Why do cars record mileage and not time running?

Arklight

AdrianC wrote: »

So with stop-start on just about every car now, is this running time the engine time, or the ignition time?

I’d probably still rather know running time. Partly because the odometer doesn’t go up when stopped either but the timer still will when creeping along in first trying to get onto the North Circular, and partly because everyone I know who has this feature on their car has turned it off.

droopsnoot

agrinnall wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that the trip computer on the Mark 2 Golf GTi (I owned 2) did include the duration that the ignition had been switched on (or engine running, I can't remember which). Never seen it in any other car though.

My Audi has this on the dash, but the display stops incrementing after 99h59m, until it's reset. I don't know whether that's a display thing, or whether it has actually stopped counting.

Herzlos

My Hyundai gives you running time as well in the trip computer, but only from last reset rather than lifetime.

AdrianC wrote: »

So with stop-start on just about every car now, is this running time the engine time, or the ignition time?

I was wondering this but about hybrids. How is the mileage recorded; for electric/ICE/both?

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

I was wondering this but about hybrids. How is the mileage recorded; for electric/ICE/both?

Simply total distance travelled by the wheels.

Herzlos

Which means there's no way to tell if the ice has even turned over?

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

Which means there's no way to tell if the ice has even turned over?

Correct. The odometer is not an engine-use log.


If you towed a non-hybrid car with the engine off and gearbox in neutral, the odometer would still increment. (With modern stuff, it may need the ignition on)