Page 88 - FTL Driver Training Manual

F R E I G H T T R A N S P O R T L T D ( F T L ) D R I V E R T R A I N I N G M A N U A L V E R S I O N 2
33 Vehicle Idling

• An engine that is burning fuel without performing
work is idling. Sitting in traffic, picking up or dropping
off passengers, warming up your lorry or engine are
all examples of idling. Idling is inefficient because it
burns fuel needlessly. In addition, idling puts wear
and tear on an engine and contributes to air
pollution-related health effects and climate change.

• Idling is especially significant with diesel-powered trucks, buses and off-road
equipment. Whilst emission standards are now very high, they tend to idle more due
to the way they are used. School buses are a special concern because the emissions
can be harmful to children whose respiratory systems are not fully developed.

33.1 Idle Facts?

a) Thirty seconds of idling can use more fuel than
turning off the engine and restarting it.
b) Idling equals zero miles per gallon. An idling
vehicle is the most inefficient vehicle on the road.
c) Idling is not an effective way of warming up engines. The best way to warm up an
engine is to drive it.
d) Depending on engine size, one hour of idling can burn a half to a full gallon of fuel.
e) Consuming less fuel by not idling helps to reduce the need to import oil to meet
demands. Saving gasoline or diesel represents conservation of a non-renewable
natural resource.

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