At a Standstill - What Idling Does for Your Gas Mileage

When a vehicle is idling, it’s using fuel. Today, high gas prices have forced consumers to conserve fuel in every possible way. An idling vehicle burns up a lot of fuel. Many consumers don’t realize how much fuel an idle vehicle burns up. An idle car is a waste of fuel, a hazard to the environment, and to some people’s health. There’s no need to have your vehicle at a standstill, idling can reduce your gas mileage, and pollute the earth.

Leaving the car idle is not necessary. If you have to run some quick errands, such as picking the kids up from school, or picking up the dry cleaning, don’t leave your car idle. It is dangerous, but it also causes your car to burn fuel unnecessarily. If turning off the car is not practical, then turn off the car, and go inside. Avoiding idling can save up to 19 percent on fuel economy. It’s a common myth that your car needs to be warmed up before driving, but this is not true. Cars don’t really need to be warmed up unless the weather is below 25 degrees. Even if the weather’s below 25 degrees, it only takes 30 seconds for your engine to be warmed. Actually, driving your vehicle gently is the best warm up for the engine. Other components like, wheel bearings, steering, transmission, and tires also need to be warmed up. The only way to warm up the other components is to get the car moving.

Most drivers may not know this, but excessive idling can damage the engine. Idling causes damage, because an idle engine is not operating at its peak temperature, therefore fuel combustion is incomplete. As a result, fuel residue can condense cylinder walls, contaminate oil, and damage engine components. For example, these residues tend to deposit on spark plugs. With more engines idling, there is a drop in the average plug temperature and accelerated plug fouling, which increases fuel consumption by four or 5 percent. Idling can also cause water to condense in the vehicle’s exhaust. Which can lead to corrosion, and reduce the life of the exhaust system. It’s better to shut your vehicle off and restart, than to let it remain idle.

Emissions from idle cars can cause health problems. A link has been found between contaminants in vehicle emissions and significant respiratory health effects. Poor air quality and smog, caused in part by vehicle exhaust are resulting in increased hospital admissions, respiratory illnesses, and premature deaths, particularly in urban areas. Children are more vulnerable to air pollution, because they breathe faster than adults, and inhale more air per pound of their body weight. The poor air quality also causes problems for the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. If unnecessary idling stopped, then the air would be cleaner, and respiratory health would improve.

Not only is an idle engine costly, it has significant environmental impacts. Idle cars emit exhaust gases such as carbon dioxide. A car's engine idling for 10 minutes produces about 90 grams of carbon dioxide and consumes 0.14 liters of fuel. If all cars left their engines running for a minute less each day--or 365 minutes less a year--approximately 225,200 fewer tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted, and 350 million liters of energy would be saved among those vehicles. Idle commercial trucks and buses, emit more pollutants than any other vehicles. Countries like Japan, and Canada have instituted regulations against idling. Also one environmental agency has launched a “stop idling” movement, which calls for engines to be turned off in stationary vehicles. The movement aims to reduce air pollution and global warming by controlling emission of exhaust gases.

So, idling is bad for your engine, bad for your health, and bad for the environment. There’s only one deduction; idling is bad. Drivers will gain gas mileage, if they stop idling. Turning off your engine when your car’s at a standstill, will save money, help save the planet, and maybe save some lives. “Stop Idling,” and there will be a major difference in your vehicle. Therefore, if it’s not necessary to leave your car idling, then just turn it off.