Fuel Economy Tip - Don't Sit and Idle
Today's tip is more of a personal preference than anything, but can be a good way to save gas, especially for newer cars.
For example, if you're going to pull into someone's driveway and run inside for a couple of minutes, turn your car off. Or, if you're the the first car to get stuck at a red light and you know you're going to be sitting for a minute or two before the light turns green, go ahead and turn off your car.
That being said, the amount of time will vary from vehicle to vehicle. Older cars tend to use more gas when restarted, so the amount of time they should be allowed to idle time may be longer.
Another thing to take into consideration is the extra wear and tear that your car's battery and alternator will be put through. If you have a weak battery or your alternator is due to be replaced, I wouldn't recommend constantly turning your car on and off.
All in all, the moral of the story is the less amount of time you spend in your car idling, the better gas mileage you're going to get and the more money you're going to save.
Turn your car off if you're going to idle for more than one minute.
From all of the research I have done, FOR MOST VEHICLES, you waste more gas idling for one minute than you do by turning off and restarting your car.For example, if you're going to pull into someone's driveway and run inside for a couple of minutes, turn your car off. Or, if you're the the first car to get stuck at a red light and you know you're going to be sitting for a minute or two before the light turns green, go ahead and turn off your car.
That being said, the amount of time will vary from vehicle to vehicle. Older cars tend to use more gas when restarted, so the amount of time they should be allowed to idle time may be longer.
Another thing to take into consideration is the extra wear and tear that your car's battery and alternator will be put through. If you have a weak battery or your alternator is due to be replaced, I wouldn't recommend constantly turning your car on and off.
All in all, the moral of the story is the less amount of time you spend in your car idling, the better gas mileage you're going to get and the more money you're going to save.
posted by Brian Carr at 9:43 PM
2 Comments:
This is very interesting. My "friend" and I had this converstaion just today. So you say that one would typically consume more gas idling in the parking lot of a local grocery store for 12 minutes, than by turning the car off and running inside? Let's be more specific, given the scenario above, which would burn more gas idling:
2000 Mazda 626
2003 Montero Sport
2003 Acura 3.2 TL
Just an attempt to get an understanding. Thanks!!!!
For any of the cars mentioned above, you would ABSOLUTELY waste more gas letting the car idle for 12 minutes than by turning the car off, doing your shopping and then turning the car back on.
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