Can the car engine stop and go be disabled?

[AusWolf]

Most vehicles use very little fuel while at idle. It saves very little fuel in fact. All vehicles use most of the fuel for acceleration, maintaining speed and cruise operations. A very small fraction is used during moments at idle.

This!

My '16 Fiesta ST uses 0.1 litre per hour when idling with a warm engine, and significantly more than that during starts, especially cold starts. I'm glad it doesn't have any of the start-stop bollocks.

But its not about the total energy required, entirely. The offensive to reduce exhaust from vehicles is simply a health issue. Air pollution places a toll on public health, which makes healthcare more expensive. Its a simple cost/benefit thing. AdBlue is a similar measure. It serves to reduce NOx.

A lot of things we do now use more energy in production, but gain efficiency or other advantages in usage. Meanwhile, the total carbon/energy footprint of the globe still steadily increases YoY. We can't reduce. The world population is growing, not shrinking, and higher wealth means more of the above solutions come into play for larger groups of people.

We'll gain efficiency. It won't fix a thing, except reducing pollution in high pop density areas where it matters most. The EV is of a similar nature. It won't save the planet...

The US for example might not be the biggest polluter anymore, but that's only because China has surpassed it, and not because of strong reductions in energy usage.

I have two things to say to that:
1. I think it's best to avoid stop-and-go traffic altogether, not just for air quality, but also to preserve my mental integrity. I have a policy for myself: if I absolutely have to go to a big city, I use public transport. It tends to be quicker as well.
2. Instead of cutting back personal consumption and condemning ourselves to (sometimes extreme) inconveniences just to support population growth, maybe we could tackle the underlying cause and cut back on population growth itself? If it's an essential need for some people to reproduce like vermin, then a sporty petrol (gasoline) car with no start-stop crap is my essential need, and no one should tell me that there's anything wrong with it.

 

[Vayra86]

This!

My '16 Fiesta ST uses 0.1 litre per hour when idling with a warm engine, and significantly more than that during starts, especially cold starts. I'm glad it doesn't have any of the start-stop bollocks.


I have two things to say to that:
1. I think it's best to avoid stop-and-go traffic altogether, not just for air quality, but also to preserve my mental integrity. I have a policy for myself: if I absolutely have to go to a big city, I use public transport. It tends to be quicker as well.
2. Instead of cutting back personal consumption and condemning ourselves to (sometimes extreme) inconveniences just to support population growth, maybe we could tackle the underlying cause and cut back on population growth itself?

2. Yes, and war isn't fast/effective enough, unless we start tossing WMDs. Now, try to tell people they should get less kids, when in most countries 2+ per family is still some strange norm or target. And even then its highly problematic; China has a rapidly growing population pyramid problem due to their one child policy (now they stimulate getting more) and we already have it because of the boomer wave. Migration is a solution, but then where do those people come from? Low income countries where more kids are considered better...

 

[claes]

You know I have a lot to say about these things but not only off-topic but damn stop with the doomerism you hippies

 

[AusWolf]

2. Yes, and war isn't fast/effective enough, unless we start tossing WMDs. Now, try to tell people they should get less kids, when in most countries 2+ per family is still some strange norm or target. And even then its highly problematic; China has a rapidly growing population pyramid problem due to their one child policy (now they stimulate getting more) and we already have it because of the boomer wave. Migration is a solution, but then where do those people come from? Low income countries where more kids are considered better...

OK, I'll start now:
People! Have less kids! Or have as many kids as you want, but leave my driving, gaming and spending habits alone!

 

[Easy Rhino]

Ill turn on the stop/stop feature when the polticians stop buying waterfront second homes and flying around in enormous carbon spewing jets. And yes, you can disable the start/stop. It's software controlled.

 

[AusWolf]

Ill turn on the stop/stop feature when the polticians stop buying waterfront second homes and flying around in enormous carbon spewing jets. And yes, you can disable the start/stop. It's software controlled.

Exactly. Lead by example as they say. The only examples we've been getting lately are how to lie about everything, how to spread mass hysteria, how to cheat on your wife at work, and how to organise secret parties during covid lockdown.

 

[wolf]

I'm trying to understand BEORE I buy a car with an issue I don't want.

I'll admit I haven't read all of the thread before posting, but I also hate this ... 'feature'

I currently own two GM vehciles, both Australian delivered Holden branded ones, both have auto engine stop/start.

One has a button to disable it, but it doesn't persist between drives, so I often forget until the first time it happens, but at least it has the button. The second vehicle has no button at all! you can do a funky thing with the gear selector but that's a per-drive thing to worry about too.

The solution for both was a <$20 AUD cable from Aliexpress that plugs in under the hood and permanently disables stop start.

