Will turning off the engine for 10 seconds while stopped at a red light save fuel?

When stopped at a red light for a sufficient amount of time, many drivers wonder, "Would turning off the engine save more fuel?" This question isn't unique to Vietnam; drivers worldwide share this concern. The Argonne National Laboratory, operated by the University of Chicago under the management of the U.S. Department of Energy, found the answer to this question in 2017.

Linda Gaines, a transportation systems analyst at Argonne, suggests: "You should turn off your engine." Unless the driver is driving a very old car with a carburetor, restarting it might use more fuel than starting it. However, with modern cars that use electronic fuel injection, turning off the engine will save fuel and reduce harmful emissions.

Some drivers think that letting their car idle will use less fuel than restarting it. But research by Linda and colleagues has found that...The car will save fuel and reduce emissions if the engine is turned off when stopped for about 10 seconds..

While claiming that turning off the engine for 10 seconds or more will save fuel, this expert also advises drivers against such practices.Do not turn off the machine.If you stop at a red light, don't wait too long while driving. Safety should be the top priority when driving. Cars should always be in motion when stopped, allowing drivers to react to unexpected situations.

A question arises: does repeatedly starting the car affect the starter motor in particular, or the car's durability in general? This laboratory states that, according to their research, starting the car 10 times or fewer per day does not affect the starter motor throughout the car's lifespan. Furthermore, modern starter motors are significantly more durable than those of older generations.

Turning off the engine at a red light might save fuel, but it's not recommended for safety reasons.

Besides the issue of turning off the engine at red lights, the Argonne lab also clarified whether the engine needs to idle to warm up before driving, especially in winter. The answer is "not necessary".

Drivers can drive away immediately because modern cars are designed not to require engine warm-up. Furthermore, the engine heats up faster when running, and the engine oil circulates smoothly. The catalytic converter (exhaust gas catalytic converter) will also reach its operating temperature faster if the car is moving instead of idling. Most manufacturers also recommend against idling, even on the coldest days.