February 18, 2010
Would I Save Gasoline If I Turn Off My Car Engine At All Stop Lights?
Yes, with fuel injected cars – you save money on gas by turning the car off anywhere you would be sitting and idling for any amount of time, but if you were to do that at every stoplight, you’d probably burn out the starter and/or ignition switch a lot sooner and it would probably cost more than you would have saved in gas with parts and labor to get it repaired.
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Filed under Gas Conservation FAQ by on Feb 18th, 2010. Comment. 
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Comments on Would I Save Gasoline If I Turn Off My Car Engine At All Stop Lights?
I just have to add to the excellent 2nd answer that while it’s true that you’ll save gas (if you have a fuel injector), the amount of gas you burn idling in a modern engine is very small compared to the amount you burn accelerating.
There is another consideration, however: Emissions. I believe the reason hybrids and some other cars stop the engine at full stop is that California has created the AT-PZEV and PZEV standards, which encourage cars to reduce emissions to zero whenever possible. Intersections, where cars go from being non-point sources to point-sources of pollution, can get pretty nasty.
So, if you have an engine that doesn’t automatically shut off at intersections, but you have a robust starter and one of those push-button ignitions (like on Infiniti, Lexus, etc.) you could do a little good for yourself and for the people breathing around you by shutting off at long lights where you know it’s going to be, say, 30 seconds or more.
Sometimes there is a downhill where u are stopped. I then run start the car (scotch start). I also often turn off the engine and free wheel down hills. The answerer who mentioned the stress to your passengers isnt wrong though, they dont like u for doing it. I have also been known to add a little two stroke oil to the tank. With the unleaded and lead replacement fuels of today, lubrication is probably a bit short. Also maybe the molecules a bit bigger, and dont get through the jets as quick, therefore u runa bit leaner(?)
sure a cup a month maybe…. dont do that your just making the car hot and you are using more to crank it back which is one of the hardest things do to on a car you want to save gas add more air in your tires run the max pressure…. and tuneup more … air filter fuel filter gas treatment….. keeping it in its best shape you can will save you more gas
Yes Anytime a car is sitting idling it is getting zero miles per gallon.But the added wear on the starter and other parts probably would make it not worth doing.If your going to be sitting stopped for a long period of time then yes i would shut it off.
No, because it takes more gas to start the car up again, the only place that makes sense would be if your stuck waiting for a train or if your stopped for a long time.
What would really save gas is riding a bike whenever you can.
Actually John D’s answer is good.