Letting your engine idle: the myths

November 14, 2008 -- Filed under My impact by Normand Miron

The Children’s Clean Air Network just launched its new IDLE-FREE for our kids campaign which aims to reduce the environmental impact caused by those millions of engines that we let idle uselessly when we are not in motion.

I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t understand how in 2008, with the price that gas has reached and global warming, a human being can act this way without questioning their habits. Good news! In order to kick-start those zombie-like minds behind such useless polluting emissions, the good people of IDLE-FREE have posted videos on YouTube of interviews with mechanics about the myths surrounding the pseudo-advantages of idling your engine.

These myths are:

It takes a long time to warm up your car. FALSE. After 30 seconds, the engine is ready to roll. Moreover, driving is the best way to warm up a car, and it reduces emissions a great deal.

Idling is good for your car. FALSE. Engines are built to run optimally at a certain number of revolutions per minute. Idling is the worst case. Even more so if the engine is cold: a part of the gasoline condenses then mixes with the oil, reducing efficiency.

Re-starting is hard on a car. FALSE. This reminds me of when my father told me it cost an additional 5 cents every time I turned on and off the my bedroom light. Today, starters are built to operate problem-free at each start. And do with these facts as you wish, but by letting the engine idle you will consume more gas and produce more CO2 emissions than by restarting.

Here are two videos that address these myths:

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