Americans Have No Idea How Much Fuel Idling Uses

People look at me like I'm nuts because I turn off my engine while waiting in line at a drive-through. I've been told that if you are going to be still more than 20 seconds, you're better off turning your car off. Yes, we have to wait longer than that at stoplights, but in most places, it is illegal to turn off your engine at an intersection. So I'm saving fuel waiting for Taco Bell to fill the orders in front of me, probably incorrectly, while the SUVs around me are roaring the whole time. This guy explains how the formula is determined, which involves some math, but stick with it. Turns out that 20 seconds was a generous guess.


You warm weather drivers slay me. Run the same experiment below zero and then tell me how much fuel a start-stop system saves. In case it matters, I now live in California and drive a hybrid. The gas engine stops as soon as the car does and the start is 100% electric. However, when cold, the gas engine runs until it is up to temperature which occasionally is the whole trip.
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Don't all modern cars have start-stop function? Ie, they will do this automatically. Including starting the motor to run the AC when it's needed. My car did the last 6 years... (2012 model)
It doesn't save super much, it's in the range of 0-2 percent if I recall correct.
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