IDLING FACTS

NOTE: As of August 20, based on a comprehensive study and new information from several reputable sources (footnoted below), some updates and changes in certain idling facts have been made on the Idle-Free VT web site. Most of these updates occur on this page. An overview: • Update on engine component damage for gasoline engines: there are no measurable increases in engine or spark plug wear or fouling due to modest amounts of extended engine idling. • Update on the break-even time on the cost of idling vs restarting: Any more than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than is required to restart the engine (same statement as previously). However, the break-even time to offset any potential incremental maintenance costs to the starter or battery is 30 seconds based on current fuel prices. • Added statement on warm up idling for below 0 degrees fahrenheit: idling the engine for a period of one to three minutes becomes important in order for the mechanical components to warm up prior to subjecting them to the stresses related to normal driving at this temperature range, and for the likely increased need of defrosting/deicing. • Update on air quality emissions: There is a lessening of the impact modest amounts of extended idling has on criteria air contaminents (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfer dioide and benzene) due to the advanced emission control technologies of modern gasoline vehicles. However, negating factors such as vehicle age, how the vehicle is maintained, wear of emission control components and their resulting diminished function, the warmed up state of a vehicle, and how cold the weather can inevitably cause increased emissions at idle. Diesel vehicles, as before, continue to have increased emissions. • The downloadable documents on this page also reflect these updates. Idle-Free VT strives to provide the most scientifically accurate information available and welcomes new information from reputable sources. This notice will remain posted for one month.

• IDLING EMISSIONS CAN AFFECT OUR RESPIRATORY HEALTH. While modern light-duty gasoline vehicles are designed with advanced emission control technologies that have come a long way in reducing the emissions of harmful criteria air contaminents (CACs) such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and benzene, there are several factors that can inevitably cause increased emissions at idle: vehicle age, how the vehicle is maintained, wear of emission control components and their resulting diminished function, the warmed up state of a vehicle, and how cold the weather. In addition, light-duty diesel vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles have increased emissions.

Prolonged exposure of these emissions can affect our respiratory systems, including our lungs and heart. Children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma are especially vulnerable.[1]

Courtesy of Citizens Environment Alliance, Idle-Free Windsor (ON, CA)

Download, print and distribute this information card

• IDLING CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, including carbon dioxide (CO2), cause climate change. A serious threat to the planet, overwhelming scientific evidence links climate change to the earth's highest ever average annual temperatures, melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, increasingly severe weather events, and to the threat of many plant and animal species. Additionally in Vermont, its ski, maple sugar and tourist industries are threatened.

- There are more than 550,000 Vermont Car and Truck 2008 registrations. If many Vermont vehicles reduced their idling by five minutes/day, the total CO2 emissions reduction could exceed 50,000 tons/year[2].

- Vermont's transportation greenhouse gas emissions, on a per capita basis, are nearly double the U.S. average: 46% to 26%[3]. Reduction of unnecessary idling can have a significant positive impact on this figure.

• IDLING WASTES FUEL. In this time of ever increasing gas prices, needless idling burns our hard earned dollars through the exhaust pipe. An idling vehicle gets 0 miles to the gallon. And remember that fossil fuels are being depleted in the face of ever increasing world demand.

So how long should a parked vehicle be allowed to idle?

The general rule for how long a vehicle should idle when parked, whether in a warmed up state[4] or warming up[5], is 30 seconds. See detailed facts on idling times below.

• NOISE POLLUTION. In our town centers and suburbs, there’s already enough noise without having to hear the constant idling of parked vehicles.

• IDLING REDUCTION IS A STATE LAW.
1. Vermont has a statewide idling law for motor vehicles on school property. This includes school buses, plus there is also a provision in the law for school boards in each district to adopt idling policies for motor vehicles other than school buses (employees, students, parents, delivery, etc.) when present on school premises.
2. Under Vermont's unattended motor vehicles law, it is a violation to idle a vehicle while unattended in public. See Idling Laws of Interest below.

