Buying a used car

[TexasHusker]

This was really bugging me as it doesn't make sense scientifically/mechanically speaking. So I did a little research. Sure enough, it's a myth. Numerous studies have proven it wrong. Basically, letting your car idle for more than about 30 seconds wastes more gas than turning it off and restarting it. Some studies even showed the breakeven point to be as short as 10 seconds.

As for wear and tear, that's mostly a myth as well.


I'm sure the fuel savings as well as the pollution reduction are behind why so many places have instituted "no idling" laws. I know we have those laws here in NJ.

The key words from your article regarding additional wear are "far less." As in "far less" wear than there was prior to fuel injection. But "far less" doesn't mean "no wear". There is obviously more wear and tear on a vehicle when starting the car, as there is no little to no oil in the cylinder to coat the metal parts. Just the facts. I'll stick with letting it idle and take my chances.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I have to admit loving my used car. My DH and I agree his used 2006 Hyundai Sonata was a great purchase. Bought used for $10k and sold for $6500 3.5 years later. We could have kept it but he didn't want to dump $2k into it for repairs.

Now I bought a use Sienna for $28k. I am loving it. New it's closer to $50k and it was only 2 years old when I bought it. The people selling it (to a dealer) bought a Suburban.

[greenskeeper]

Once an engine is at operating temperature there is practically ZERO wear occuring. Oil technology and tolerances are that good nowadays.

At operating temperature shutting off and restarting the engine also creates practically zero wear, and it does save fuel. Across a large fleet it definitely would begin to add up.

The lowest mile used car I've bought was 5 years old and had 30k miles on it. Drove it until 190k miles when rust took it's toll

The highest mile used vehicle I've bought was 16 years old and had over 220k miles on it.....STILL going.