How does idling affect mpg

The estimated fuel consumption of an idling engine is 0. This means that an idling 3. Letting your engine idle 30 minutes a day for two winter months burns a full tank of gas without ever moving a kilometre!

In winter, the best way to warm your vehicle is to drive it. You can also use a block heater and a timer. Your engine will start and reach its optimal operating temperature more quickly and you will reduce the impact of cold engine starts.

Most gasoline is derived from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. We're not in danger of running out in the near future, but crude oil reserves in Canada and around the world are dwindling and the demand for oil is expected to increase, resulting in higher oil prices. Why waste this valuable resource? To sum up, gasoline is costly, its use has significant environmental impacts, and there's not an endless supply — three good reasons not to waste fuel through unnecessary vehicle idling.

You will not receive a reply. For enquiries, contact us. Report a problem on this page. Please select all that apply: A link, button or video is not working. It has a spelling mistake. Information is missing. Information is outdated or wrong. I can't find what I'm looking for. Driving on hilly or mountainous terrain or on unpaved roads can reduce fuel economy.

The EPA test assumes vehicles operate on flat ground. Using 4-wheel drive reduces fuel economy. Four-wheel drive vehicles are tested in 2-wheel drive. Engaging all four wheels makes the engine work harder and increases transfer case and differential losses. Visit our Driving More Efficiently page to learn how you can improve your fuel economy through better driving habits.

Find out how you can improve your fuel economy by Keeping Your Car in Shape. The energy content of gasoline varies seasonally. Typical summer conventional gasoline contains about 1. Small variations in the way vehicles are manufactured and assembled can cause MPG variations among vehicles of the same make and model. Usually, differences are small, but a few drivers will see a marked deviation from the EPA estimates. New vehicles will not obtain their optimal fuel economy until the engine has broken in.

This may take 3—5 thousand miles. Department of Energy and the U. Environmental Protection Agency.