fuel used idling vs restarting

[basslover911]

Thats my worry though, starter wear!

My engine is a 2.3L, auto... should I really be turning it off and on all the time in the city?

Like I said, what about starter wear?

[ptsmith24]

Originally Posted by basslover911

Thats my worry though, starter wear!

My engine is a 2.3L, auto... should I really be turning it off and on all the time in the city?

Like I said, what about starter wear?

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...html#post29493

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...used-4759.html

There are a few more links if you search the Forums (box up top on the top left). That's where I found those links.

[Daox]

Yeah, it will wear your starter out faster, but IMO its still worth it. The only one I know who has actually worn out their starter from engine off is Wayne Gerdes. He is an extreme hypermiler and has that the engine off constantly. He still got 100k miles out of his starter on his Honda Accord.

[trikkonceptz]

As it stands now I am saving $100 a month in gas thanks to what I have learned here, I have been doing so for 5 months now, so that $500 in savings so far. A starter costs no where near that much therefore at this time I am ahead of the curve. Now EOC did strain my battery to the point of replacement. But it was low to begin with so I bought a dry cell. $150 later I still have saved money.

I wish gas would go back down to $2.00 a gallon, I can't imagine a time when I would spend $100 a month in gas instead of $250 currently.

[bbjsw10]

I almost missed this thread, great work, dcb. Since installing MpGuino it is sickening to watch tank mpg drop at lights I am going to start doing this as well. Metro starters are cheap, so even if it wears out 2 times faster I will still save money.

I attract red lights.

[azraelswrd]

I used the stopwatch method and seeing some wait-times of over a minute and the jumps of idle GPH from 0.24 D to 0.17 N, the gains can be calculated and I was sold on engine-off at lights. As for starter wear I try to minimize the shutdowns to 5 or 6 a day or 2 times at the lights (which works out for me since my route sees only a few long waits)

Cold engine stuck on a long light = worst case scenario for MPG loss. Block heater is definitely on my "future to do" list.

[Unforgiven]

Stopping the engine at a light is a good thing to do. In some areas like railroad crossings here in IN, it is often mandatory, and posted, that you shut off your engine. Sadly I have had to stop doing that, after getting roasted by folks when my vehicle failed to restart due to a security glich. GM has not figured out why it does this intermittently, other than to tell me to get an original factory type stereo instead of the aftermarket one that came with the vehicle. I said ok, how much is your radio? They promptly quoted me more than all 3 tv's and the house stereo and my surround sound combined. UGH. Hard to justify paying 4 figures for a car stereo.

[tartersmell]

A ecm controlled engine can figure out in a second that your engine is already HOT and ready to go. So it using more fuel to start it is just a old Carb-Choke Myth. Even a Carb engine with a Good setup Choke will not use More fuel starting Hot vs idling.
Your Next question is, How many starts does my starter have in it? Larger v6 and v8s shouldn't keep restarting there engines because of Flywheel and starter wear. Small 1.5 1.8 etc. There is still wear but not as much. Someone needs to invent a Starter system that has minimum wear - repeat starting for a Full Gas Engine not Hybrid! Teeth and Flywheel system is How old now..

[wagonman76]

Originally Posted by bbjsw10

Since installing MpGuino it is sickening to watch tank mpg drop at lights I am going to start doing this as well. Metro starters are cheap, so even if it wears out 2 times faster I will still save money.

Yes I noticed the same thing since the guino. Besides shutting it off, some things that help are shifting to neutral (on mine, seems to use about half the gas as being in gear). And trying to time the lights, or at least dragging out the approach as long as possible to minimize or eliminate the time stopped. Even creeping along Im getting decent mpg, but once Im stopped its all over.

I dont EOC for a couple reasons - automatic trans, and its a HUGE job to steer and brake a-bodies with no power. If it wasnt for that, changing a starter is no big deal, and there are plenty available at the junkyard for $20 or so.

[tartersmell]

Not only does the starter WEAR, But the Flywheel also wears. And that is not a 15 mins job. Split engine from Transmission.. They Wear just like the starter.