If you leave your car running for a few minutes is it better on gas than if you turned it off?

Answer 1

No, especially if it is a 2.0 liter or larger motor. The energy taken out of the battery, and the extra fuel enrichment for the first few seconds of running, equate for around 5 second of idling. So basicly, any time you car is not moving it is wasteing fuel. In fact, in an unconventional* way, even coasting is wasting gas. If the car is shut off while coasting (ie down a hill) you save gas. Then you can bump start it in 5th gear, when you need to accelerate again. Only safe in a manual transmission car, Automatics may get damaged.

*This is thinking outside the box. Conventional people would think it is "crazy" to shut off you car while in motion to save gas.

Answer 2

It really depends, on what vehicle it is and if you mind, no it maybe won't be better on gas to let it idle, but if its only like 2 minutes, its not that great of a difference. I drive an 84 Suburban with the GM 6.2 Diesel and I let it idle alot, I usually let it idle for 20 or 30 mins in the morning before i go anywhere, and I usually let it idle if I stop back by the house for 15 or 20 mins, but diesel engine use significantly less fuel to idle than gasoline engines, and it is typical said that idling for extended periods of time will not hurt a diesel engine, but can, over time, be bad for a gasoline engine. but this is only if its left for extended periods of time. I mean, I was out at a work site in winter once for most of the day, and I parked my suburban and turned the heater on, and I left it running there all day (about 8 hours) and the guys sat in it to warm up when they needed to, and at the end of the day I had only burned maybe a little more then 1/8 of a tank. Anyway, sorry for going on like that, the answer, even if its not better on gas, its easier, and its what i usually do if I won't be long.

Answer 3

Actually, starting the car uses the battery and not gas. From the point of view of wear and tear on your electronics/motor it's probably better to leave it running than start it more often. In terms of gas, an idling motor uses hardly anything.

On the other hand, unless you're not going to be long or are leaving it in a decent neighborhood there's no reason to leave it running. Unless laziness is a good reason, and it could be ;)

Answer 4

Yes in a fuel injected vehicle it takes less fuel to keep it running for a couple of minutes than it takes to initially start it. The engine is flooded with fuel when you first start it so if you only leave it running for a couple of minutes (I would say 2-3 mins) it's probably about the same.

Answer 5

I feel that it is better to shut the engine off, if you are going to have to let it idle for more that a couple of minutes. Certainly, anything over 5 minutes. Shut it off. good luck

Answer 6

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