In several of our blogs, we outline how employing a GPS vehicle monitoring system can assist businesses to monitor operators at work and reduce unnecessary idling. We often emphasize that prolonged idle time is not merely a wastage of valuable labor value for operators and teams, but it also burns fuel and causes unnecessary wear and tear on business fleet vehicles. 

But is a small engine idling that bad? What do idling vehicles end up costing you in the long term? 

Let us find it out: 

Which is more wasteful, engine idling or engine restarting? 

Most of us think engine idling is better than repeatedly turning your engine on and off every time you need to stop and wait, right? Wrong! 

According to studies, idling for more than 10 seconds burns more gasoline and generates more CO2 than shutting off and restarting an engine. So, while stopping for a short period, it makes far more logical to switch the vehicle off and then back on again when you are ready to resume your journey. This reduces both fuel consumption and Carbon dioxide emission! 

Why is it bad to idle your engine? 4 Top reasons to avoid vehicle idling 

Fleet managers are often focused on getting the best of their strict budget, and minimizing maintenance and fuel expenses is a big part of that. So, what exactly is the problem with idling? Idling engines may have extreme impacts on a maintenance schedule and fuel consumption, affecting both your budget and the environment. 

How? 

1. Idling the engine is harmful to your vehicle 

Idling causes your engine to run at a lower temperature, which hinders the complete fuel combustion process. This can generate a residual that can harm the vehicle's exhaust system over time. 

Furthermore, adding excessive unproductive miles to your vehicle means you will have to do standard maintenance like oil changes earlier than expected. This could have a profound influence on your budget allocation, leaving limited resources for other business operations. 

2. Engine idling results in "Dead Miles." 

Your vehicle might have traveled one kilometer for every two minutes of engine idling, and these "dead kilometers" will continue to generate on an idling engine. "Too much idling can cause damage to the engine and carbon soot accumulation in the engine and components," as per research. This can shorten the life of engine oil, spark plugs, as well as exhaust systems, forcing you to service them earlier than expected. 

3. Idling engines leave vehicles open to theft 

It is commonly found some drivers leave their vehicles idling for quick convenience store visits, fast food counters, and many more. The above driving behavior serves as an open invitation for thieves and exposes the vehicles to the risk of theft. 

4. Idling boosts unnecessary fuel wastage 

Eliminating engine idling can significantly reduce the amount of fuel wasted in your vehicle, likewise the amount of money you spend on fuel. 

As per studies: 

- An idle vehicle consumes 0.75 to 2.5 liters of fuel every hour. 
- An idle diesel engine consumes around 3.7 liters of fuel each hour. 

Five Techniques to Avoid Engine Inactivity 

Every business encourages its drivers to minimize vehicle idling to cut fuel costs. Luckily, there are several GPS Vehicle tracking options to monitor idling issues effectively. 

Here are five strategies for reducing idle time in your fleet, or making your fleet idle-free! 

- Turn Off Engines After Idling 10+ Seconds 
- Warm Up Engines by Driving, Not Idling 
- Real-time Vehicle movement monitoring systems  
- Speed limit and driver behavior monitoring and regulations 
- Route planning with geofencing to minimize transportation cost 

The Final Fleet Optimization 

A business and a fleet manager need to optimize fleet performance to reduce transportation costs. We offer one of the best fleet management solutions to manage and enhance operational efficiencies and profitability. Our technology supports superior scalability with hassle-free up-gradation and in-house customizations as per market demands.  

Contact VTPL today to grab a comprehensive demo and discover how our vehicle tracking technologies may help you maximize fleet efficiency! 

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