Like the topic states, I'm curious how much gas is wasted while people sit idle in traffic on the LA freeway or even just at a stop light.

 

While idling at opertating temps, the a/f on my car is stoich. They say if you are idling for more than a minute, you may as well shut it off since it will take that much fuel (less) to start it again. However, I don't see how you can turn your engine off in traffic, even traffic that is stopped momentarily.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Aug 21 2005, 05:36 AM] While idling at opertating temps, the a/f on my car is stoich.

 

If you drive a hybrid properly in traffic, the gas engine never starts.

 

What kinda hybrid are you driving?

The Honda Insight, Civic and Accord Hybrids all need the Gas engine to operate. If one of these is moving, the gas engine is running.
The electric assist motor is used for "rapid" accel and charging the batteries on decel.

 

Toyotas.

 

There is a huge difference between how a hybrid works and an "normal" gasoline car shutting off and starting.
A hybrid's electric system (and battery pack) was designed to start the car moving and get the gas engine going seemlessly. Here's what a "normal" car would have to go through:
1. Turn key off.
2. When ready to go, clutch to floor (or tranny into neutral or park).
3. Key to ON, then push starter button (or key to starter).
4. If manual, proceed to move off - if auto, put tranny into "D" and move off.
NOT very seemless, is it? Let's not get into comparing apples with oranges, here.
Yup, I can see people doing this for an hour in stop and go traffic.
On a side note: I suppose shops will do a brisk business replacing starter motors.

 

Gas usage in one of my previous 2.0 16v engines was approximately 1,5 litres every hour according the the on board computer...

 

Wow...thats interesting. Thats over a dollar an hour sitting in traffic then huh? Very interesting.