Stop at red light, turn off engine for 10 seconds will save gas?
Experts say that turning off the engine will help the car save fuel when stopping for 10 seconds or more, but to be safe, you should not turn off the engine.
When stopping at a red light for a long time, many drivers always wonder "do I save more fuel by turning off the engine"? Not only in Vietnam, drivers around the world also have this question. Argonne National Laboratory, operated by the University of Chicago under the management of the US Department of Energy, found the answer to this problem in 2017.
"You should turn off the engine," said Linda Gaines, a transportation systems analyst at Argonne. Unless you're driving an older car with a carburetor, restarting the car can use more fuel than starting it. With today's fuel-injected cars, turning off the engine saves fuel and reduces harmful emissions.
Some drivers think that idling uses less fuel than restarting it. But research by Linda and her colleagues found thatYour car will save fuel and reduce emissions if it turns off the engine when stopped for about 10 seconds..
Claiming it will save fuel if you turn off the engine for 10 seconds or more, this expert also advises driversdo not turn off the machineIf you stop at a red light, it is not usually too long while driving. Because safety is the top priority when driving. The car should always be in a state of movement at all times when waiting, so that the driver can react to unexpected situations.
A question was raised if constantly starting the car like that affects the starter in particular or the durability of the car in general, this laboratory said that according to their research, if starting 10 times or less per day, the starter is not affected throughout the life of the car. In fact, today's starters are much more durable than older generation cars.
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Turning off the engine at a red light may save fuel, but it is not recommended for safety reasons. |
In addition to the red light shutdown issue, Argonne also clarified whether the engine needs to be idled to warm up before rolling, especially in winter. The answer is "not necessary."
Drivers can drive their cars straight away because today's cars are designed to not need to be warmed up. In addition, when in running condition, the new engine heats up faster, the engine oil runs smoothly. The catalytic converter (catalytic converter) will also reach operating temperature faster if the car is moving instead of idling. Most manufacturers also recommend not idling, even on the coldest days.
