Choking on Diesel Fumes *Update Page 6*

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

My dh and i moved to our home about 2-1/2 years ago, hoping this is our last move. Love our house and yard, perfect (legal) place to have all our critters. Unfortunately, new neighbors moved in next door a month or so ago. One young man has a diesel pick-up truck that he idles for 10-20 minutes in the morning which spews fumes into our yard and house. This usually happens when i'm out letting the chickens out. My throat burns, it starts me on a coughing jag, and almost into an asthma attack (i have mild asthma).

i spoke to him once and told him how it's affecting me. He promised to try to idle it less, but insists he has to idle it or it won't run right. So now he idles it for 5-10 minutes. Even that amount of time is enough to fill our yard and house with fumes. There are mornings we wake up in our beds literally choking on the fumes. And i worry what is happening to my poor critters in the backyard every day.

i've done some research and found how damaging diesel fumes can be, which is scary. i've also read that you don't need to idle any car for longer than 30 seconds, that driving slowly for 10 minutes is the best way to warm up. i really need to talk to him again and try to explain all this. i don't want to be a complaining neighbor, but i feel our paradise is turning into a hell. i don't know if anyone has any suggestions. i guess i just needed to vent. i don't want to move again.

 

[usschicago1]

You were there first! you shouldnt have to leave! I would more all your roosters as close to his house as possible. I wonder if you can file a complaint against him? For affecting your health

 

[Julie08]

how can you file a complain about someone doing something perfectly legal on their own property? I'm sorry his truck is effecting you but he has every right to idle his truck for as long as he wants on his property. Once my neighbours start paying my property taxes they can start telling me what I can and can not do on my property.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
Actually, my husband talked to local law enforcement and there is an ordinance in our area (and a lot of areas) that states you can not idle any diesel vehicle for longer than 5 minutes within 100 yards of any neighborhood. Exceptions are emergency or refrigerated vehicles. So what he is doing is not legal. He can be cited and fined. However, i wanted to save that piece of information as a last resort when we go to talk to him again. i don't want to come across as antagonistic. i prefer to appeal to his sense of decency. i would not want to do anything that was bringing harm to another. i think most people are that way.

usschicago1, we don't have roosters any longer as they were bugging my husband with their 3am serenades.

And, this guy's parents own the house, so my fear is that he won't be moving any time soon. Now i see why some folks like to buy a big chunk of property out in the country.

 

[key west chick]

DH drives a diesel. He cranks it up, lets it idle for maybe a minute, and off he goes. He will let it idle for a few more minute in the winter when its cold outside. But never for more than 5. This beast has almost 200,000 miles on it. Try telling it that it needs to idle for 15 minutes or it wont run right...

 

[Spookwriter]

I don't like to let my cars idle. (one drove off without me one morning,
but that's another story)

I do however have a dodge diesel pickup. Engine runs fine when cold,
but the tranny is a little slow in shifting. Needs to warm up a minute when
its very cold outside. Done by starting engine, set park brake and place tranny
in netural.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
If you want to be inconsiderate, rude and ENDANGER your neighbors health! Jeesh how rude people are these days.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

there is an ordinance in our area (and a lot of areas) that states you can not idle any diesel vehicle for longer than 5 minutes within 100 yards of any neighborhood

I bet if you actually READ the ordinance, you'll see it's not referring to normal passenger vehicles

This law affects all commercial diesel-powered vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds such as school buses (whether used for transporting students to school or to after-school functions), city transit buses, over the road trucks and delivery trucks.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6582714_california-diesel-truck-idling-law.html​

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Thank you for the information and link. My husband talked to someone at, i think, Highway Patrol, and mentioned the issue and they confirmed the ordinance. However, it's possible they didn't realize my husband was talking about a passenger truck, not a big one. i will do some more research on it. i'm hoping to resolve this without having to throw ordinances around. i've actually been wondering if there is something wrong with our neighbor's truck as to why the fumes are so bad. The guy who lived there before had a diesel work truck, a bigger older one, and it never caused fumes like this.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Diesels have to warm up or they won't run smoothly. That being said...maybe he has an exhaust leak? Maybe offer him to help with figuring out where it is leaking. I'm betting he could be in his parents home because he has no choice due to this cruddy economy. Sounds like when asked the first time he complied as much as he felt was reasonable. I would tread lightly because generally reasonable folks start to get unreasonable if they feel like they are being provoked. Take him some homemade goodies, and offer to get to know him. Offer for him to see for himself by visiting your home while his truck is idling so that he sees the issue is the truck and not just overly sensitive neighbors, then meet him half way and see what you guys can work out. I understand the health concerns, and the neighbor concerns. It doesn't sound like he is a bad guy, just maybe unaware of the seriousness of the situation. Probably can be worked out fairly easily. Good luck to you!