Are you driving while standing still?

Question

With modern fuel-injection engines, it takes very little extra gas to restart a car once it's warmed up. According to the California Energy Commission, idling burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute.

Going through the drive-through at fast food restaurants, waiting for your friend to run in to the liquor store -- so many people seem to keep the engine running. So again, are you driving while standing still?

Answer 1

Nope. Even though I idle in the drive-thru. The CEC's findings are faulty.

Answer 2

wow! genius! technically no but that is a great phrase! you could lead a protest with that scientifically no but still its cool !

Answer 3

Since  l live in a rural area we don't idle the vehicle that much except to warm the vehicle in the winter.

Answer 4

I try to race everyone to the next light.

I am trying to get my NY city cab license (New Yorkers know what I mean).

Answer 5

Would this be the same group that had done, NOTHING productive in their life?

If you really want to see something funny?  do some research on what those people drive to work.

Answer 6

if you start your vehicle too many times you will have a dead battery :tow bills are expensive too.

Answer 7

Why are people talking about government regulation?  There was nothing about regulation in this question!

For me the answer is no.  A Prius gas engine turns off after a few seconds of idling!

Answer 8

So:  If I idle my car for 5 minutes, I burn 2.5 miles worth of gasoline....I have a lead foot, so I normally get 20-25 miles to the gallon (let's go with 20).  That's an eighth of a gallon of gas, or about fifty cents.....I'll send you a roll of quarters.

Answer 9

ya i drive..........by standin........n plz can u stop askin such stupid ques......plz

Answer 10

Well, maybe the California Energy Commission should donate their salaries to Cal-Trans so they can build more lanes on the freeways. Ever driven in "rush hour" traffic in L.A. or San Francisco? C'mon get a clue!

Answer 11

Wow, thanks for pointing this out.  I did a search and found other sources agree - idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine.  Somebody told me once it was more like 15 minutes, and I didn't think to look it up.

Answer 12

Right, except that when you're in line, you have to move up every few seconds - are you suggesting that we shut the engine off and turn it back on that frequently?    And there's also the starter, the battery.....

Answer 13

u can if it was fake and you shouldn't stand whlie u r driving!!! and how old r u????

Answer 14

Only in traffic jams.

Answer 15

Where I live it's extremely hot right now.  I let the engine idle so the air conditioner can keep going.

Answer 16

I heard about this from my AP environmental science teacher.  I told my mom that it is better to turn off the car if she is waiting for someone, but she didn't believe me.  I personally don't eat fast food much, but on the occasion that I do, I always go inside and leave my car parked.  I personally think that there shouldn't be any drive through windows.  I mean, how hard is it to get out of a car and walk ten feet to get food.  How lazy can you be?

Answer 17

I've started turning off the engine if I have to wait more than a a few seconds.  Don't do it in traffic, it's not safe, unless it's a really bad sitting still kind of jam.  

This problem was identified and a solution proposed 20 years ago - the direct injection engine - they start instantly.  It would work like a golf cart.  When you stop the engine stops.  When you press on the gas the engine starts.  Not real elegant, but as we know, it's more important to have power and performance and show off and beat the next guy to the traffic light.  

As Dana says, the correct hybrid technology solves the whole problem, the engine doesn't even run at low speeds and the electric motor has 100% torque all the time.  

Alas, we wouldn't fix the problem for environmental reasons, we had to wait for (some dollar per gallon figure) to make it "worthwhile".  I personally don't think $4 will do it.  Maybe $8.

Answer 18

I don't use drive through, the only time I "drive while standing still" are in traffic jams and like heck am I turning my engine off for that.

Actually, Dana, in St. Paul Minnesota (where I live) you cannot idle your car for more than 3 minutes, it's civil disobedience.

Answer 19

In New Jersey, it's actually the law.  While dropping off or picking up kids from school, your suppose to turn off the engine (seperate laws for gas, or diesel vehicles.)

Of course, it's difficult on days like today when you have 3 other kids in car, and it's 95 plus degrees, with 95 percent humidity outside, and they've closed the school early due to the excessive heat.

Answer 20

A lot of that has to do with people's ideas because of how cars were in the past.  It used to be the case and commonly said that you used more gas to start your car than to leave it running for 5 minutes or so.  This might have been true in the past and I know I was told this many times, but much like you are saying, with today's modern cars this is no longer the case.  Now, it's almost always better for you to just shut your car off and make a quick run.

The interesting thing is how many people are taking offense and acting put off by this question itself.  Many people don't want to be told that they're wasteful and it's unfortunate when people who are being wasteful complain about costs, yet don't want to hear about solutions...

Answer 21

I usually turn off the engine if it's going to be a long wait, but I don't want the government to force us to do such things. Currently there's talk of ticketing people who idle their cars for too long in California.  That's crazy, but typical of government intervention, especially in CA, where it's fashionable to be behind the times and very socialist.  (I think they still live in the 60's sometimes.)

Why are we so quick to let the government rule every aspect of our lives?  What has happened to us that we don't respect our freedom anymore?

Answer 22

People should be forced to turn their cars off when not in gear.

We should force people to turn off their engines when in traffic and maybe every time they hit a red light.

Listen to yourselves, are you all freaking nuts?

If you want to turn your engine off any time or place feel free but I own the car and the gas that is in it so who the h**l are any of you to tell me what I can and can't do?

Get a life and leave the sane people alone.