Bliss.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I'll admit I haven't read all of the thread before posting, but I also hate this ... 'feature'

I currently own two GM vehciles, both Australian delivered Holden branded ones, both have auto engine stop/start.

One has a button to disable it, but it doesn't persist between drives, so I often forget until the first time it happens, but at least it has the button. The second vehicle has no button at all! you can do a funky thing with the gear selector but that's a per-drive thing to worry about too.

The solution for both was a <$20 AUD cable from Aliexpress that plugs in under the hood and permanently disables stop start.

Bliss.

I am guessing it varies from country to country based on 'rules.' I always disable it because I hate the latency of hitting the gas and waiting for the engine to start back up. It feels unnatural and like something is broken.

 

[wolf]

I am guessing it varies from country to country based on 'rules.' I always disable it because I hate the latency of hitting the gas and waiting for the engine to start back up. It feels unnatural and like something is broken.

I also hate it in Australia because the moment the engine turns off, the AC slowly starts getting warmer and warmer.

But yeah for sure, lag with engine restart, excess wear on the starter, a special battery to support so many start cycles, big old meh.

If I actually commuted in a car, in peak hour I might leave the feature intact, but I ride an e-scooter... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[the54thvoid]

I am guessing it varies from country to country based on 'rules.' I always disable it because I hate the latency of hitting the gas and waiting for the engine to start back up. It feels unnatural and like something is broken.

I can see it being slow on an automatic transmission. I drive manual, so at lights the gear is in neutral and the stop/start activates. To pull away, I have to depress the clutch to shift gear before I touch the accelerator. The clutch depress starts the engine before the accelerator, so there's no lag there.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I can see it being slow on an automatic transmission. I drive manual, so at lights the gear is in neutral and the stop/start activates. To pull away, I have to depress the clutch to shift gear before I touch the accelerator. The clutch depress starts the engine before the accelerator, so there's no lag there.

That sounds like it would be alright. Sadly, many cars are automatic these days.

 

[Easy Rhino]

I can see it being slow on an automatic transmission. I drive manual, so at lights the gear is in neutral and the stop/start activates. To pull away, I have to depress the clutch to shift gear before I touch the accelerator. The clutch depress starts the engine before the accelerator, so there's no lag there.

I didn't even know they could do that with manual...

 

[the54thvoid]

That sounds like it would be alright. Sadly, many cars are automatic these days.

I didn't even know they could do that with manual...

UK used to be predominantly manual transmission but automatics are growing in number these days. TBH, I like the ease of an auto (drove them in Canada vacation) but I like the ability to shift gears to maximise engine rev for acceleration. Then again, I know expensive automatics are very responsive.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I think automatics in the UK now account for around half of all new sales, a decade ago it was only around 20%, as for start stop, I have it and use it but not really when I should, if I am driving through a large city I turn it off because you could be stopping 30 or 40 times in half an hour, although EU and UK legislation requires a higher capacity battery to cope with the additional load of stop start it just don't feel right, everyday driving I leave it on. Some cars have customisable drive profiles that allow the user to input how they want to set up their driving experience, for example I have "normal", sport" and "eco" plus a custom setup so the feature could be permanently turned off.

 

[dragontamer5788]

UK used to be predominantly manual transmission but automatics are growing in number these days. TBH, I like the ease of an auto (drove them in Canada vacation) but I like the ability to shift gears to maximise engine rev for acceleration. Then again, I know expensive automatics are very responsive.

The main advantage to manual transmission is ease of maintenance. But in practice, today's vehicles (even automatics), last 150,000+ miles even without much maintenance. With automatics so reliable, the simpler design of manual transmissions isn't a big deal anymore.

I personally still prefer manual. But I think my current car will be the last manual I drive. Its getting harder-and-harder to find good manual transmissions, especially with these newer Hybrid / PHEVs / Electrics coming out. There's an elegance to the simplicity of maintenance, and the extra hand / leg I need to use for the clutch/gearbox really isn't a big deal, even in stop-and-go traffic IMO.

 

[AusWolf]

I can see it being slow on an automatic transmission. I drive manual, so at lights the gear is in neutral and the stop/start activates. To pull away, I have to depress the clutch to shift gear before I touch the accelerator. The clutch depress starts the engine before the accelerator, so there's no lag there.

There's also the challenge of shifting into gear and pulling off as quickly as possible (especially when you're in one lane, but you need the next one that already has traffic in it).

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I hate that shit too. My wife has a Ford Explorer that does this. She actually has a button that she can press that disables this feature. But it only disables it for that drive. Once she turns off the car and turns it back on again, it's re-enabled and you have to press the button again to disable for that specific ride.

