Turn off or Idle?
Oct 22, 2023 08:58:50 #
MosheR wrote:
When my Prius Prime idles, it switches to electric mode. When I'm driving, and I need it, it automatically switches to gas.
My F-150 Powerboost Hybrid spends about 30-40% in electric mode while in-town driving…then if there’s a power outage I can run much of the house if needed (240v)
Oct 22, 2023 09:02:55 #
I suspect that the energy crisis would be solved just by eliminating the amount of idling done in fast food pickup lanes. And considering that half the country is overweight (and probably shouldn’t be there in the first place) we could mitigate the obesity epidemic, killing two birds with one stone.
Just saying . .
Just saying . .
Oct 22, 2023 09:20:02 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Someone posted on a local forum about wasting gas while idling a car's engine. Someone replied that it takes more gas to restart an engine than to run it for three minutes. That never made sense to me.
Contrary to popular belief, restarting your car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling. In fact, idling for just 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
Contrary to popular belief, restarting your car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling. In fact, idling for just 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
And along with that, it certainly creates more greenhouse gas emissions to let your engine idle as opposed to turning it off. In fact, New Hampshire and most states have anti-idling laws for just that reason although I've never heard of the law being enforced.
Oct 22, 2023 11:02:33 #
jccash wrote:
I drive a fairly new Porsche 911. It has a button that if I keep it off it will turn the engine off automatically at stoplights. I like it to do that on my wife for first love to do that so I have the button on when she is in the car.
My 2024 Subaru Legacy has the same button that is automatically on whenever the car is first started, it also has a display with timer and fuel consumption, timer is 0.000 and fuel consumed is 0.0000, as long as I keep my foot still on the brake pedal the display will show, the minute I even flex my toes the engine goes to all cylinders and the display goes away. The time and fuel used is cumulative for each trip once the engine is shut off it resets to zero. The longest reading I have seen is 0.010 for time and 0.0025 for fuel consumed. The only thing I dislike about it is that it kicks hard when you take your foot off the brake when the other cylinders kick in. My car has a 2.5L 4cyl engine and it is not a turbo. The 2.4L has the turbo on it. The salesman told me it was better for my car engine to let it idle for a few minutes before putting it in gear and driving off, he gave no reason for it, but as a mechanic letting it idle for a few seconds before putting the engine under load ensures that the bearings are being lubricated.
Oct 22, 2023 11:04:50 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
tramsey wrote:
If I'm going to be gone for just a short time I let my car idle. I think it saves wear and tear on the starter. I do that unless I am not in a safe place.
You must be one of those folks who leave their Ford F350 Super Duty idling in the parking lot at the HEB while you shop so the interior will be nice and cool (summer) or warm (winter) when you return to load up your groceries.
Stan
Oct 22, 2023 11:10:52 #
Hereford wrote:
Of all the different operating modes you can use w... (show quote)
I may be old-school, and a little out of touch with modern practices, but back in the day it was common practice to let your engine idle for maybe 30seconds or so, at least it was in England.
The philosophy was, not so much about fuel saving or the environment, but because we all drove old clunkers. When you shut the engine off at the end of the day, the warm oil would drain down out of the worn valve gear and upper cylinders. At the next day's start-up, the piston slap and clattering valve gear would make you cringe! After a brief period of idling, the oil would find its way back up to the top of the engine and it would calm down. Peace would be restored.
Maybe its me that's the old clunker, but I still let my engines idle briefly, it makes me feel more comfortable.
Regarding fuel savings, I don't think my contribution to global warming matters all that much when you consider massive parking lots full of big rigs, letting their engines idle all night in winter just so they don't freeze-up. An absolute necessity in Canada and North America.
Oct 22, 2023 11:22:40 #
Scouser wrote:
I may be old-school, and a little out of touch wit... (show quote)
Engine always perform better when warm...including better gas mileage. Nothing wrong with 'old school' and letting your engine warm up if nothing else to lubricate all the moving parts before loading it.
Oct 22, 2023 11:27:10 #
jccash wrote:
I drive a fairly new Porsche 911. It has a button that if I keep it off it will turn the engine off automatically at stoplights. I like it to do that on my wife for first love to do that so I have the button on when she is in the car.
I wish there was an 'off button' designed strictly for the wife....
Oct 22, 2023 11:27:36 #
Blaster34 wrote:
I wish there was an 'off button' designed strictly for the wife....
Or even a Mute button.
Oct 22, 2023 12:11:45 #
Oct 22, 2023 13:02:34 #
ed3 wrote:
It is a government dictate, manufacturers are required to make it that you cannot permanently opt out. And it requires that you go through a sequence to turn that function off every time you turn the car on the first time. With this function on and you save fuel, in a week it required restarting the car several hundred times and saved less than one half gallon of gas. Image who is going to pay for the starter motor replacement.
Yes, shop time and a new starter. That's really saveing but they don't get it. Oh well that's what keeps my kid in business.
Oct 22, 2023 13:08:16 #
Scouser wrote:
I may be old-school, and a little out of touch wit... (show quote)
Used to do that a lot in Fairbanks back in the '60s. Some guys with diesels would let them run all winter. When they ground the air industry ( anything that flies ), then I will talk to somebody about global warming. I bet Greta does not take a dogsled or walk to all her protests. Just saying.
Oct 22, 2023 13:26:56 #
Yes, if I only stop to drop my grandchildren, then engine still on, save my starter, if it stops for several minutes, definitely off. Also, when stop long at red light, I put my gear at N, save my leg pressing at break pedal and stress to my mind !
Oct 22, 2023 13:34:06 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Someone posted on a local forum about wasting gas ... (show quote)
Back in the olden carburetor days, it would take extra gas to start the car (the choke and all). Now with computer-mesured injection a lot less gas is used to start.
Oct 22, 2023 14:24:01 #
rwww80a
Loc: Hampton, NH
The question I have is when the electric runs down and switches to gas to finish the trip, why not have it recharge the battery too. Several hundred horses on gas, it shouldn't take too many of them to recharge the battery and get overall farther range.
Also: ZOOM, ZOOM electrics have a lot of torque which takes alot of voltage and electric power. Why not put a limiter on the motor so it uses less electricity and extends the range that everbody is worrried and concerned about.
Also: ZOOM, ZOOM electrics have a lot of torque which takes alot of voltage and electric power. Why not put a limiter on the motor so it uses less electricity and extends the range that everbody is worrried and concerned about.
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