We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WikiMotors
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Automotive

How Much Gas Is Used While Idling?

Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 7,091
Share

For every hour a vehicle is idling — which is when the engine is running but the vehicle is not moving — it it uses an estimated 0.2-0.7 gallons (0.75-2.6 liters) of gas. A common belief is that restarting a car’s engine uses more fuel than idling, but if a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it might be more fuel efficient to turn off the engine. Figures can vary depending on the specific vehicle, fuel cost and usage, but turning off the engine and restarting it instead of idling would save an estimated $70-$650 US Dollars (USD) a year.

More about fuel consumption:

  • Diesel trucks waste more fuel when idling, at about 1 gallon (3.79 liters) per hour.

  • A study that observed one restaurant drive-through for a total of 54 hours found that 3,756 vehicles idled for five minutes or more.

  • The average driver is estimated to let his or her vehicle idle for five to 10 minutes each day.
Share
Allison Boelcke
By Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
By anon347377 — On Sep 06, 2013

Don't paint too broadly about diesel "trucks" wasting more.

My Ford Excursion's 7.3 Liter PowerStroke Diesel engine uses 0.55 gph with the AC running. Here in Texas, we might need to idle, even if it's more than 30 seconds, because it's too darn hot to sit in the car (at a traffic light, or waiting to pick up someone let's say) without AC. -- Lee in Central Texas.

WiseGeek,
in your inbox
Our latest articles, guides,
and more, delivered daily.
Follow us:
Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.
Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/how-much-gas-is-used-while-idling.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.