Start/stop on fuel efficiency?

Norman_Castle

iltisman wrote: »

I walk past lots of cars waiting at traffic lights and I notice the stop/start cars are slower at getting moving . This must make the jams worse.

Some motorists wait at traffic lights with the car in gear. S/S cars will be in neutral so will take a second or two longer before pulling away. This will make no difference to congestion, they just get to the back of the next queue a few seconds later.

MataNui

Had the feature on my petrol manual BMW. It was great on that car. Totally unobtrusive and started really quickly. Same cant be said for the feature on my diesel auto Jag XF. Its so bad i start every journey now by turning it off.

molerat

I was speaking to someone who had a similar car to me and asked what they thought of the SS at traffic lights. Answered that they didn't know the car did it as they always sat with their foot on the clutch and thought it only worked when you parked ! So the ones who are quick away at the traffic lights are probably sitting on the clutch and footbrake.

neilmcl

molerat wrote: »

I was speaking to someone who had a similar car to me and asked what they thought of the SS at traffic lights. Answered that they didn't know the car did it as they always sat with their foot on the clutch and thought it only worked when you parked ! So the ones who are quick away at the traffic lights are probably sitting on the clutch and footbrake.

Even with start/stop I can get the car started and in gear before the lights change to green and can get away as quick as anyone else who are not jumping the lights.

Keep_pedalling

I've been using it on my manual Golf for nearly 4 years now, and don't think it makes the slightest difference in the time taken to get going again at lights or on stop go traffic. Combined with electronic hand breaks with auto hold, it is probably quicker as I never have to apply or release the hand-break. It's worked flawlessly for 4 years so I no worries about it causing premature ware.

Cars sitting at idle cause a lot of pollution in our towns and cities so even if it only saves me a small amount in fuel costs it reduces the impact of pollution to fellow citizens which to me is more important, and why it's replacement is a plug in hybrid.

hollie.weimeraner

neilmcl wrote: »

Even with start/stop I can get the car started and in gear before the lights change to green and can get away as quick as anyone else who are not jumping the lights.

Hi it's called anticipation Basically you keep your eyes on whats happening in front of you and depress the clutch to start the engine when you see cars moving off about 4 or 5 cars in front or if you are at the front when you see the pedestrian crossing signal turn to red or the traffic lights controlling traffic from your left or right changing.

Problem is these days most people are checking their damned phones when they're stopped in traffic!:mad:

wymondham

I'm not convinced by stop/start...

My Ford cuts out when I stop at traffic lights, even if i'm sat there for 2 secs. In a queue it also cuts out each time even if I nudge a few cms...

the cost/wear of stop/start I'm sure negates any fuel saving/emissions?? I doubt I'm saving that much anyway??

MataNui

I wonder if the people posting who like it drive petrol cars? I found it really good on my petrol but its a pain on the diesel. The 3.0 diesel just doesnt crank as quickly or quietly. Plus it stops when i change from D to R which takes less than a second. I used to really like it on my last car but on this car turning it off is the first think i do when i start it.

Plus (and someone here may be able to correct me on this) i was told that diesels generate more soot on start. If thats true then it seems counter-productive (in terms of the DPF) to be doing lots more starts than is really needed.

Keep_pedalling

wymondham wrote: »

I'm not convinced by stop/start...

My Ford cuts out when I stop at traffic lights, even if i'm sat there for 2 secs. In a queue it also cuts out each time even if I nudge a few cms...

the cost/wear of stop/start I'm sure negates any fuel saving/emissions?? I doubt I'm saving that much anyway??

Well no car knows how long the stop is going to be. If you know the stop is going to be very short then keep your foot on the clutch.

DoaM

I've been driving diesels (manual) with Stop/Start for well over 5 years and don't find it a problem at all.

I must admit though that when I first got a car with it I found it strange ... for about 5 minutes.