Skip to main content

Wasteful Thinking

Posted January 2, 2022 11:23 AM

With the weather getting colder, you might be tempted to start your vehicle up, let it idle for 15 or 20 minutes and then get in the nice, cozy cabin.  Some vehicles offer remote starting that let you do that from the comfort of your home or apartment.  But is letting your vehicle idle like that good for it?

Manufacturers say it doesn't harm the vehicle.  They say it's because modern vehicles are made differently from those in the past.  Just about all newer vehicles employ fuel injection which uses computers to adjust the amount of gasoline that goes into the cylinders.  The engine gets only the fuel it needs, taking conditions into account.

Older vehicles, on the other hand, used to use carburetors.  When you started a cold engine, the carburetor wasn't able to adjust the gasoline amount depending on conditions.  Some of the gasoline would mix with oil and the pistons wouldn't get the same lubrication as they would with undiluted oil.

So yes, you can warm up your newer vehicle for your own personal comfort.  But consider how much fuel you are wasting.  That is not only throwing away money, it's a waste of natural resources.  And it puts more carbon into the atmosphere. 

Automakers have to be mindful of what fuel economy their vehicles can achieve.  So the flip side of the remote starts they offer is a "stop-start" feature.  When you stop your vehicle, even at a stoplight, your vehicle will turn the engine off.  When you take your foot off the brake and step on the accelerator, it starts up right away.  That feature can save as much as 10 percent of the fuel your vehicle uses. 

Your vehicle may not have that start-stop feature, but you can still save fuel by shutting off your engine manually if you are waiting somewhere, like a parking lot or perhaps sitting outside your child's school waiting to pick him or her up.  It saves you money and contributes to a healthier atmosphere for our planet.

Madison Automotive
2457 Covington Pike
Memphis, TN 38128
(901)386-9600



Search



Archive

August 2020 (16)
September 2020 (4)
October 2020 (4)
November 2020 (5)
December 2020 (4)
January 2021 (6)
February 2021 (4)
March 2021 (4)
April 2021 (4)
May 2021 (5)
June 2021 (4)
July 2021 (4)
August 2021 (5)
September 2021 (4)
October 2021 (5)
November 2021 (4)
December 2021 (4)
January 2022 (6)
February 2022 (4)
March 2022 (4)
April 2022 (4)
May 2022 (5)
June 2022 (4)
July 2022 (5)
August 2022 (4)
September 2022 (4)
October 2022 (5)
November 2022 (4)
December 2022 (4)
January 2023 (5)
February 2023 (4)
March 2023 (4)
April 2023 (5)
May 2023 (4)
June 2023 (4)
July 2023 (5)
August 2023 (4)
September 2023 (4)
October 2023 (5)
November 2023 (4)
December 2023 (5)
January 2024 (5)
February 2024 (4)
March 2024 (4)

Categories

Air Conditioning (7)Alignment (4)Alternator (3)Auto Safety (3)Automotive News (4)Battery (4)Brakes (6)Cabin Air Filter (1)Check Engine Light (2)Cooling System (5)Customer Detective Work (1)Dashboard (1)Diagnostics (4)Differential Service (2)Drive Train (3)Exhaust (3)Fluids (6)Fuel Economy (3)Fuel Saving Tip: Slow Down (2)Fuel System (17)Headlamps (3)Inspection (1)Keys to a long lasting vehicle (1)Maintenance (20)Monitoring System (2)Oil Change (2)Older Vehicles (2)Parts (2)PCV Valve (2)Safety (2)Serpentine Belt (2)Service Intervals (4)Service Standards (5)Shocks & Struts (4)Spark Plugs (1)Steering (2)Suspension (2)Timing Belt (2)Tire Rotation and Balancing (1)Tires (3)Tires and Wheels (17)TPMS (1)Transmission (1)Trip Inspection (2)Warranty (1)Water Pump (1)What Customers Should Know (29)Windshield Wipers (4)Winter Prep (3)

image-people-driving

OUR REVIEWS

 (104 Reviews)
image-quotes
reviewicon

Fixed my Buick and the price wasn't nowhere near as bad as I thought it was

, 03/22/2024

partners

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)
ASE Master Technician
Napa
Napa
Car Care Aware