Myths

Myth #1 Warming up the car

Fact: A popular myth is that your car needs to idle on cold mornings in order to warm up. In actuality, your car requires no more than 30 seconds to warm up the engine oil. The rest of the car's components get warmed up simply by driving the car as soon as you get in. The drivetrain, tires, wheel bearings and transmission need five to eight kilometres of driving in order to get fully warmed up. This is when your car runs more efficiently.

Excessive idling can actually damage engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and the exhaust system. It can also cause water to condense in the vehicle's exhaust, causing corrosion and reducing the life of the exhaust system. One of the main problems is that idling causes unburned fuel to contaminate the engine oil.

If your vehicle has a diesel engine, excessive idling can actually lower the coolant temperature. So in effect, switching off the engine in a diesel powered car actually helps keep the engine warm longer.

Find out about our Idle-Free Campaign!

Myth #2 Fuel Type affects gas consumption

Fact: For most engines, high-octane gas means nothing more than paying a higher price. Unless your vehicle is one of the few on the road that requires premium - typically sports and luxury models, there is no benefit for fuel efficiency by using premium gas.

Myth #3 Fuel additives increase fuel efficiency

Fact: You may have seen advertising for additives that you can put in your gas tank that allegedly increase fuel efficiency. Most of these additives have been tested and have been proven to have no affect on fuel efficiency. Don't waste your money.

Myth #4 Restarting your engine frequently is bad for the engine

Fact: Actually, it doesn't affect the car or use much gas. Engines in newer cars are able to withstand frequent starts and stops of the engine. Experts estimate that starting and stopping your engine adds about $10 per year to the cost of driving; money that will be recovered several times over in fuel savings by reduced idling.
Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine in most vehicles. Starters in modern cars are able to withstand a lot of starts and stops and the main reason why is to reduce unecessary idling. In fact, 'start stop' technology, where the vehicles engine automatically shuts itself off when stopped and then restarts when the brake pedal is released, is starting to find its way on a number of new vehicles these days.

Myth #5 Shifting into neutral saves gas

Fact: It's illegal in Nova Scotia to shift into neutral while driving. But further, with modern computer controlled fuel delivery systems, coasting downhill with the transmission in neutral, or clutch depressed in a car with a manual transmission, actually uses more fuel than coasting with the car in gear.

Myth #6 Diesels need to idle after being used in order to cool down the engine

Fact: Diesel engines in light duty cars essentially work the same way regular gasoline internal combustion engines do. There is no need for exessive idling (no more than 30 seconds). Heavy duty diesels such as work trucks and vans do require a minimum amount of idling before turning off the vehicle, but again, this is for work vehicles only.

Myth #7 Diesels are noisy and emit lots of soot from the tailpipe

Fact: Modern day diesels have made astonashing achievements in both sound deadending and reducing what comes out of the tailpipe. Currently, in our market, diesels are only only available from Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz - all of which have been awarded for their diesel engines for how quite and clean they are. More automakers such as Porsche, Kia, and Honda are now emerging into the diesel market, so there will be more to choose from in the coming years.

Check out our Top 10 hybrid myths!