Debunking Car Myths: What Really Works and What Doesn’t

Myth: Cranking A Car Takes More Gas Than Idling

When gas is low, many drivers wonder if it’s better to leave the engine idling or turn it off and restart it later. There’s an old belief that turning off and cranking the car uses more gas than idling, but this is no longer true for modern vehicles.

Today’s fuel-injected engines are designed to start efficiently, so turning off the engine saves gas if you’ll be idling for more than 30 seconds. If you’re waiting for someone or stuck in a situation where idling feels wasteful, don’t hesitate to turn off the car and save yourself a bit of fuel.