Click here to download and print the NEW Idle-Free VT two-sided flyer (updated 8/08) opens as a pdf

HOW LONG SHOULD A WARMED UP, PARKED VEHICLE IDLE? The overall recommendation is 30 seconds[4]. Any more than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than is required to restart the engine. However, the break-even time to offset any potential incremental maintenance costs to the starter or battery is 30 seconds based on current fuel prices. So, as a guideline, if you're stopped out of traffic for more than 30 seconds turn off the engine. HOW LONG SHOULD A VEHICLE WARM UP? In all but extreme cold, 0 to 30 seconds usually suffices[5] (check your owners manual for any specific recommendations). • Above freezing temperatures: typically a light-duty gasoline* vehicle does not need to warm up at standstill; the best way to warm up is to drive the vehicle at a moderate pace. • Below freezing but above 0 degrees fahrenheit: warm up time is determined by the effectiveness of defrosting. If defrosting is not a factor, again, driving the car (slowly to moderately) is the best way to warm up.† Keep in mind that idling only warms the engine, not the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission and tires. These parts also need to be warmed up, and the only way to do that is to drive the vehicle. • Below 0 degrees: in more extreme weather conditons, idling the engine for a period of one to three minutes becomes important in order for the mechanical components to warm up prior to subjecting them to the stresses related to normal driving at this temperature, and for the likely increased need of defrosting/deicing. Recommended cold weather warm up procedure for gasoline† engines. Make sure that your vehicle is tuned-up. Except in below 0 conditions, avoid remote vehicle starters which encourage excessive idling. CONSIDER USE OF AN ENGINE BLOCK HEATER which can be timed to turn on one to two hours before starting the engine. They allow less strain on the starter and battery and allow the vehicle to consume less fuel during warm up driving. Protect yourself adequately from the elements with warm clothing. Be prepared with window scrapers that work. Consider the use of a can of spray de-icer or make your own solution of half water and half vinegar in a spray bottle. When necessary, scrape/de-ice and clear your vehicle off before starting. Then start the engine and immediately blast the defroster. In most cases, you'll be ready to go in 30 seconds. * Light-duty diesel engines similar requirements; check owner's manual † Possible exception: if vehicle occupant(s) is to be elderly or an infant in below freezing temperatures.

THE MOST LIKELY REASONS FOR IDLING WHEN PARKED • Comfort: to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. • Convenience: such as encouragement of remote vehicle starters and drive-throughs. • Habit: "I've always done it this way." • Perceived need to warm up vehicles for long periods of time in cold weather. • Perceived right to do whatever one wants with their vehicles. • No awareness of the consequences.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• First, as a general rule, limit warm up and warmed up idling to 30 seconds.

• In weather extremes, there are alternatives to sitting in a car and idling. Given all the detrimental facts about idling, let's do all we can within reason to avoid it--even if we have to sacrifice some comfort. If it's too cold to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine off, if at all possible, seek warmth inside a building. Likewise if it's too hot, find a shady parking spot and open windows, or go inside a building to keep cool. It is understood that there can be exceptions when there are no reasonable alternatives such as for elderly and infant passengers, or pets.

• Avoid using a remote vehicle starter, which encourages unnecessary idling.

• Consider the purchase and use of an engine block heater.

• Consider the purchase of a gas/electric hybrid vehicle which seldom idles.

• Spread the word to family and friends.

• Start your own idle-free campaign.

• Get published--use these compelling idling facts to write a letter to the editor or an op-ed.

• Sign the Idle-Free VT online petition.

• Write your representatives letting them know you want an all motor vehicle idle-reduction law.

• Witnessing idling: If you witness extended idling of either company fleet vehicles, or tour buses at a ski resort or one of Vermont's many tourist attractions, consider contacting the entities that own the vehicles or that don't restrict idling in their parking areas. Contact Idle-Free VT if you do so. If you witness an individual who is idling excessively, you may want to politely inform them about the harm of idling. It is highly recommended that you only consider doing this in conjunction with an information handout (see above). Most people will react in a reasonable manner but some may be offended.

• Encourage Sen. Bernie Sanders, a U.S. Senate Environment Committee member, to work with other members of this committee (Sen. Barbara Boxer--CA, chair) to advocate for a federal program of idle-free awareness, as Canada has been doing for years. Also ask him to push automobile manufacturers to adopt the Auto Stop-Start system for U.S. vehicles. This system, now utilized on some European models, allows conventional vehicle engines to automatically shut off at stoplights and restart, just as hybrids do. See details on the Links page.

