Should You Turn Off the Engine During One or Two Minutes of Traffic Jam?
4 Answers
You don't need to turn off the engine during one or two minutes of traffic jam. Reasons for not turning off the engine during short traffic jams: Generally, it is not recommended to turn off the engine during short traffic jams because the traffic flow may start moving at any time. Turning off and restarting the engine adds to the driving process, prolongs travel time, and may even worsen the traffic congestion. Slow acceleration in traffic jams: During traffic jams, drivers often become impatient and tend to step hard on the accelerator as soon as the road conditions slightly improve. It's important to know that rapid acceleration not only consumes more fuel but also damages the car. If the vehicle remains stationary for a long time, it's better to turn off the engine, as the engine still consumes fuel while idling.
After driving for so many years, I never turn off the engine during one or two minutes of traffic congestion. Starting the engine once consumes much more fuel than idling, especially for older cars—frequent start-stop operations actually waste fuel. If the traffic suddenly moves after turning off the engine, restarting takes time and may cause a rear-end collision. I've seen many drivers make reckless moves to save fuel, only to delay everyone. During short traffic jams, the engine temperature remains stable, and idling doesn’t increase wear. Although modern cars have auto start-stop systems, it’s best to turn them off during short stops to avoid battery drain. Safety comes first—I suggest waiting patiently without unnecessary actions to avoid adding risks over trivial matters.
As a daily commuter, I don't think it's necessary to turn off the engine for just one or two minutes of traffic congestion. The fuel-saving effect is negligible, and the fuel consumption during startup is even higher, especially when restarting with air conditioning in summer is more troublesome. Modern new cars have automatic start-stop functions for long red lights, but for short traffic jams, it's better to maintain idle speed to reduce the stress on the battery. Frequent engine shutdowns may shorten the lifespan of components, which is not worth the gain. Urban driving emphasizes efficiency, so don't waste energy for small fuel savings. I usually judge based on road conditions and consider turning off the engine only if the stop exceeds three minutes. In short, safety and convenience outweigh small savings.
From a car maintenance perspective, turning off the engine during short traffic jams can be harmful. Frequent start-stop cycles increase the burden on the starter and battery, leading to premature wear. A warm engine maintains more stable idling and lower fuel consumption. Shutting it off for one or two minutes is not worth the trade-off. I recommend checking the vehicle's condition and avoiding this practice for older cars.
