i was just wondering, when you stop at a convienient store would you use more gas if you turn off your vehicle or let it run? does anyone know the facts about how much gas you burn at start up as opposed to letting your car idle. for example, i have heard that for a diesel engine it takes 20 minutes of idling to equal the amount of gas in one start up. just wondering if this is the same for a 4 cylinder. also, is it good, bad, or indifferent to let your vehicle idle for long periods of time? thanks

 

Great question and I dont know the answer. Maybe you should write to the creators of myth busters of the discovery channel

 

Hey now, don't be bashing that show. I couldn't stop laughing after i saw the "army men" stomping the bridge down... Yes I am retarded...Anyways from what I remember it is like 5 minutes for a gas engine but I'm not 100% sure so maybe someone else has researched answer?

 

Good question... I don't know but I think it's probably shorter than 5 minutes. Maybe more like 1 minute.

When you start a COLD engine that's different. It runs rich for a while until it warms up. That probably uses 5 minutes worth or more.