Hypermiling - Engine off at Red lights

[robvlob]

Just stop being red light racers. If people would stop thinking its a competition to be the first to get to a red light to stop.

Depending on traffic you can just slow down a bit earlier. This saves fuel in two ways one your not unnecessarily using fuel to create momentum just to bleed it all off by stopping, & your possibly retaining momentum for when the light does change. It saves fuel to start from a rolling start.

[dave360dave]

ok well ever time you shut your engine off the oil drains out of the journals in the crank shaft which then when you restart your engine you have no oil left to prevent metal to metal contact. and thats bad. also not to mention the starter will were out faster.

[salem32593]

isnt it bad for the car to keep turning on and off the car just like turning a tv on and off every 2 mins its not good right?

[josephtan1818]

let say if the count down is more than 75 sec on red then go ahead but if less than 30 sec then I let it idle

[27WINGSONTHEROAD]

Yeah kill the motor that way it murders your motor, starter, and oil life so you will spend more money in the long run...

[burns1210]

I'm still waiting for an answer, bro. What vehicle that gets low 30's mpg burns .8 gallons an hour in idle? Just admit your figures are fabricated. Like I said, I burn .19 idle and I get 34-36 mpgs. And that's a fact.

[VivaLaBamEpisodes]

@burns1210 agree!! i get 20mpg in my car and use .4-.5 gph at idle. .8 is VERY HIGH, it doesnt make any sense.

[MrApostle89]

I agree with the previous commentor. Premature wear of the starter and engine are your worst enemies, and you're better off just idling at the stop light, unless where you drive has a stop light every 75 feet,  AND you get caught at EVERY LIGHT. Plus your engine uses approx 30 seconds worth the idling gas when it starts, further decreasing mileage. If you're at a light that you know is going to be red for over a minute, then shut your engine off, but not at every light. Try about every 5th light

[dumdumlol]

A little thing to keep in mind. Engine startups cause the most damage to your engine as there is little or no oil pressure while cranking. Also, constantly starting your vehicle will cause your battery, starter, and alternator to wear out prematurely. Im not saying this is a bad idea, just not EVERY red light or stop sign.

[smbstressfest]

Good point, but if your engine has been recently running, you're fine. You still have a mixed film and boundry lubrication factor going on. Your oil is still on the moving parts of the engine. What you mentioned is true, but it's only a concern with cold start situations where much on the engine oil has drained back into the sump after being off for hours. I'd be more concerned about my starter to be honest...

[dumdumlol]

Very true. The biggest damage would be to the starter and battery.

Also, his argument "This may not be legal in some states but neither is speeding" isnt the best argument i've ever heard.

[burns1210]

Wait a second...you burn .8 gallons per hour in idle? My car burns .22 GPH (.19 GPH in idle neutral). What are you driving, a locomotive? Where did you come up with .8 GPH?

[deepthoughtsofdeath]

For my job I drive a 2003 Ford 9 passenger shuttle that weighs 4 tons with a 327 V-8 that will rip through a gallon of gas in one hour of idling EASY.

[burns1210]

@deepthoughtsofdeath I disagree. A semi with an engine the size of your van burns 1.5 gallons an hour in idle.

[milowilli]

All right, you are cutting your starter life in half. What about of the cost of replacing it ..part plus labor?? Depending on the model it can be a lot of money. I don't see this in your calculations.

[peacefrog0521]

Not just at stoplights, but drive-thru lanes, convenience stores, etc. I have at least taken to shutting off my engine in the drive-thru lane (which I don't visit very frequently anymore) while waiting to pull up to the "clown's mouth", then while actually ordering, and then while advancing incrementally to the window. Haven't been able to quantify the difference, and I know that engaging the starter injects more fuel anyway, but at least it feels like it makes sense.