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Leave Car on or Turn car off which is cheaper?

Is it cheaper to turn off a car if your waiting for 10 minutes or leave a car running for 10 minutes in terms of gas costs cause I belive a car takes up alittle more gas to start up then it does running in neutral.

9 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    for just ten minutes i don't think you would notice a big lot of fuel usage,if it was any at all it wouldn't be much,, we all know it would use a little more,,but not that much,,and if it,s hot out side,,id leave it running..good luck,,i hope this help,s,,and have a good labor day.

    Source(s): been a certified mechanic for 36 yrs.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Fuel injected engines use very little fuel at idle so you need to weigh if you want to risk the car being stolen against the gas it will burn and the wear on the starter to restart engine. I will venture to guess a three to four minute run will use about the same amount of gas as to restart so if you only leave it run for three minutes then you don't have the wear and tear on the starter.

    Newer starters are very durable. The one in my Jeep cherokee got started four or more times every day. I had it for five years, drove 110,000 miles and never replaced the starter.

    Okay, bottom line, three minutes leave it run. Longer than that shut it off. Don't leave it run where someone can steal it. Some insurance companies have a clause that excuses them if you leave the keys in the ignition.

  • 1 decade ago

    with gas at all time highs , turn the car off if you gonna be setting for 10 minutes

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Starters, Alternators and Batteries cost more money to repair and replace, so let the car idle at least 3-5 minutes.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Turn your car off if you're going to be more than 1 minute. So more than a minute...off.... quick stop... run

  • 1 decade ago

    I've heard starting your car uses 3min worth of idling petrol.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sell the car and ride the bus

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    you will do better if you will shut it off if you plan on sitting longer than a minute.

  • Lola76
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    turn it off

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