Do you fall into the idling trap?
Myth
The engine must be warmed up thoroughly before driving, especially in winter weather.
Fact
Idling is not an efficient way to warm up your vehicle. Vehicles warm up twice as fast when driven, saving fuel and harmful emissions. In the winter only 30 seconds of idling is necessary before driving.
Myth
Idling is good for your engine.
Fact
Excessive idling can actually damage your engine's components, including cylinders, spark plugs and the exhaust system.
Myth
Shutting off and restarting your vehicle is hard on the engine and uses more gas than if you leave it running.
Fact
Frequent restarting has little impact on engine components such as the battery and starter motor. Component wear caused by restarting the engine is estimated to add $10 per year to the cost of driving, money that will likely be recovered several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
Five-Step Action Plan
A Personal Anti-Idling Plan
Five Ways to Save Money & Protect the Environment
1. Allow your vehicle to idle for no longer than 30 seconds when starting. Be sure all windows are clear and do not rapidly accelerate your vehicle for at least 5km. This will allow all parts of the vehicle to warm up properly.
2. If you will be idling for more than 10 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). It takes less gas to restart your engine if you are stopped for 10 seconds or more.
3. Do not use a remote starter as it will encourage longer periods of idling.
4. In colder weather, below 0 degrees, use a block heater to warm your engine. This device will improve fuel efficiency and warm up your vehicle quicker.
5. Be an advocate! Tell everyone you know about the harmful effects of idling and what they can do to reduce greenhouse gases and save money.
Some interesting facts about vehicle idling
1. Idling creates an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emissions and it wastes gas and money.
2. Climate change is caused by carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. If every driver reduced their idling time by only five minutes, 1.9 million liters of gasoline would be saved and 4,500 tons of carbon dioxide would not enter the atmosphere.
3. Newer vehicles only need to be warmed up for about thirty seconds even in the coldest weather. Fuel injected vehicles will warm up most efficiently once the vehicle is moving. The transmission, wheel bearings, tires and other parts will warm up and perform best not from idling but from driving the vehicle.
4. In the winter, when starting your car from a cold start, vehicle emissions during idling will be more than double the usual. Driving a vehicle will reduce warm up time by 50% while saving gas and harmful emissions from the atmosphere.
5. The catalytic converter is a device that cleans pollutants from the vehicle's exhaust and doesn't function at its peak until it reaches between 400°C and 800°C. The best way to warm the converter is to drive the vehicle. Make sure a technician checks your converter when you get your car serviced because if it isn't working properly your vehicle will emit pollution when idling.
6. Remember the 10 seconds rule! If you are stopped for more than ten seconds, except in traffic, turn your engine off. More than ten seconds of idling wastes more gas then turning off the engine and re-starting the vehicle.
7. Idling your vehicle with the air conditioner on (to keep the interior cool) can increase emissions by 13 percent.
PFC. S. Wall
Howard County Police Depart.
Community Resource Officer
Southern District
410-313-3755
SWall@howardcountymd.gov
Please visit our website at: www.HCPD.org
Report crimes anonymously :
410-313-STOP or 410-290 DRUG
"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak...because in your life you will have been all of these". Author unknown.
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