Idling and chicken nuggets
Just a quick note after seeing an article, 6 ways you're wasting gas. This has some good tips on saving gas while you drive. I maintain that simply driving less - what a concept - is the best conservation. But there's one thing in here that touches on something that drives me crazy: people who leave their car running while they go into Starbucks (or wherever). (I will confess I've been tempted many times to jump into one of these cars and speed off. I've not done it yet. I promise to confess here if I ever do.) The article states: "Idling...burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute, according to the California Energy Commission." Oy! A handy fact to have next time I see one of these cars.
And of course there's this (which I already knew, but the article brilliantly highlights with only a few words): "And don't go through the drive-through at fast food restaurants. You're already paying enough for the oil in those chicken nuggets." Urgh.
Before fuel injectors, it did indeed take a lot of gas to get the engine started. But in the fuel-injector world, it does still take more gas to start the car than when it idles. The break even point is around 30 seconds. Of course, those people that run into stores will usually be gone more than 30 seconds. And in most places it is illegal to leave a car running unattended on a public road.
Another thing to consider is the low oil pressure during start up. For a short time after starting, your car is operating at reduced oil pressure. One of the features of hybrid cars is to eliminate this lag. Also, there is increased starter motor wear. All things considered, I'd figure it at about a minute for the threshold. But then, I never leave the car running unattended anytime.
Posted by Brian Utterback on May 23, 2008 at 10:55 AM MDT #
Thanks, Brian. I agree, there are other considerations as you've outlined. And I will admit, I've idled at drive-up windows, waiting for my McNuggets (or my coffee - Colorado is the land of drive-up windows). I've also owned cars (or had moments with older cars) that I'm afraid to turn off because I'm afraid it won't start up again! But a minute sounds like a reasonable threshold to me. Something just snaps in me a little when I see the same car - usually late-model cars - idling when I go into a store and when I come back out.
Posted by Scott Brown on May 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM MDT #