turning your engine off
#1
turning your engine off
so a lot of extreme hypermiliers say they turn their engines off at traffic lights, but doesnt it use a lot of fuel to turn the engine on again? What is the amount of time needed so that it is more efficient to turn the engine off?
#2
The EPA actually recommends it if you know you'll be at the light longer then 30 seconds. IIR though, the gas used from turning the car back on is the equivalent of running the car for 10 seconds.
The other side of the debate is that the wear and tear to other parts, such as the starter, negates any savings that would have come from turning off the engine at lights.
Personally, I'll do it sometimes, but only in areas that I'm extremely familiar with.
The other side of the debate is that the wear and tear to other parts, such as the starter, negates any savings that would have come from turning off the engine at lights.
Personally, I'll do it sometimes, but only in areas that I'm extremely familiar with.
#3
If so thats really interesting to know, if you dont mind, where did you happen to find this info? It's very useful to be able to quantify that consumption.
Last edited by Snap Fit; 03-16-2008 at 05:15 PM. Reason: um...cuz it felt good.....
#5
Frequent Questions - Idling Reduction - SmartWay Transport Partnership - EPA
Should you turn off your engine while waiting in a line or in traffic? Obviously for safety and practical reasons it makes no sense to shut an engine off in traffic that is moving. But any time one anticipates the vehicle standing still for over five minutes it makes sense, both in terms of fuel and emissions, to shut down the engine.
Last edited by Kelmar; 03-16-2008 at 06:32 PM.
#7
Can't tell you the gas used to turn it on, but for sure. The Scane Gauge is no help with that at all. What I can say from data:
here's a tip
If you don't have a traffic issue, look waaaaaay ahead (like a 1/4 mile or more) and lift and coast and time it so you hit them green
- About .25GPH at idle warmed up Fit
- My 26 mile commute avg MPG will drop about a tenth of a mpg ever 5 to 10 sec when I sit at idle.
- Math: at 65mph and 43mpg that around 1.5GPH
here's a tip
If you don't have a traffic issue, look waaaaaay ahead (like a 1/4 mile or more) and lift and coast and time it so you hit them green
#8
Correct. I got the info on another forum when someone posted a similar question. Someone had posted a link to the EPA that it. I stand corrected though, it looks like 5 seconds.
Frequent Questions - Idling Reduction - SmartWay Transport Partnership - EPA
Should you turn off your engine while waiting in a line or in traffic? Obviously for safety and practical reasons it makes no sense to shut an engine off in traffic that is moving. But any time one anticipates the vehicle standing still for over five minutes it makes sense, both in terms of fuel and emissions, to shut down the engine.
Frequent Questions - Idling Reduction - SmartWay Transport Partnership - EPA
Should you turn off your engine while waiting in a line or in traffic? Obviously for safety and practical reasons it makes no sense to shut an engine off in traffic that is moving. But any time one anticipates the vehicle standing still for over five minutes it makes sense, both in terms of fuel and emissions, to shut down the engine.
Much appreciated
#10
I go by the 10 second rule. I'd never turn my car off at a light though, that's just asking for trouble. Generally I'll just go inside instead of being lazy and staying in my car for a drive-through or anything drive-up. Gives me some excercise and saves gas too!
#11
yep do the same, but I kill mine at any light that is more than 1 min. I have gotten to the point I'll kill her and coast in. Of the extreme measures, I feel this has the least neg effects on the car. I think the starter can take it.
#12
Be carefull with that coasting, you'll only have a limited amount of braking before the pressure is out of the brake lines. I did coasting a few times with the car off and almost crashed when my brakes stopped working lol.
#15
Maybe it's just me, but i don't understand what you could possibly gain from turning off your car for as little as 15-20 seconds at a time.
Of Course my car gets anywhere from 12-22mpg (depending on how much i beat it), and i have to run Premium at ALL times, but still...
congrats! you saved .000000000000000000000215 gallons of gas this year, and it only cost you:
1) a starter
2) an ignition switch
3) 2 very expensive keys
4) $3300 towards insurance (because you go creamed by a truck that hit you just enough to set off your airbags)
5) an engine knock due to dry cranking the motor every 3 blocks
6) 3 sets of fouled spark plugs
7) 4 lawsuits, 2 broken noses, and a fractured jaw (all due to road raged drivers waiting for you to start your car back up)
...not trying to be rude, but seriously there is NOT many better times to leave your car running than at a red light. If you are worried about the environment, I let my car warm up for 10min before i even leave the house.
Of Course my car gets anywhere from 12-22mpg (depending on how much i beat it), and i have to run Premium at ALL times, but still...
congrats! you saved .000000000000000000000215 gallons of gas this year, and it only cost you:
1) a starter
2) an ignition switch
3) 2 very expensive keys
4) $3300 towards insurance (because you go creamed by a truck that hit you just enough to set off your airbags)
5) an engine knock due to dry cranking the motor every 3 blocks
6) 3 sets of fouled spark plugs
7) 4 lawsuits, 2 broken noses, and a fractured jaw (all due to road raged drivers waiting for you to start your car back up)
...not trying to be rude, but seriously there is NOT many better times to leave your car running than at a red light. If you are worried about the environment, I let my car warm up for 10min before i even leave the house.
#16
Maybe it's just me, but i don't understand what you could possibly gain from turning off your car for as little as 15-20 seconds at a time.
Of Course my car gets anywhere from 12-22mpg (depending on how much i beat it), and i have to run Premium at ALL times, but still...
congrats! you saved .000000000000000000000215 gallons of gas this year, and it only cost you:
1) a starter
2) an ignition switch
3) 2 very expensive keys
4) $3300 towards insurance (because you go creamed by a truck that hit you just enough to set off your airbags)
5) an engine knock due to dry cranking the motor every 3 blocks
6) 3 sets of fouled spark plugs
7) 4 lawsuits, 2 broken noses, and a fractured jaw (all due to road raged drivers waiting for you to start your car back up)
...not trying to be rude, but seriously there is NOT many better times to leave your car running than at a red light. If you are worried about the environment, I let my car warm up for 10min before i even leave the house.
Of Course my car gets anywhere from 12-22mpg (depending on how much i beat it), and i have to run Premium at ALL times, but still...
congrats! you saved .000000000000000000000215 gallons of gas this year, and it only cost you:
1) a starter
2) an ignition switch
3) 2 very expensive keys
4) $3300 towards insurance (because you go creamed by a truck that hit you just enough to set off your airbags)
5) an engine knock due to dry cranking the motor every 3 blocks
6) 3 sets of fouled spark plugs
7) 4 lawsuits, 2 broken noses, and a fractured jaw (all due to road raged drivers waiting for you to start your car back up)
...not trying to be rude, but seriously there is NOT many better times to leave your car running than at a red light. If you are worried about the environment, I let my car warm up for 10min before i even leave the house.
#20
...I don't follow.