Reducing idling is a great way to save money, gas and emissions.
First, idling wastes gas. Leaving your engine running consumes gasoline. As a matter of fact, allowing your car to idle for two minutes is equivalent to driving a mile. You can waste almost a gallon of gas if you leave your car idling for more than an hour.
It is bad for the environment. Your exhaust system produces emissions into the air and contributes to air pollution. Sitting in one spot for a long period of time pollutes air.
We sometimes get asked, “But won’t that wear out my starter and battery, to turn my engine on and off?” The answer is no. For typical drivers (i.e., 10 or fewer starts per day), the starter motor is unlikely to need to be replaced during the vehicle’s life. Today’s starters are more robust than those in older cars.
So, turn off your vehicle when you are parked and you’re not going anywhere. You’ll save money and fuel while doing good for the air.