Lower idle RPMs save gas?
 

I think my CRV is doing about 800 RPMs at idle after warm up. (5 speed standard shift).

I was wondering if I could somehow adjust it a bit lower to save a little
gas while waiting at stop signs etc.?.

Or, will the car start stalling out if it runs too slow?

Thanks,
Rich

The Civic VX idles at 400rpm to help conserve gas.

You might run into vibrational issues if you try lowering your idle speed, however. I'm not sure if the VX used any special technique (i.e. precise crankshaft balancing) to achieve such a low idle speed. Ideally, you'll want to kill the engine and remove the need to idle in the first place.

- LostCause

I've been looking in this Haynes repair manual and it says the CRV idle should be set to
480 (+/- 50) RPM.
My Scanguage2 has been displaying around 800 after warm up.

I might try to lower it down to around 450 and see how it works..
------

I have started shutting the engine off at long stop lights, but when I pull up to a
stop sign and have to wait for a few cars to come over the hill and pass by,
I have no clue how long I'll be waiting, it can be 5 to 45 seconds.
So, since most of the time, it's only 15 or 20 seconds, I'm going to save some wear-n-tear and leave the engine idling.

And, when I'm in stop and go traffic, moving for 15 seconds and stopping for 15 seconds, logic says having a lower idle could save some fuel..

lower idle does save fuel but vibration issues take over with the diesel.
i cut the engine way before i get to the stop sign and then bump start it when i'm just stopping in 4th. (direct)

If you're idling too low you might end up with lubrication issues, vibration is never good and you'd probably end up stalling it. 480 seems low for a crv or any honda for that fact. 600-800 seems normal for pretty much any honda engine.

Keep the idle speed where it's supposed to be, its there for a reason. Just turn the car off :P

But if you still want that super low idle, try the poor mans technique, which is lifting up on the accelerator.

There's a table on this page.
http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl490g.htm
It says 750 +/- 50.. So, maybe my repair manual is wrong.
I'll just leave it like it is for now. :)

It just seemed like 800 was too fast.. I can actually release the clutch very slowly
and take off, without ever touching the gas.. Of course, I'm moving VERY slowly.. :)