My entire town is a no idle zone. It's always awesome when a tourist idles outside the school or a park. Fucking pitchforks, man.
H sometimes leaves the truck running while he runs into a store and we're sitting in it. I always, ALWAYS turn it off because 1) idling drives me fucking insane, and 2) I'm afraid someone is going to knock on my window to give me shit, which would totally happen in my new town, lol.
We were picking up takeout last week in -25 weather and i made H park in the back of the building so I wouldn't be publically shamed for idling.
Post by jennistarr1 on Jan 11, 2017 11:07:06 GMT -5
I absolutely understand this ticket, unfortunately as I live in an area that has a lot of stolen cars. If you want to warm up your car (yeah, we all do), you have to stick around.
If the Roseville Police Department is anything like mine, those cop cars are idling, unlocked and unattended a LOT. Thank wouldn't make a case about it unless one of them gave me a $128 ticket on my own property.
Then I'd make a huge flipping issue out of The double standard.
But I thought the police did that so if they got an emergency call they could quickly leave? No?
The police around here leave their cars running all time.
This is... not surprising? It's not legal to allow your car to run while unoccupied (in Colorado, that is). DH almost got a ticket for it once, but the cop just told him not to do it again when he walked out of the house.
I wasn't meaning to be a jackass. I was seriously asking. When we bought a car last year, I asked about the auto turn off that a lot of cars have now - that DO turn off when idling. The dealer said that the EPA is pushing to mandate that as a requirement for new cars.
One of our cars automatically shuts off if not moving for more than like 30 seconds. So if you're driving a newer car, idling isn't necessary like it used to be for older cars.
We rented a new Malibu in Denver this summer and the first stop light we were at, I thought the car died. I freaked out. Until I tried to drive and it turned back on. It was so weird! But then I got used to it and wish my car had it.
The drive thru ridiculousness brings up an interesting point though. When I do car line, I always turn my car off while I wait, mostly because I'm cheap and don't want to waste gas, but also because of the exhaust. Most people I see leave the car running. It's literally 30 minutes plus of waiting, and it's 50 cars deep, mostly minivans and SUVs. They really shouldn't allow that.
Someone once told me that you use up more gas by shutting of and turning the car back on compared to leaving it idling. No idea if that's true.
I wasn't meaning to be a jackass. I was seriously asking. When we bought a car last year, I asked about the auto turn off that a lot of cars have now - that DO turn off when idling. The dealer said that the EPA is pushing to mandate that as a requirement for new cars.
One of our cars automatically shuts off if not moving for more than like 30 seconds. So if you're driving a newer car, idling isn't necessary like it used to be for older cars.
Sorry, I got touchy.
My car doesn't have an auto shut-off feature like that, but it does have an 'eco' mode, which is what I drive in unless I need more power for some reason, like to get out of a parking spot in the snow. I do not turn my car off at red lights or while sitting in a drive-thru. Although, I have turned it off while sitting at Panera because those assholes always seem to take forever with my bagel sandwich.
Post by lilmissladybug on Jan 11, 2017 11:39:56 GMT -5
I just saw a link on Police Clips FB about this and which states have these laws and you can also search your city laws on it. I believe my city has a 4 minute law. I park in the garage and Turn the heater on because DHs car has autostart. It sucks leaving work when it's -20s and I have to scrape my windshield to see but it's part of living in a shitty climate.
hmm. I get the reasons for the law but also, I have two young children and the rule is you don't put a coat on them in the car seat. It's fine most of the time but when its like, 0F I really like to have the car be at least mildly warmed for them before I put them in there, coatless.
HOWEVER I drive about 10 miles per week so I am contributing little by way of emissions from my car. I take trains and walk for my work commute.
I think the rules are fine and make sense for the most part, but, I do think when its brutally cold it's hard for parents to follow the rules about carseats and coats AND zero idling/warm up time before kids go in.
The drive thru ridiculousness brings up an interesting point though. When I do car line, I always turn my car off while I wait, mostly because I'm cheap and don't want to waste gas, but also because of the exhaust. Most people I see leave the car running. It's literally 30 minutes plus of waiting, and it's 50 cars deep, mostly minivans and SUVs. They really shouldn't allow that.
Someone once told me that you use up more gas by shutting of and turning the car back on compared to leaving it idling. No idea if that's true.
At a certain point yes. Turning it off and on in a span of a few minutes doesn't make sense. But 30 minutes? You're probably better off turning it off.
ETA: Actually, the internet consensus seems to be that 10 sec is the cut off. So...basically never idle: www.edf.org/climate/reports/idling
Post by sparkythelawyer on Jan 11, 2017 12:04:46 GMT -5
What we really need right now is for Toledo to come back and shame all of us for ever idling EVER.
