Should You Turn Off the Engine When Entering a Service Area on the Highway?
2 Answers
When entering a service area on the highway, you don't need to turn off the engine if it's just a brief stop. However, if the stop exceeds 10 minutes, it's necessary to turn off the engine. The hazards of prolonged idling without turning off the engine include: 1. Affecting engine lifespan: When the vehicle remains idling for an extended period, the engine continuously operates at low RPM, making it more prone to carbon buildup on pistons and valves. This can lead to unstable idling and other adverse effects on engine performance, even impacting the engine's service life. 2. Clogging of the catalytic converter: Since the air-fuel mixture is mostly in an enriched state, if the fuel quality is slightly poor, it can accelerate the clogging of the catalytic converter compared to driving conditions.
I've been driving on highways for over a decade, and whether to turn off the engine at rest stops depends on the situation. If you're just stepping out for a quick smoke or some fresh air and will be back in three to five minutes, there's really no need to turn off the engine—frequent starts actually increase engine wear. However, if you're stopping to eat, use the restroom, or rest for more than half an hour, keeping the engine running wastes fuel, increases carbon buildup, and might even violate local environmental regulations. My habit is to turn off the engine and lock the car if I'm stopping for more than 10 minutes, giving the engine a break to prevent overheating. Safety is more important—always remember to engage the parking brake and shift into P mode before leaving the car to prevent any unintended movement.
