If you want to save gas, and money, and reduce your emissions - don't idle your engine!If your car will be idling longer than 10 seconds, turn it off. It takes more gas to idle for longer than 10 seconds than it does to turn your car off and back on. And, no, it isn't bad for your engine to be turned on and off. In fact, it is bad for your car to idle excessively. When idling, fuel is only partially combusted because your engine is not up to its peak temperature. Thus, fuel residue builds up on the cylinder walls, which can them damage engine components and increase your fuel consumptions - which means you will be losing more money to the gas pump.
Also, it isn't necessary to let your car idle for five minutes during winter to "warm up." No more than thirty seconds of idling will do just fine. Actually, driving a car is the best way to warm it up. So, starting your car then going back inside to read the paper and drink your coffee before heading out is not a good idea.
To cut down on your idling, go inside instead of using drive-thru windows; turn your car off when you're waiting for someone or picking someone up; don't "warm up" your car...the bottom line is turn off your car if you are going to be stopped for longer than 10 seconds! Oh, and when you turn your car back on, don't step on the accelerator while you turn the key -- just simply turn the key.
Information gathered from the Consumer Energy Center, here.
Also, it isn't necessary to let your car idle for five minutes during winter to "warm up." No more than thirty seconds of idling will do just fine. Actually, driving a car is the best way to warm it up. So, starting your car then going back inside to read the paper and drink your coffee before heading out is not a good idea.
To cut down on your idling, go inside instead of using drive-thru windows; turn your car off when you're waiting for someone or picking someone up; don't "warm up" your car...the bottom line is turn off your car if you are going to be stopped for longer than 10 seconds! Oh, and when you turn your car back on, don't step on the accelerator while you turn the key -- just simply turn the key.
Information gathered from the Consumer Energy Center, here.
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our work just sent out an email about these sites. I signed up for catalogchoice because drs foster and smith (a pet catalog) drives me nuts! and opting out of the credit offers worked miracles! but I thought you would be interested, if you didn't know about them already
http://www.catalogchoice.org/
https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/proto1.php
I don't know if people still think they need to "give it gas" when starting up their car but I also wouldn't be surprised. I actually had to do that to get my first car (the white beast) running in the morning but that thing was a total piece.
Another thing that might not be good for everyone, especially those that have trouble paying attention, is stopping your car at long lights. I have at least 2 lights in my normal driving that, if you catch them right when they turn red, will leave you stuck for 90sec or longer. You really need to know when the light is going to turn green for your side though or else you might get a few angry honks.
hmmm thats interesting. I never thought to do that.
I think I will try this. Except, I'm not sure I will do it at lights. I already get distracted and then I would have to still start my car after everyone has honked at me. It would be a really good idea to do this when you're stopped at a train.
I was just looking at Craftster and saw this post:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=253764.msg2827971#msg2827971
Thought you would find it interesting. I've never heard of such a thing. WOuld make at interesting post.
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