Idling is bad for your engine..

[Memphis Raines]

I belive that most if not all of us will agree that idling is bad for the wallet.

Amen to that. Now that will really damage...your budget!

[Picard]

Picard,
If it is your Altis, you can actually start-up and go.

Precisely..

[cocoy]

so from what i read, idling a cold engine is bad,,, but if the engine is warm then idlling is ok?cause if idling in traffic is bad, then wats the use of having aircon.

[mazdamazda]

sa manual ko, nakalagay, warm-up by driving. Tapos may section din na never let a cold engine idle for more than 10 mins, and no more than 20 mins for a normal operating temp engine.

Actually that is what also is stated in the Rav's manual (I just checked it AGAIN this morning)... "warm-up by driving and not by idling".

In regards that long idling can inflict harm to an engine, i don't believe that it can, at least not with todays engines.

There's also a special note in my car's manual not to idle the engine for more than 40 minutes as it might damage the 3-way catalytic converter.

Long idling also shortens your sparkplug's (for those that are using non-iridiums) life. This was specifically stated in our 323's manual wherein we had to replace the plugs if it regularly experiences long idling conditions.

[Picard]

Siguro idling will not directly damage your engine but will hasten regular wear and tear..

[Vinsanity]

Tanong lang po: Kasi lagi ako nireremind ng lolo at dad ko na painitin ko daw yun kotse araw-araw kasi I only use the car 2-3 times a week. 2000 Hyundai Sonata GLS yun kotse.

Sabi kasi dito masama yun to long na idling and if I am only going to run the engine kahit na hindi ko talaga gagamitin, isn't that bad too? Sabi kasi nila masisira yun makina kung hindi ko daw ipainit? Dapat everyday daw pinapatakbo, naisip ko kasi waste of fuel lang yun ganun.

any comments?

[RafRaf]

siguro wag lang yung sobrang tagal.

someone posted that it is not necessarily all bad... just that there isn't really much benefit.

BTW, sa manual ng diesel adventure, nakalagay to warm up the engine until the temp needle starts to move before driving off. so I guess for the adventure's 4d56 some amount of idling is needed... wag lang excess.

[Vinsanity]

siguro wag lang yung sobrang tagal.

someone posted that it is not necessarily all bad... just that there isn't really much benefit.

BTW, sa manual ng diesel adventure, nakalagay to warm up the engine until the temp needle starts to move before driving off. so I guess for the adventure's 4d56 some amount of idling is needed... wag lang excess.

Basically, good practice nga yun pinapainit yun engine everyday kahit hindi mo naman gagamitin and it will keep your engine in top shape?

[mbeige]

Tanong lang po: Kasi lagi ako nireremind ng lolo at dad ko na painitin ko daw yun kotse araw-araw kasi I only use the car 2-3 times a week. 2000 Hyundai Sonata GLS yun kotse.

Sabi kasi dito masama yun to long na idling and if I am only going to run the engine kahit na hindi ko talaga gagamitin, isn't that bad too? Sabi kasi nila masisira yun makina kung hindi ko daw ipainit? Dapat everyday daw pinapatakbo, naisip ko kasi waste of fuel lang yun ganun.

any comments?

Starting the car a few times a year is better than not at all. But starting the car just because you only drive it 2-3 days a week is just more damaging dahil:

1. Unless you reach operating temperature, idling the car for a few mins causes carbon build up. Do not think that revving the engine high will solve this by burning off the carbon because your engine is still cold, and revving it while cold is bad, really bad. Burning off the carbon is good on a highway/highspeed run at operating temp for extended periods.

2. From the moment you start the car to the moment you turn it off, maybe 90% of that is run with a cold engine. When you reach the operating temp, usually that's when you shut it off right? Or at least pag mainit init na. In this case, you're causing more wear because an engine does not like cold oil. It wants to be warmed up quickly but not too fast na it will run at high speed with cold oil.

So kung sandali lang like one week di mo tinatakbo, ok lang yan. Just make sure when you drive it, give it a good run at operating temp. Exercise mo lang siya when you're using it, rather than just idle it when you're not.

[Vinsanity]

Starting the car a few times a year is better than not at all. But starting the car just because you only drive it 2-3 days a week is just more damaging dahil:

1. Unless you reach operating temperature, idling the car for a few mins causes carbon build up. Do not think that revving the engine high will solve this by burning off the carbon because your engine is still cold, and revving it while cold is bad, really bad. Burning off the carbon is good on a highway/highspeed run at operating temp for extended periods.

2. From the moment you start the car to the moment you turn it off, maybe 90% of that is run with a cold engine. When you reach the operating temp, usually that's when you shut it off right? Or at least pag mainit init na. In this case, you're causing more wear because an engine does not like cold oil. It wants to be warmed up quickly but not too fast na it will run at high speed with cold oil.

So kung sandali lang like one week di mo tinatakbo, ok lang yan. Just make sure when you drive it, give it a good run at operating temp. Exercise mo lang siya when you're using it, rather than just idle it when you're not.

I see, so as long as I use the car at least twice a week, ok lang na di ko siya pinapaandar for the 5-6 days. Usually naman kasi when I use the car long trips. Either I visit my gf sa commonwealth or play basketball sa Magallanes. I come from Pasig and make use of the highways most of the time