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Save Money On Gas
Does Idling Your Car Hurt Gas
Mileage?
When a vehicle is idling, it’s using fuel.
Today, high gas prices have forced consumers to conserve fuel
in every possible way. An idling vehicle burns up a
lot of fuel. Many consumers don’t realize how much fuel an idle vehicle
burns up. An idle car is a waste of fuel, a hazard to the environment,
and to some people’s health. There’s no need to have your vehicle
at a standstill, idling can reduce your gas mileage, and pollute
the earth.
Leaving
the car idle is not necessary. If you have to run
some quick errands, such as picking the kids up from school,
or picking up the dry cleaning, don’t leave your car idle.
It is dangerous, but it also causes your car to burn fuel unnecessarily.
If turning off the car is not practical, then turn off the
car, and go inside. Avoiding idling can save up to 19 percent
on fuel economy. It’s a common myth that your car needs to
be warmed up before driving, but this is not true. Cars don’t
really need to be warmed up unless the weather is below 25
degrees. Even if the weather’s below 25 degrees, it only takes
30 seconds for your engine to be warmed. Actually, driving
your vehicle gently is the best warm up for the engine. Other
components like, wheel bearings, steering, transmission, and
tires also need to be warmed up. The only way to warm up the
other components is to get the car moving.
Most drivers may not know this, but
excessive idling can damage the engine. Idling causes damage, because an idle engine is
not operating at its peak temperature, therefore fuel combustion
is incomplete. As a result, fuel residue can condense cylinder
walls, contaminate oil, and damage engine components. For example,
these residues tend to deposit on spark plugs. With more engines
idling, there is a drop in the average plug temperature and
accelerated plug fouling, which increases fuel consumption
by 4 or 5 percent. Idling can also cause water to condense
in the vehicle’s exhaust. Which can lead to corrosion, and
reduce the life of the exhaust system. It’s better to shut
your vehicle off and restart, than to let it remain idle.
Emissions from idle cars can cause health problems. A link
has been found between contaminants in vehicle emissions and
significant respiratory health effects. Poor air quality and
smog, caused in part by vehicle exhaust are resulting in increased
hospital admissions, respiratory illnesses, and premature deaths,
particularly in urban areas. Children are more vulnerable to
air pollution, because they breathe faster than adults, and
inhale more air per pound of their body weight. The poor air
quality also causes problems for the elderly, and those with
respiratory illnesses such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic
bronchitis. If unnecessary idling stopped, then the air would
be cleaner, and respiratory health would improve.
Not
only is an idle engine costly, it has significant environmental
impacts. Idle cars emit exhaust gases such as carbon dioxide.
A car's engine idling for 10 minutes produces about 90 grams
of carbon dioxide and consumes 0.14 liters of fuel. If all
cars left their engines running for a minute less each day--or
365 minutes less a year--approximately 225,200 fewer tons of
carbon dioxide would be emitted, and 350 million liters of
energy would be saved among those vehicles. Idle commercial
trucks and buses, emit more pollutants than any other vehicles.
Countries like Japan, and Canada have instituted regulations
against idling. Also one environmental agency has launched
a “stop idling” movement, which calls for engines to be turned
off in stationary vehicles. The movement aims to reduce air
pollution and global warming by controlling emission of exhaust
gases.
So, idling is bad for your engine, bad for your health, and
bad for the environment. There’s only one deduction; idling
is bad. Drivers will gain gas mileage, if they stop idling.
Turning off your engine when your car’s at a standstill, will
save money, help save the planet, and maybe save some lives.
“Stop Idling,” and there will be a major difference in your
vehicle. Therefore, if it’s not necessary to leave your car
idling, then just turn it off.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2007
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