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Department of Ecology News Release - Oct. 13, 2003
03-200
OLYMPIA - Here's a powerful tool just about any driver can use to save money and help protect the air we breathe: the ignition switch.
Idling your car for more than 30 seconds wastes money and damages the environment. Turning it off is a simple act that can make a big difference.
"We don't usually think about how idling our cars causes pollution," said Mary Burg, who manages the air quality program at the Department of Ecology (Ecology). "We let our engines run at drive-up windows, when we're sitting at the mall, when we're waiting for trains or ferries, when we're listening to the radio. We even idle at schools, where children have to breathe the exhaust."
Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than adults, and vehicle exhaust increases many children's asthma symptoms. More than one out of every 10 children in Washington has been diagnosed with asthma and the number is rising - it's an epidemic.
Contrary to popular belief, idling isn't an effective way to warm up most car engines. Today's automobile manufacturers recommend driving off right away and urge that drivers wait no more than 30 seconds to begin driving, even on the coldest days.
Some people worry that restarting the engine might harm the car, but frequent restarting does little damage. Researchers in Canada found that component wear caused by frequent restarts adds about $10 per year to the cost of driving, an amount that would be made up several times over in fuel savings.
Surprisingly, excessive idling can actually damage a car's engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs and the exhaust system. And idling can be expensive, wasting up to a gallon of gas an hour.
"When you have to wait in the car and it's bitterly cold outside, letting the engine run might make sense. But think about it - an idling engine gets exactly zero miles to the gallon," said Burg.
She noted that vehicle exhaust is the leading source of air pollution in Washington.
"The reality is, idling gets us nowhere," said Burg.
It's simple. When the car's not moving, the engine shouldn't be running.
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Contact: Leslie Thorpe, public information manager, 360-407-6848
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
