Fuel consumption stuck in traffic jam

[Deleted User]

Knowing how bad the fuel consumption on my Sedona is around town, I
was wondering how being stuck in a traffic jam (at say walking pace)
affects mpg.


Badly I would have thought. Any ideas? How much fuel does a car use
idling and not moving per hour?

missile

Kia Sedona > http://www.topgear.com/uk/kia/sedona

‘Marginally better than performing a home-surgery vasectomy with your family Labrador administering the anaesthetic.’

Don't you just love Clarkson?

Idea = Get a more ecconomical car?

Some newer cars have auto switch off and restart to save fuel. You could use the key?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

missile wrote: »

Idea = Get a more ecconomical car?

Some newer cars have auto switch off and restart to save fuel. You could use the key?

What a useful post. About as useful as a piece of wet string to a man with diarrhoea.

Auto-switch off and start is not as simple as turning the key. Don't let me stop you from being an idiot though.

To the OP - very little fuel is used while idling.

missile

Troll alert:rotfl:

Ebe_Scrooge

Stopping and starting the engine is not quite the simple fuel-saving device it may seem. To start the engine requires quite a hefty load from the battery, and that has to be recharged when the engine is running. Any electrical load reduces the fuel economy, as part of the engine's power is used to generate electricity rather than drive the car ( try this for yourself - sit with the engine idling, switch on your rear window demister and you can usually notice the engine revs drop slightly - some of the power is going to run the demister ).

It's pretty complicated to work out, but I think I read somewhere that if you're going to be stationary for more than about 2 minutes then it's worth switching the engine off, for a shorter period of time it's not worth it as you'll actually use more fuel overall in restarting and recharging.

Mark_Hewitt

Plus you'll introduce more wear into your starter motor and other components. If you're constantly starting and stopping the engine I'd expect them to wear out pretty quickly, as they aren't designed for constant use.

The start/stop type cars have starters specially designed for this purpose.

Inactive

missile wrote: »

Kia Sedona > http://www.topgear.com/uk/kia/sedona
Don't you just love Clarkson?

I wonder which scriptwriter conjured that one up for him?

In a word NO, I think he is a plonker.

ronald208

I have a friend who switches off his engine when he stops at lights etc. He is on his third starter motor in 3 years.:eek:

Ron

Heath84

missile wrote: »

:rotfl:If you must use big words, use a spell checker http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/diarrhea.html

We're not American. You spell it with the o.

missile

I would suggest, switching off may be a viable option when stuck in a jam for an extended period. It would be quite difficult to specify how long, but if you estimate you will be stationary for longer than 2 minutes it would seem to be worthwhile.

OP might find the discussion on this forum interesting> http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=63242

DKLS

Inactive wrote: »

I wonder which scriptwriter conjured that one up for him?

In a word NO, I think he is a plonker.

That explains so much.