Does a Car Consume Fuel When Idling After Starting?
2 Answers
A car consumes fuel even when it's idling after starting. Keeping the engine in an idle state for a long time will increase carbon deposits. The following are the hazards of excessive carbon deposits: 1. Carbon deposits on the throttle valve can change its position, leading to incomplete combustion of gasoline, which increases fuel consumption. 2. Carbon deposits accumulated in the combustion chamber reduce the chamber's volume, increase the compression ratio, and cause uneven work among cylinders, resulting in engine knocking. 3. If carbon deposits accumulate on the fuel injector, it will affect the atomization of fuel injection, causing uneven fuel injection and leading to engine shaking and lack of power.
As a seasoned driver, I can definitively tell you that cars do consume fuel when idling without moving. This is because the engine is still running and requires gasoline to keep turning, even if the vehicle isn't in motion. For example, my old car idling by the roadside while waiting for someone can burn about 0.2 liters of fuel in just 10 minutes. It might not sound like much, but it adds up to significant waste over time. Extended idling, especially with the AC on during summer, increases fuel consumption dramatically—potentially up to 0.8 liters per hour. This not only drains your wallet but also leads to carbon buildup in the engine, shortening the vehicle's lifespan. My advice is to minimize idling: turn off the engine when waiting, or use eco-mode if available. Newer cars are designed to be more fuel-efficient in these scenarios, but older models require extra caution. Bottom line: don’t let the engine idle unnecessarily—it saves fuel and reduces emissions.
