Stop-Start Engines - Can you turn it off?

[paddyhasneeds]

Maybe I'm not looking hard enough but when looking at various manufacturers who do models with stop-start engines, is there normally an option to turn the technology off so the engine is always on?

[Somnophore]

Why would you want to?

[itz_baseline]

Most of the ones I've seen all have an override option.

[TheEnd]

Yep, there usually is an option.

It keeps the car manufacturers happy with lower emissions round town, and the getaway drivers happy with the "kill it" option.

[Shaw Tarse]

Yes you can, one of the motoring mags got better MPG with it switched off.

[paddyhasneeds]

Somnophore said:

Why would you want to?

I'm not sure I would. I've noticed it's available on some engines on some of the cars I'm considering. I've never driven one so it may be a total non-issue.

[Shaw Tarse]

paddyhasneeds said:

Somnophore said:

Why would you want to?

I'm not sure I would. I've noticed it's available on some engines on some of the cars I'm considering. I've never driven one so it may be a total non-issue.

As a backseat passenger in a car with stop-start I found it a little irrittating when the engine kept switching off.

[Eggman]

That button will come in very handy once they're a few years old and there's a 'knack' to starting them.

[kambites]

Eggman said:

That button will come in very handy once they're a few years old and there's a 'knack' to starting them.

They monitor all sorts of things and don't turn off in the first place if they think there's a risk of the engine refusing to restart again.

[Eggman]

I'd be impressed if it had a 'been rolled down a hill and bump started' sensor. That would be quite some planning ahead!

[madala]

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

[james_tigerwoods]

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

Oh, I don't know - when I was sat at some roadwork traffic lights earlier with the engine running, I noticed my average trip MPG drop very quickly with the engine on....

[flakeypaul]

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

No what is stupid is X million cars sitting still in rush hour traffic every day with their engines running burning finite fossil fuels and releasing polluting gases when those engines could be switched off. As for starting these cars when they are older and have a 'knack' to starting them, I've not driven a car for years that has a 'knack' to starting it, you turn the key, they start. Or don't start if it's my old Zafira

Edited by flakeypaul on Friday 6th August 08:40

[Howard-]

james_tigerwoods said:

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

Oh, I don't know - when I was sat at some roadwork traffic lights earlier with the engine running, I noticed my average trip MPG drop very quickly with the engine on....

I've noticed this too when sitting in traffic after a motorway run. Am I using THAT MUCH fuel by sitting there, or pulling off/moving very slowly (like barely above idle in 1st/2nd) that my average MPG is taking a hit?

[Lonman]

james_tigerwoods said:

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

Oh, I don't know - when I was sat at some roadwork traffic lights earlier with the engine running, I noticed my average trip MPG drop very quickly with the engine on....

You were sitting stationary at lights and you MPG dropped? If it's still under warranty take it back a ask them to fix it.

[MadRob6]

If there wasn't an override and after several years the starter failed and you managed to bump start it you'd be pretty fecked off if the bd thing turned itself off again as soon as you stopped at lights whilst trying to limp it home or to a garage.

[flakeypaul]

Howard- said:

james_tigerwoods said:

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

Oh, I don't know - when I was sat at some roadwork traffic lights earlier with the engine running, I noticed my average trip MPG drop very quickly with the engine on....

I've noticed this too when sitting in traffic after a motorway run. Am I using THAT MUCH fuel by sitting there, or pulling off/moving very slowly (like barely above idle in 1st/2nd) that my average MPG is taking a hit?

About 0.1 to 0.2 gallons per hour so five or so hours of idling per month (easily doable in rush hours traffic!) wastes probably 30ish miles of fuel, per car, per month - adds up to some monstrous figures! probably in the millions of miles of fuel per month, let alone tens of millions of pounds per month!

[james_tigerwoods]

Howard- said:

james_tigerwoods said:

madala said:

.....IMO that is one stupid bit of technology.....

Oh, I don't know - when I was sat at some roadwork traffic lights earlier with the engine running, I noticed my average trip MPG drop very quickly with the engine on....

I've noticed this too when sitting in traffic after a motorway run. Am I using THAT MUCH fuel by sitting there, or pulling off/moving very slowly (like barely above idle in 1st/2nd) that my average MPG is taking a hit?

That was my thought - is my car more efficient on the move than it is stationary.

I suppose it would be really as the energy being generated is being used as opposed to be wasted whilst sat there.

(And no, I'm not taking it back to the dealer as if I am sat doing nothing, then it is wasting energy/heat/fuel/etc)

[MadRob6]

james_tigerwoods said:

That was my thought - is my car more efficient on the move than it is stationary.

Is that a silly question or am I not understanding? MPG will always be higher if you're moving. When stationary you're not putting any miles into the calculation so therefore the figure drops dramatically as fuel is still being used.

It is relatively early still so my brain probably hasn't fired up yet.

[Snoop Bagg]

I'm happy with mine, saves me a bunch of fuel and road tax. Not only that it is virtually seemless, when your sat at the lights whats the point in wasting fuel.

When I think the lights are about to change I dip the clutch and she fires up, great but a little odd when your just getting used to it!