You can help improve our air quality and health, reduce engine wear, and save fuel and money by turning your engine off when parked.
Breathe easier – vehicle emissions contribute to health problems such as asthma and heart disease.
- Think about the environment – Idling engines create unnecessary air pollution, which contributes to smog and climate change.
- Reduce warm-up idling – in most conditions, start driving your vehicle after no more than 30 seconds of idling. Most cars and trucks are designed to warm up while driving at a moderate speed.
- Turn it off after 10 seconds – turn off your engine if you are stopping for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine.
Start saving
- Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel and create more pollution than turning off the engine and restarting it.
- A few seconds of idling are necessary to lubricate engine parts and ensure proper operation, except in cold weather (below – 10 oC).
- Idling produces engine deposits, which cause premature wear.
Changing our habits
- Walk your children to school.
- Give up your remote car starter.
- Walk, bicycle or use public transportation, whenever possible.