Under what circumstances does a car operate at idle speed?
2 Answers
When waiting at a red light, the car is stationary and the accelerator is not pressed, at which point the engine operates at idle speed. Here is relevant information: 1. Idle speed operation: Idle speed occurs when the engine and wheels are in a power transmission state with the throttle valve closed. Air enters the engine through the throttle valve gap and the idle speed adjustment channel bypassing the throttle valve. 2. Prolonged idling can easily lead to carbon deposits: During idling, the car operates in a rich fuel injection state. This means that when idling, the throttle opening is very small, and the injector sprays highly concentrated fuel to maintain engine operation. Therefore, idling itself is more likely to cause carbon buildup compared to when the car is moving or at high speeds. Extended idling will definitely result in more severe engine carbon deposits.
When driving in traffic congestion, the car often idles. I frequently encounter this scenario during rush hours, especially in downtown areas or near highway entrances, where traffic moves slowly. There's no need to press the accelerator; the engine can maintain idle speed to inch forward bit by bit. When waiting at a traffic light that's about to change, I also use idle speed to move slowly to avoid sudden stalling and causing trouble. Additionally, when circling a parking lot looking for a spot, controlling the speed is essential to avoid hitting obstacles, and idling is very useful. However, this consumes a lot of fuel and isn't very environmentally friendly, as emissions increase significantly. Therefore, I recommend minimizing such situations and using public transportation more to alleviate congestion. Moreover, manual transmission cars can have issues starting on slopes, and idling can stabilize the car to prevent stalling. But for older cars, prolonged idling may lead to carbon buildup, affecting longevity, so regular maintenance is essential.
