saving fuel at rush hour

Woofstuff · 06-10-2011 2:24pm #1

Is it worthwhile turning off the engine in rush hour traffic when stopped? I Heard if stopped for thirty seconds or more its worth it?would it damage the starter motor?

Wexfordian · 06-10-2011 2:27pm

Don't know about the starter motor, but can't imagine it would do much for your battery if you were doing it continuously?

L-M · 06-10-2011 2:28pm

Woofstuff wrote: »

Is it worthwhile turning off the engine in rush honour traffic when stopped? I Heard if stopped for thirty seconds or more its worth it?would it damage the starter motor?

I heard before anything more 50 seconds it's worthwhile turning it off... But you'd have to be planning ahead :P

mickdw · 06-10-2011 2:34pm

Modern cars that are designed with stop - go systems save only a little fuel by killing the engine when stopped so IMO its hardly worth your while turning the car off in traffic.

keysersoze0330 · 06-10-2011 2:39pm

I think the re-starting of the car constantly would counteract any saving

Bigus · 06-10-2011 2:43pm

Woofstuff wrote: »

Is it worthwhile turning off the engine in rush hour traffic when stopped? I Heard if stopped for thirty seconds or more its worth it?would it damage the starter motor?

Yes absolutely, especially with bigger engined cars. Even short off times mean savings. Why else would every maker now be fitting stop start systems across the range.

Bigus · 06-10-2011 2:47pm

8% typical savings according to bosch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0vPvTMJh3M

Bigus · 06-10-2011 2:48pm

keysersoze0330 wrote: »

I think the re-starting of the car constantly would counteract any saving

Why ?

Any scientific basis for this ?

keysersoze0330 · 06-10-2011 2:51pm

Bigus wrote: »

Why ?

Any scientific basis for this ?

Absolutely none, just passing on my humble opinion:)

Henry Ford III · 06-10-2011 3:09pm

Bigus wrote: »

Why ?

Any scientific basis for this ?

More starts mean more wear on the starter motor, and more work for the battery.

007.57 · 06-10-2011 4:22pm

I got a simple tip for saving fuel - check your tyre pressure regularly, read somewhere it helps. Also if you clean your fuel injectors that helps too, lots of fuel injectors dribble fuel instead of properly injecting it. There is a product by STP that helps clean them

Atlantic Dawn · 06-10-2011 4:41pm

Buy a Prius.

Bigus · 06-10-2011 4:45pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

More starts mean more wear on the starter motor, and more work for the battery.

So what ?

Still fuel to be saved

Henry Ford III · 06-10-2011 4:49pm

Bigus wrote: »

So what ?

Still fuel to be saved

Yes, but if you have to prematurely replace batteries and a starter your savings may be eaten up, or you might actually lose money.

Modern stop/start cars have beefed up components for this very reason.

Vicxas · 06-10-2011 4:55pm

Would that not counteract the savings by wearing out the starter motor?

C4Kid · 06-10-2011 5:31pm

I think the minimal savings in fuel aren't worth the hastle and constant worrying that I might be prematurely wearing out my starter motor and battery. :pac:

johnos1984 · 06-10-2011 5:35pm

OP,

it would be easier and more beneficial to clean out anything unnecessary from the car, check tyre pressures and keep the car serviced regularly.

After that the best thing you can do is adjust your driving to accelerate gently and slow down gently only using the accelerator when needed. Don't rev above 2k rpm.

The best advice is to anticipate any changes in speed or movement early so you can slow down or speed up gently.

If you're driving gently, drive so you don't block/slow down others unnecessarily. If someone is tailgating you or flashing at you flick the rear view mirror down so they aren't catching your eye and smile when the pass you and flick you off. Learn the 'feel' of your car at different speeds and what gear you need to be in to drive economically without straining the engine. Look around you and realise those accelerating quickly and hitting the brakes hard are only getting about 5 cars ahead of you.

All of the above costs nothing and you'll feel better when you get home from work:)

Neilw · 06-10-2011 5:43pm

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Buy a Prius.

Don't, there terrible

Been driving one for the past month and I'm growing to hate it.

saving fuel at rush hour

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