What is the fuel consumption per hour when idling in place?
2 Answers
Generally, engines below 1.6L consume approximately 0.6 liters of fuel per hour when idling, while 2.0L engines consume about 1 liter. Prolonged idling can cause significant damage to the vehicle. Here are the related details: 1. Idling can lead to oil burning: During idling, the throttle opening is small, and the vacuum inside the intake manifold is high, making it easy for oil vapor to be drawn into the intake manifold. Some of it deposits inside, especially in turbocharged models. 2. Idling can cause carbon buildup: Extended idling results in a richer air-fuel mixture, which can lead to carbon deposits in the engine. Additionally, during stop-and-go driving at low speeds, the engine alternates between enriching and reducing fuel injection, which also promotes carbon buildup.
My car has a 1.5L engine, and I specifically tested the fuel consumption when idling with the AC on. While waiting for a friend in the parking lot with the AC running, idling for one hour actually burned 1.2 liters of fuel, which translates to over ten yuan—much higher than expected. Different car models indeed vary; 2.0T engines generally consume 1.5-2 liters of fuel per hour when idling, and turbocharged engines are even more fuel-hungry. If you turn on the air conditioning compressor in summer, fuel consumption can jump another 20-30%. During idling, the engine only maintains the minimum RPM, and the transmission doesn’t engage, resulting in very low energy efficiency. Nowadays, I try to time my departures precisely when picking someone up to save fuel and be more eco-friendly.