IDLING LAWS OF INTEREST The State of Vermont's school bus idling law, enacted in 2007: ACT 48. AN ACT RELATING TO THE IDLING OF MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINES ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. (S.13) It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 1282(f) is added to read: (f) Subject to state board of education rules, which may provide for limited idling, the operator of a school bus shall not idle the engine while waiting for children to board or to exit the vehicle at a school and shall not start the engine until ready to leave the school premises. The board, in consultation with the agency of natural resources, the department of health, and the department of motor vehicles, shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. The rules shall set forth periods or circumstances that reasonably require the idling of the engine, including periods when it is necessary to operate defrosting, heating, or cooling equipment to ensure the health or safety of the driver or passengers or to operate auxiliary equipment; and periods when the engine is undergoing maintenance or inspection. Sec. 2. SCHOOL BOARDS; VEHICULAR IDLING Nothing in this act or in department of education rules shall prevent a school board from adopting idling policies for motor vehicles other than school buses when present on school premises. By January 1, 2008, the department of education shall develop a model policy relating to idling of vehicles other than school buses to be distributed to schools for their use. Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE This act shall take effect on passage. The rules required by this act shall take effect during the 2007–2008 academic year. Approved: May 25, 2007  Vermont's Unattended Motor Vehicles law is mainly designed to discourage vehicle theft (no insurance coverage for stolen vehicles resulting from running unattended), but can also be applied toward idling enforcement. Here's the statute: Title 23: Motor Vehicles Chapter 13: OPERATION OF VEHICLES 23 V.S.A. § 1111. Unattended motor vehicle § 1111. Unattended motor vehicle No person shall permit a motor vehicle to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition and effectively setting the brake, air temperatures permitting, and, when the vehicle is standing upon a grade, turning the front of the front wheels toward the curb or side of the highway. This section does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973.) Burlington Code of Ordinances, Sec. 20-55 (e) No person shall leave idling for more than five (5) minutes any motor vehicle in any area of the city during the period from April 1 of every year to November 1 of the same year, except in the following instances: (1) Motors used to run refrigeration units may be left idling to permit uninterrupted refrigeration; (2) A motor vehicle may be left idling if necessary for the repair of that vehicle; (3) This provision shall not apply to motor vehicles which must be kept idling in order to install, maintain or repair equipment or infrastructure. (4) This provision shall not apply in any situation in which the health or safety of a driver or passenger requires the idling of the vehicle. Massachusetts General Law ch. 90 § 16A. Unnecessary Operation of Engine of Stopped Motor Vehicle Prohibited; Exceptions; Penalty. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the unnecessary operation of the engine of a motor vehicle while said vehicle is stopped for a foreseeable period of time in excess of five minutes. This section shall not apply to (a) vehicles being serviced, provided that operation of the engine is essential to the proper repair thereof, or (b) vehicles engaged in the delivery or acceptance of goods, wares, or merchandise for which engine assisted power is necessary and substitute alternate means cannot be made available, or (c) vehicles engaged in an operation for which the engine power is necessary for an associate power need other than movement and substitute alternate power means cannot be made available provided that such operation does not cause or contribute to a condition of air pollution. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, nor more than five hundred dollars for each succeeding offense.

This is NOT a law, but for Vermont, Idle-Free VT advocates an all motor vehicle idling law (similar to laws in Massachusetts, Hawaii and by-laws of many Canadian municipalities): No person shall allow in the State of Vermont any motor vehicle that is designed to operate on public roads to idle in excess of three (3) consecutive minutes in any 60 minute period for gasoline-powered vehicles; five (5) consecutive minutes in any 60 minute period for diesel-powered vehicles, with the following exceptions: (1)  The vehicle is forced to remain motionless on a public road because of traffic conditions over which the operator has no control; (2)  The vehicle is being used as an emergency vehicle in an emergency situation; (3)  Required by a federal, state, or local law or official, but only to the extent necessary to comply with such requirement; (4)  The vehicle’s engine is providing auxiliary power for activities other than heating or air conditioning, such as loading, refrigeration, well drilling, or farming; (5)  Running the vehicle’s engine is necessary for maintenance, servicing, repair, or diagnostic purposes; (6)  Running the vehicle’s engine during adverse weather conditions is necessary to ensure the safe operation of the vehicle; or (7)  The ambient air temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for gasoline-powered vehicles; below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for diesel-powered vehicles, and idling of the vehicle is necessary to ensure the safety or health of the passengers or driver.