 

[Frick]

I have two things to say to that:
1. I think it's best to avoid stop-and-go traffic altogether, not just for air quality, but also to preserve my mental integrity. I have a policy for myself: if I absolutely have to go to a big city, I use public transport. It tends to be quicker as well.

You live in the UK which basically is one big city.

As for your second point, the problem isn't exactly population but resource allocation, and the idea of eternal growth and the brainless sanctified chase of money and shinies (like GPUs), and the "careers" people absolutely must have for some god forsaken reason. And plain ol' greed. Far more practical to implement strict global birth control schemes and forced emmigration/immigration to adjust population levels as needed than to even try to work against that. "Appeal to their better natures" implies there is such a thing.

 

[lexluthermiester]

There's also the challenge of shifting into gear and pulling off as quickly as possible (especially when you're in one lane, but you need the next one that already has traffic in it).

That's the biggest problem I've seen. Locally here, vehicles that have start/stop are always the one's holding up traffic, even the trucks & SUV's.

 

[AusWolf]

As for your second point, the problem isn't exactly population but resource allocation, and the idea of eternal growth and the brainless sanctified chase of money and shinies (like GPUs), and the "careers" people absolutely must have for some god forsaken reason. And plain ol' greed. Far more practical to implement strict global birth control schemes and forced emmigration/immigration to adjust population levels as needed than to even try to work against that. "Appeal to their better natures" implies there is such a thing.

I agree with that. We can't grow everything (population, economy, etc) eternally as the planet isn't growing. I think it would be a lot more sensible to keep population in check and have relatively comfortable lives than for everybody to reproduce beyond measure and have even our basic necessities denied from us. Today it's internal combustion engines we have to give up, tomorrow it's gas heating, and after that it may be food.

As for eternal growth in career, I don't understand that myself. My manager keeps asking me where I imagine myself in 5 years, and all I can think of is some Mediterranean beach with a beer in my hand. All this career pursuit people are pushing for only gives me the impression that they're unhappy where they are at the moment and all they want from their jobs is another line in their CVs/resumes. But if they're unhappy, then why do it at all, and why not just do something different altogether?

 

[the54thvoid]

As for eternal growth in career, I don't understand that myself. My manager keeps asking me where I imagine myself in 5 years, and all I can think of is some Mediterranean beach with a beer in my hand. All this career pursuit people are pushing for only gives me the impression that they're unhappy where they are at the moment and all they want from their jobs is another line in their CVs/resumes. But if they're unhappy, then why do it at all, and why not just do something different altogether?

I'm jacking in my job on the 23rd December. Worked since I was at Uni, 27 years in the Fitness Industry (not great but comfortable salary), and 19 years from state pension. Leaving it all behind to be free to pursue my own destiny. I'll be poorer for a while, maybe forever, but I'll not spend 5-days a week pacing around being bored and feeling empathy with Pavlov's dogs.

 

[1freedude]

I'm jacking in my job on the 23rd December. Worked since I was at Uni, 27 years in the Fitness Industry (not great but comfortable salary), and 19 years from state pension. Leaving it all behind to be free to pursue my own destiny. I'll be poorer for a while, maybe forever, but I'll not spend 5-days a week pacing around being bored.......

Sounds like you created a different S/S feature.....stop/stop!

Congrats

 

[Bones]

That's the biggest problem I've seen. Locally here, vehicles that have start/stop are always the one's holding up traffic, even the trucks & SUV's.

I'm waiting for the day traffic gets held up because start/stop didn't start....
And possibly gets rear-ended because the ones behind it didn't know it was broken down until they hit it, expecting it to go instead.

My wife, after I told her about start/stop said the same thing someone else did about the AC dropping out, she is NO fan of that happening!
And what are you gonna do during Summer, stuck in a traffic jam and you can't disable this "Feature"?

Ain't gonna be me, what I've got now without all this crap I'm keeping.

 

[Ivan Bliminse]

I can't stand the new car feature where the engine stops and starts itself when the car is stationary; can this be disabled?

Read your car manual, there could / should be a button on your centre-console to enable/disable this feature. Doesn't matter if you car is petrol or diesel.

 

[AusWolf]

I'm jacking in my job on the 23rd December. Worked since I was at Uni, 27 years in the Fitness Industry (not great but comfortable salary), and 19 years from state pension. Leaving it all behind to be free to pursue my own destiny. I'll be poorer for a while, maybe forever, but I'll not spend 5-days a week pacing around being bored and feeling empathy with Pavlov's dogs.

Wow, good luck to you, and post how it's going every now and then!

The only reason I'm not doing that is because I have an awesome boss, who by the way, works day shifts, and I work nights, so I'm sort of my own boss even though I'm technically not. If he quits, I'll probably quit too. Luckily, he's not planning to.