saving gas or not saving gas.... that is the question

[crgeorge]

Every day on my commute to work I get stopped on this long hill waiting on a light to change. Basically I sit there idle for 2 minutes (light time to change) then move about 20 yards then repeat 3-5 times before I get through and on my way.

So 3-5 times 2 minutes is 6-10 minutes a day that I sit idling.. so would I save gas by turing off the engine for that time or does that use more gas/cause other harm by turning the car on and off?

This kinda sounds a little rediculous but repeat this process every work day of the year and I'm sure it'll be some savings. It comes out to about 37 hours of idle time a year...

[Shakuya88]

I read somewhere that to start your engine uses the same amount of gas as 30 seconds of idling. So in the saving gas aspect of it yes it would. In all your starting and shutting off would theoretically use the same amount of gas as one light cycle idling. As for would this put extra wear and tear on your engine, I wouldn't think so but I've been wrong before.

[Phelan]

Shutting your engine off in traffic, even stop and go traffic, is a dangerous habit to get into. Most engines also run richer at startup than afterward (even if at operating temps, the ecu just leans the mix out faster). Better solution would be to take an alternate route that lets you avoid the stops w/o substantially increasing total distance.

[crgeorge]

unfortunatly this is my alternate route as the other route is stop and go for about 5 miles which takes about 30+ minutes and a year off my life each time(Pittsburgh, 279 going into the tunnel)

[the750]

probably not going to amount to much other than extra wear and tear... have you considered just driving on the shoulder and running the red light?

[crgeorge]

crossed my mind a few times... maybe get one of those single cop lights and put it on the roof???

[the750]

^ ha, that is what i was going to suggest actually. also install strobes in your headlights to complete the effect.

[thatguy]

I would be concerned with having a "dead" car in traffic.
Also I think the added wear would offset any benefits.

[the750]

ohh i know!
1) install a tow hook to the front of the car
2) carry a heavy duty rope or chain
3) be sure to get behind a truck at said stoplight

when you come to a stop, turn the car off and tie it to the truck ahead of you. leave the car in neutral and let the truck pull you through the light.

not sure what you will do once you get through the light though, hopefully the truck is going to your office.

[crgeorge]

^ some people have too much time

haha I'll get that installed tonight and let you know how that works tomorrow...

[poormansporsche]

Originally Posted by crgeorge

^ some people have too much time

haha

.....................ZING !!!

[thatguy]

Originally Posted by the750

ohh i know!
1) install a tow hook to the front of the car
2) carry a heavy duty rope or chain
3) be sure to get behind a truck at said stoplight

when you come to a stop, turn the car off and tie it to the truck ahead of you. leave the car in neutral and let the truck pull you through the light.

not sure what you will do once you get through the light though, hopefully the truck is going to your office.

I thought about the SAME THING for use on the highway behind a semi!
Probably some sort of retractable tow bar with a hook thingy on the end of it. That way if he did a brake check I would...well...survive.

[NecioVato]

If you having to do this 3-5x at one light. And based on Shakuya88's estimate of using 30secs of gas everytime you start up...then would you be:

a. shutting off the car once.....so only starting it up again when you know you can clear the light....thus making everyone behind you upset bc you haven't moved up with the flow of traffice

b. shutting it off multiple times (since you say you repeat this 3-5x) thus creating the same idle time as you would just keeping the car on. -- based on shutting it off 4x and it costing 30sec of idling per start up.

just my 2cents...but not worth shutting off the car...

[Zoomzoomers]

Like it was already mentioned, your car runs the richest at start up so you would end up polluting more by stopping and starting your car that many times. With the motor running rich it would also negate any fuel savings. Last, motors exprience the most stress at start up since the oil in down in the oil pan so the friction will cause ear and tear. So you might just end up reducing the life of your oil/motor to save a few bucks on gas.

The better solution would be for you to turn your motor off and get out to push that few feet between stop lights. You will save gas, reduce pollution and get in better shape.

[SmokeG305]

there is another problem too, if you turn off your car too many without letting the alternator full time to recharge, you might end up with a dead battery.