What is the Idle State of a Car?
1 Answers
The idle state of a car refers to a working condition of the engine where, when the engine is running, the accelerator pedal is completely released, causing the engine to enter the idle state. Car idle is not a speed; the engine speed during idle is called the idle speed, which can be adjusted by modifying the throttle opening. Generally, the idle speed of a passenger car is around 800 revolutions per minute (RPM). Idling consumes a significant amount of fuel—the lower the idle speed, the less fuel is consumed. However, increasing the idle speed can help reduce CO and HC emissions. During engine idling, fuel combustion is incomplete, which can lead to carbon buildup in the throttle body, negatively affecting fuel economy and even the engine's lifespan.