When I went to a restaurant to get some ice cream, my sister waited in the car with it running under the premise that it would take more gas to start the car again than it would burn in, say, 5 minutes of idling. She drives an SUV. Is this statement partially, or fully, true?
2007-06-26 19:50:47 · 9 answers · asked by Feladonis 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
This was true in the days of carburetors, but with the use of modern fuel-injectors this is no longer the case. It certainly isn't advisable to shut off the car at every stoplight you encounter, but if you're at a drive-thru or something where you might be idling for more than 30 seconds it's probably beneficial to shut off the car to save gas.
2007-06-26 19:59:05 · answer #1 · answered by Some Guy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no no no. New hybrid car and SUVs are will be auto-shutdown at every stop light under most conditions. This is to gone to save gas! even non hybrid car and SUVs shut off fuel injectors while engine is deceleration at high RPMs.gas mileage while idling is 0 MPG
2007-06-26 21:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by BERNARD H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It actually depends. If the vehicle is fuel injected it has been proven that a vehicle uses more fuel just sitting and running than if you turn it off and start it. Now if the vehicle has a carburetor then it uses more to start than to let it idle.
2007-06-26 20:00:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that if you're idling for a short amount of time in your comparison, that it'd actually save you gas to not start it, and keep it running. The engine has to take in a lot more gas at irregular amounts and flow to get it up and running, and revs higher. If you notice after you start your car, the tachometer (RPMs) will actually spike a little before it actually idles.
2007-06-26 19:58:32 · answer #4 · answered by bowhunter637 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
She is sadly misinformed, unless her vehicle is more than 25 years old. With modern vehicles and electronic ignition, any stand time over ONE MINUTE should have the engine off. It takes very little fuel to start a modern fuel injected computer-controlled ignition vehicle.
2007-06-26 20:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by Fred C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mechanics are not clueless. They are capable of repairing your car. You did not take it to a true mechanic, you took it to Pepboys. Pepboys is a parts store that happens to have a few trained monkeys capable of changing oil. Take it to a real shop. Not a parts store. Your throttle positioning sensor could be bad, your mass air flow sensor could be bad, your throttle body could be gummed up with carbon etc... No real way to know.
2016-05-17 04:37:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes thats right, a car burns more gas when starting. so if you are waitting for few minutes, keep idling. ...
2007-06-26 19:59:35 · answer #7 · answered by kavitbica 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
According to AAA, if you will be sitting for more than 10-seconds, it is better to turn off the engine.
2007-06-26 23:45:48 · answer #8 · answered by ericscribener 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it only costs more to start a cold engine. once the choke is off, it is essentially no extra cost in fuel to start the engine.
2007-06-26 20:04:48 · answer #9 · answered by David W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