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Would you drive a car that gets zero miles to the gallon? Of course not. Yet that is your mileage whenever your engine idles. Idling wastes money and fuel, contributes to air pollution, and generates carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. Some states even have laws limiting the amount of time cars can idle (see the related links).
Unfortunately, many people believe that idling is necessary or even beneficial—a false perception that has carried over from the 1970s and 1980s, when engines needed time to warm up (especially in colder temperatures). Fuel-injection vehicles, which have been the norm since the mid-1980s, can be restarted frequently without engine damage and need no more than 30 seconds to warm up even on winter days.
In fact, idling longer than that could actually damage your engine in the long term. Because an idling engine is not operating at its peak temperature, the fuel does not completely combust, leaving residues in the engine that can contaminate engine oil and make spark plugs dirty. Excessive idling also allows water to condense in the vehicle’s exhaust, contributing to corrosion of the exhaust system.
No matter what time of year, minimize your idling with the following tips:
When first starting your car, idle for no more than 30 seconds.
Related Links
Natural Resources Canada—Office of Energy Efficiency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—State, County and Local Anti-Idling Laws (pdf)
UCS—Hybrid Center
Filed under: Ecology, Environment, Global Warming, Green Party Websites, Our Favorite Radio Stations Tagged: | Environment, turkey, Uncategorized
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