What is Idling?

Idle time is the most significant contributor to wasted gas and avoidable pollution. Contrary to popular belief, restarting a car does not burn more fuel than leaving it idling. In fact, idling for just 10 seconds wastes more gas than restarting the engine. This is because frequent restarts are no longer hard on today’s car’s engine and battery, and the vehicle’s catalytic converter warms up much faster when the vehicle is being driven.

Consequences of waste idle time

• Idling a car wastes up to 0.5 gallons of fuel per hour.
• Idling a medium-duty truck wastes 0.4 to 0.6 gallons of fuel per hour.
• Engine idling increases vehicle maintenance costs.
• Engine idling can shorten vehicle life.

Idling a vehicle can cause more damage to the engine than starting and stopping it. In fact, idling can result in twice as much wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds. Additionally, excessive idling can build up carbon residue in the engine, as the engine does not reach its optimal temperature when idling. Incomplete fuel combustion can lead to residue build-up on the cylinder walls, potentially damaging engine components, such as spark plugs and exhaust systems. This can increase maintenance costs and shorten the life of the engine.

Common waste idling occurrences

• Running engine while parked for breaks, paperwork, or phone calls
• During pickup and deliveries
• Using drive-through windows
• Leaving engine on in convenience store parking lots
• At railroad crossings
• Using remote starters