I have an almost 2 year old, and a 11 year old Saturn. In the throws of a Chicago winter, if you want that car to actually move down the street, and you want that car to have doors and windows that do those fancy things like OPEN and CLOSE, I'm running the car with the defrosters running for the few minutes it takes me to get clothes thrown on the child and her into the car. Especially since coats are verboten for car seats. My car does. not. move. until it is warmed up. That engine is like two mice on a wheel, they are not up for anything until they've warmed up :-). I use my remote start that my husband insisted I get before she was born. Thus is life.
hmm. I get the reasons for the law but also, I have two young children and the rule is you don't put a coat on them in the car seat. It's fine most of the time but when its like, 0F I really like to have the car be at least mildly warmed for them before I put them in there, coatless.
HOWEVER I drive about 10 miles per week so I am contributing little by way of emissions from my car. I take trains and walk for my work commute.
I think the rules are fine and make sense for the most part, but, I do think when its brutally cold it's hard for parents to follow the rules about carseats and coats AND zero idling/warm up time before kids go in.
This is exactly what I was going to say. I don't warm up the car when I'm alone, but I will if the girls are with me. When it's brutally cold, I'll warm it up for a couple minutes so it isn't as deathly cold when they get in their seats. Even with hats, gloves, and blankets, when it's -30F like it was a couple weeks ago, they need a bit of extra warmth getting in the car.
Oh I know that was the original topic. I'm just curious about people saying a car should never be idle. I agree excessive defrosting isn't a good thing.
I don't think anyone meant that a car can never ever idle because that would essentially be impossible. Cars are not always moving.
Everyone means excessive idling. Excessive occurs when it's more than several minutes for no reason other than to make sure your ass doesn't get in to a chilly car. I do not think the police are going to give anyone a ticket for sitting in their car with fogged up windows and scraping off the ice, that is not excessive idling!
Got it. I wasn't reading idling not being necessary to warm a car to be in terms of its performance. I'm not nice enough to my car for that to even be a thought lol. I was hoping there was a trick I didn't know so I don't have to sit waiting for it to finish clearing up.
I wasn't meaning to be a jackass. I was seriously asking. When we bought a car last year, I asked about the auto turn off that a lot of cars have now - that DO turn off when idling. The dealer said that the EPA is pushing to mandate that as a requirement for new cars.
One of our cars automatically shuts off if not moving for more than like 30 seconds. So if you're driving a newer car, idling isn't necessary like it used to be for older cars.
We rented a new Malibu in Denver this summer and the first stop light we were at, I thought the car died. I freaked out. Until I tried to drive and it turned back on. It was so weird! But then I got used to it and wish my car had it.
Yep!! I had no idea it was a 'thing.' My car shuts off and you really can't even tell (once you know it's not dead, lol).
Some towns around me have a law that you cannot idle for more than 15 minutes. I've never seen it enforced and I'll do it if I'm early to an appointment or something. I'd rather wait in my car than in some waiting room.
All I've got is I can't believe people leave their cars unattended. I live in the city - your car would be GONE in 2 seconds flat. I'm amazed people leave their cars running and unattended (with the keys in).
Post by emoflamingo on Jan 11, 2017 12:46:16 GMT -5
I can't remember who brought it up but yes, diesel engines are special snowflakes. Glow plugs are little heating devices that help start the engine easier and they mean that you have to delay the actual start of the engine. Diesel fuel composition is different from regular gasoline and the fuel will gel in the combustion chamber if it's not warm enough. My dad's semis get plugged in in the winter when they're not running but also require a long warm up when the temperature is below a certain mark. Our last cold snap had temps in the single digits with windchill in double negative, he started the trucks on Monday (probably after he was off work in the evening) for Tuesday's runs (because they work Tuesday-Saturday).
If the Roseville Police Department is anything like mine, those cop cars are idling, unlocked and unattended a LOT. Thank wouldn't make a case about it unless one of them gave me a $128 ticket on my own property.
Then I'd make a huge flipping issue out of The double standard.
That issue was brought up but the reason they leave their cars running is because the computers in their cars must constantly be update regarding happenings in the area, and the squad cars cant wait for a restart and updates if there's an emergency.
That was told to me be a friend whose husband is a cop.
I'm going to assume those that say starting the car first is unnecessary don't deal with a fogged up window after scraping? A fogged windshield is undriveable, especially if heading towards the sun. If I need to, I start the car before scraping it and usually need to wait a few extra minutes afterwards before I can see. I don't leave it unattended but I know a lot of people do.
What about using the defrost?
Sometimes the defrost doesn't cut through everything, including a fogged up window, for several minutes.
I use the remote start on my car and if DH forgot to turn up the fans, my car will still be foggy do then I have to turn up the fans and wait some more do that I can actually see out the Windows.
I can't remember who brought it up but yes, diesel engines are special snowflakes. Glow plugs are little heating devices that help start the engine easier and they mean that you have to delay the actual start of the engine. Diesel fuel composition is different from regular gasoline and the fuel will gel in the combustion chamber if it's not warm enough. My dad's semis get plugged in in the winter when they're not running but also require a long warm up when the temperature is below a certain mark. Our last cold snap had temps in the single digits with windchill in double negative, he started the trucks on Monday (probably after he was off work in the evening) for Tuesday's runs (because they work Tuesday-Saturday).
Definitely, DH hated the early shift at school because it meant making sure all the buses were ready. Yes, they get plugged in but you still have to start them before driving.
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