How's your idle? (Just some idle blabbing)

[EcoCivic]

I am wondering how much fuel a fully warmed up 4 cylinder engine that is in good condition uses. I don’t believe that shutting the engine off at stop lights is the best idea to save fuel. The reason I think shutting the engine off at stop lights is a bad idea, besides obvious safety concerns, is that a properly running car probably won’t use enough fuel idling at a stop light to be worth wearing out your starter, among other parts like the ignition switch, risking an accident, or putting the effort into shutting the engine off and restarting it constantly. Same with EOC. I do, however, shut the engine off at railroad tracks and drive thrus. But at stop lights, I just shift to neutral and let it idle. Do you agree?

[samwichse]

For a Civic, I've heard anywhere from 0.4-0.6 gallons per hour of idling.

[roosterk0031]

My cobalt (2.2 liter) is closer to 1/3 gph, coasting in neutral at 30 mph I'm in the 90s mpg.

[Ecky]

I've seen anywhere from 0.25-0.35 gallons per hour idling with a warmed up 1.5-2.0L Honda 4 cylinder. My Insight's 1.0 3cylinder is about 0.20gph.\

EDIT: This is measured via an OBD II dongle.

[EcoCivic]

If I remember correctly, my Scanguage shows about 0.23 gallons per hour.

[Gasoline Fumes]

I never idle. I sometimes bump-start, sometimes use the starter. 244k miles. Original starter, original pressure plate, second clutch disc.
No idling for me, I like being in the #1 spots!
EcoModder Fleet list - EcoModder.com

[gone-ot]

A ScangaugeII will TELL you in numbers.

[EcoCivic]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

A ScangaugeII will TELL you in numbers.

I use one, but I question it’s accuracy. It shows identical fuel consumption when idling in D as N. How accurate is a Scanguage?

[ksa8907]

So... all these manufacturers making hybrids that turn off the engine and regular cars that have stop start, they must be doing it wrong.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Ford and BMW are on record stating that the stop/start break even period is 3-5 seconds.

The safety aspect is a dud. There's a red light/ stopped cars in front of you anyway - where are you possibly going to go?

On a factory S/S system, the engine will be running before you can put it in gear.

MPGuino can log fuel used idling:



That's 4.52 litres out of 55.65 for the tank or close enough to 10%. A non eco driver spends more time stationary so would waste even more idling.