Should I keep my car running while making deliveries or is it better to turn it off every time?
For about a year now I’ve been using my ONLY car to make a living delivering pizza. (Don’t call Nurse Ratchet just yet. It gets crazier.) My car is a 2006 Jeep Commander with the 4.7 liter V8. It has about 140k on the clock.
(Smile everyone! No matter how bad you think your life is...at least your not stuck delivering pizzas with a seven passenger suv!)
I turn it off as soon as I arrive at my delivery location to cut down on engine heat. I’d rather replace a starter than crack an exhaust manifold, overheat the cats, melt something.or wear the engine due to lower oil pressure as the car sits idle without air to help cool it.
I use Valvoline 5w30 full synthetic high mileage and change it every 3000 miles.
I am wondering, since most engine wear occurs on startup, is shutting it off for these brief periods of time (5 minutes but usually less) going to wear the motor more than just leaving it running.
I am thinking that in just a minute or two of being turned off the oil is not going to settle too much (like it does overnight) and that most engine parts should remain coated with oil. I’m thinking that using a high mileage oil with extra anti wear agents is also going to help reduce wear caused by these start/stop cycles.
I usually make over ten deliveries a shift and am on the road 5 to 7 hours a day. So the motor is going through at least 20 start/stop cycles every shift and could cut that in half if I left the car run.
I’d be looking at an engine idle time of an hour or so each shift (not including traffic lights) if I let it run.
Is it more beneficial to keep shutting it off or to start leaving it running?
Also any 4.7 liter advise? Mine has the revamped pcv system to help combat oil sludging. I keep it tuned, do the fluids, check tire pressure daily, buy top tier gas and occasional run a tank with Lucas “tune up in a bottle” to clean fuel injectors.
Would it be recommended to idle as you wait or turn off your car?
It depends on how long you need to be idling as well as the neighborhood you are in.
No joke, some neighborhoods I don’t risk the chance.
I was serious. In Philly, most neighbors are like that.
Let it idle and lock the doors.
Always, always, always.
Won't hurt a thing.
Hello Scotty,
I have a 2021 Honda Civic Sport Hatchback 1.5L turbo with a CVT and almost 19,000 miles. I use it for work as a delivery driver for a local food courier service (like DoorDash but only serves the local area). Other local delivery drivers recognize my car since I have aftermarket taillights, a vanity plate, and a roof-mounted delivery light provided by my work.
Anyway, another delivery driver asked me: "Why don't you leave your car on idle? You could save gas!"
And I'm thinking to myself: "How does that make sense?" I usually shut off the engine once I arrive at the restaurant. Sometimes, I'll have to pick up food from multiple restaurants, usually only one or two miles a part, before making my way to customers' houses.
If I let my car idle, the car would stay idle for 2 to 8 minutes, depending if the food is ready for pickup or not.
I'm afraid if I were to leave my car idle for too long, not only I'd waste gas but someone might be dubious enough to walk into my car and steal it since the Civic is one of the most stolen cars in America.
What's your insight on idling? Thanks!
hey Scotty, I use saw your video 'If You Let Your Car Idle You’re Stupid' I deliver food with ubereats and i have to go through drive-through a lot and/or come into the restaurants and wait. Can you give me some of your thoughts/tips for me to better take care of my car? In drive-throughs lines I usually stop and go within 2-minute intervals (5 to 15minute wait in total), is it better to not leave it on idle and turn off and on the vehicle instead? (i don't ever see anybody ever turning their car off in drive-through lines.)
On a side note, I also use the radio often, as well as the fans, and windows.
I drive a 2004 Toyota rav4 2wd and a 2007 honda crv awd
both are automatic and have 142000 miles, well taken care of, regular oil changes.
Thanks Scotty! I'm a fan!
Scotty, I was wondering which of these is worse for the car when waiting in line at drive thrus :
1) sitting with foot on the brake for long periods of time
2) putting the transmission in park every time I stop, then putting it in drive whenever the line moves, then back in park when line stops again so it’s a constant “drive, park, drive, park”
My Accord is a stick so I just pull up the e-brake.
My Prius is a hybrid so the engine turns off automatically when stopped. If it’s a long time, I’ll put it in park. It’s an ECVT transmission, so I’m not to concerned about switching back and forth.
Hi, wanted to find out is it better to idle your car for
Length periods or to start and turn it off, for example if you're doing deliveries, I usually turn off the car, because I'm afraid someone will drive off with it, it uses a regular key. Want to make sure I'm not wearing my engine faster.
Thank you for your responses
Hello Scotty, When I go for car wash, it takes at least 40 min to enter the car wash from the line (8 min wash multiplied by 5 cars in front of me). Should I idle the car? Or start forward and stop after each car goes forward? Which one is good for the engine/gas spending?
I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla with 150,000 miles, I do Uber eats delivery’s and and I do about 20 trips at a time. My question would be is it better leave the car running anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes at a time or is it better to turn it off and on each time I do a delivery? I am mainly saying which is more wear and tear on the engine I’m not really concerned about how much gas I’m using. I have seen Scotty’s video say it’s bad to turn on and off the car continuously and it’s bad to leave It idling also please help 😬
If you are not worried about it getting stolen, then definitely just let it idle.
Good morning guys, hope you guys are all doing well. I just have a general question here.
In the case of being a delivery driver, picking up and delivering orders frequently. Would it be recommended to idle as you wait or turn off your car? I understand from Scotty that if you idle for too long it’ll consume gas obviously, but at the same time I know he also mentioned that majority of wear and tear on a car is from startup. One doesn’t sound as awful as the other obviously and I think I know what the answer is. However, I just wanted to get other answers from you guys. What do you guys think? Frequently idling and losing gas or constant on and off?
Thanks for your time!
please use the search before creating a new topic. This was asked dozens of times before already. Thanks.