Gas burned per minute spent idling figures?

[Frank Lee]

It was a cold and dark night... furnace quit, had to drive to the next town for parts. Furnace man was nice enough to get outta bed and meet me at his shop so I said I'll be there at xxxx time. Get in the T-Racer, get maybe two blocks down the street, stupid cop pulls me over, "Why are you going so slow?" DERP DERP DERP I will continue to warm up gently at first while driving rather than idle, thank you very much.

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by 2013Versa

I read a book a while back (How to make your car last forever) that explained how every time an engine is started, before the oil pressure builds up to do it's normal job, the metal-to-metal wear on the main bearings and the other initially non-lubricated parts of the motor like the camshaft and timing gear is the same as if you drove 500 miles.

IMHO,any book that claims even a cold start is equivalent to 500 miles driving would have to be suspect, especially considering the abilities of modern lubricants.

Shutting off the engine for a few minutes at the lights isn't enough time for ALL the oil to drain back from wearing parts and a warmed up engine (and oil) regains full circulation very quickly on restart.

The only consideration I see is, have you saved enough fuel through not idling for those few minutes to more than cover the extra load on the charging system that the starter used.
In most cases, I think it's worth switching off for even a short stop.

I'm on my third Nissan/Datsun (all autos). The first was 25 years old when I sold it, still with the original starter and the second ran 20 years on the original. I don't think you have much to worry about in that regard.

[NachtRitter]

Updated: Helga idles between 0.12 and 0.14gph

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I used to tell people that my Insight would go 40 MPH on the same fuel a V8 used to just idle itself (.5 GPH and 80 MPG at a steady 40 MPH (CVT not manual)).

regards
Mech

That's one Ill have to remember... though it sounds like you stopped telling people that?

Checked my SG and it looks like 0.5 gph at 40mph for Helga as well.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by D.O.G.

...In most cases, I think it's worth switching off for even a short stop.

I'm on my third Nissan/Datsun (all autos). The first was 25 years old when I sold it, still with the original starter and the second ran 20 years on the original. I don't think you have much to worry about in that regard.

Do you shift to N to switch off, I do - I'm still learning autos and their evil ways...

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

Do you shift to N to switch off, I do - I'm still learning autos and their evil ways...

If you're talking about turning off at traffic lights, I usually coast up to the lights in neutral anyway, so the answer is yes.

If you're talking about a sudden stop with no coasting, I don't think it makes any difference.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by D.O.G.

If you're talking about turning off at traffic lights, I usually coast up to the lights in neutral anyway, so the answer is yes.

If you're talking about a sudden stop with no coasting, I don't think it makes any difference.

Yep thats what I meant, as for the latter I try and avoid by leaving a gap - also helps if people want / need to pass so they have somewhere to tuck in...

...not that they appreciate this of course.

[Arragonis]

As for the OP - 0.23 GPH at IDLE in N, 0.47 in D. 2.7 TDI, Slushbox.

[SentraSE-R]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Fully warmed idle for my xA is 0.16-0.17GPH. I try and catch the cold idle soon.

??? My xB (same engine) idles @ .11-.15 gph.

[NeilBlanchard]

Well, that is here in New England in the winter, and so I probably had the fan blowing and maybe the rear defroster on. I also have the cold air intake from Toyota on my car.

I have tried to see what a cold start is, and I think it is ~0.51-0.55GPH until the temperature tops ~125-130F?

[ECONORAM]

I'll add the figures for my 4.7L V8 Ram. Once warmed up, it idles at 490-510rpm and 0.45-0.50 gal/hr. My wife's 2.4L I-4 Avenger will idle at about 700rpm, at 0.34 gal/hr.
Ram has an MPGuino; Avenger has an OBDuino.

if 1 US Gal/hr = 3.78541178 liters / hour then my truck drinks 1.7-1.893 l/hr at idle. Wow. But, for a V8 it still seems pretty good.

@Frank Lee, I hear you on people idling vehicles in driveways. It's ridiculous. People here in OKC do it when it's 50*F outside. Really? Saw the same thing when I was in San Antonio.