin their cars out of every parking lot and off every stoplight line. Im sure that uses quite a bit more fuel than letting it idle in teh lot ofr a few minutes.

They are keeping you safe. If the government spends the money on the fuel then they can use it anyway that is not outside of government policy.

If it were really costing us way too much more I'm sure they could quit allowing the cars to be driven home.
 
Have you read any of the tests that show at what point the car uses more fuel doing a startup cycle than idling? It's longer than you might think.

OTOH, I'm sure that 99% of them aren't thinking about that.

On the ride-along I did, he always shut off the car when we got out to go inside somewhere..

SkyHi - The 140a alternator on my Tahoe 5.3 engine charges quite well at 700RPM idle, by the way... :)
 
Our supervisor vehicles (Suburbans) have coolers for certian meds and the temp rises in the coolers after about 20 mins if the cooler is off, and the truck wont start after 30 mins if the cooler is running. They have a big old alternator and seem to charge fine at idle?

So, the supervisor vehicles run all day unless they are at a station and plugged in to aux power.

Some of out Ferd ambulances have hot starting problems, so even with 3 batteries, I like to keep it running if I will be out of it for less than 20 mins. The Ferd rep says the 6.oh-no's have a viscosity problem with hot oil, I think they sold a defective product. Also, people tend to enjoy a climate controlled ambulance box and if we are parked in the sun they can bake in the summer. If we have a short run, there is not time to cool them down. Besides, warm saline is no fun in the summer for the patients.

So, we usually run the ambulances unless they are at the hospital or plugged in to aux power.
 
Cops have similiar problems, but not as critical as the ambulances.

DOT workers, state workers, etc. should turn thier junk off.
 
blazeproc said:
The majority of Tahoes is going to the DOT guys. It helps hold all scales to wiegh trucks.
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That's interesting cause on my last 2 trips from High Point to Raleigh, I saw no less than 2 tahoes with cars pulled over on the new section of I-85. Once within sight of each other.
 
302cj said:
blaze I have 2 marked tahoes with in a few miles of me. Thay are marked highway patrols
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They still most likely have scales, and if your weighted tag is not correct...prepare to be screwed.

Starting a warm engine vs idling it for an hour...or any period of time for that matter...does not use more fuel. You will almost always use more fuel by idling. The reason you see truckers with their trucks running while sitting is because they also live in that very tractor...running the ac, park lights, tv, etc. takes power...

I could really give a shit, but there is no excuse for leaving a cruiser running while eating lunch/chilling at the gas station/etc. Your radio doesn't use that much juice.
 
Why does the state leave their trucks running? Because there batteries arent no good. they have to jump them every morning.
 
rattlecanpaint said:
That's interesting cause on my last 2 trips from High Point to Raleigh, I saw no less than 2 tahoes with cars pulled over on the new section of I-85. Once within sight of each other.
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Troopers have been working that stretch for the last 6 months or so. Usually 1 Crown Vic and 2 tahoe's waiting somewhere between 220 & Mt Hope Church Rd.
 
GubNi said:
Batteries are cheaper than gas.
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I know it. I was riding with a couple guys for community work, they left their trucks running all day because the batteries where no good. I was like just go buy a $50 battery. They said the lights on the top of the truck kills them.
 
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