Why is My Engine Idling High?

High engine idling can be a big problem, especially for businesses that rely on many vehicles. At Skywonder Technology Company Limited, we’ve been in the business of making and selling GPS trackers for more than 12 years. Our office is in Shenzhen, China, and we help businesses in many countries, like Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Germany, and the USA. One common issue that we often hear about is high engine idling. This can waste fuel and increase costs. Let’s talk about why your car’s engine might be idling high and how you can fix it.

What is Engine Idling?

Engine idling is when your car’s engine is running, but the car isn’t moving. This usually happens when you’re waiting at a red light or parked with the engine on. Even though idling might seem like it’s not a big deal, it can cause problems if it happens too often. It wastes gas, wears out the engine, and creates pollution.

Why is High Engine Idling a Problem?

High engine idling is a big deal because it costs you money and is bad for the environment. Here’s why it’s important to fix it:

1. Wastes Fuel: When your car idles too high, it uses gas without going anywhere. This can make your fuel bills much higher over time. There are several reports around it: 

• The Argonne National Laboratory reports that idling personal and commercial vehicles in the U.S. consume 6 billion gallons of fuel each year, costing $20 billion.
• The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy states that “idling an engine for just 10 seconds uses more fuel than turning off and restarting the vehicle,” with the threshold extending up to 30 seconds for heavy-duty vehicles.

2. Wears Out Your Car: When your car idles a lot, it makes the engine parts wear out faster. This means you’ll need to spend more money fixing your car.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s study on OEM idling recommendations from vehicle owner’s manuals, indicate that “excessive idling can lead to engine wear and carbon soot buildup in the engine and its components.” You can download the report from here.

3. Lowers Productivity: If your car is idling, it’s not doing anything useful. Reducing idle time means your vehicles can do more work.
4. Costs You Money: If you fix high idling, you’ll save money on gas, car repairs, and your vehicles will be more productive.
5. Pollutes the Air: High idling adds more pollution to the air. If you reduce idling, you help keep the air cleaner.

Why is My Car Idling High?

There are a few reasons why your car’s engine might be idling high. Here are some common causes:

1. Vacuum Leaks: Your car’s engine needs the right mix of air and fuel to run properly. If there’s a leak, it can cause your engine to idle high.
2. Throttle Cable Issue: The throttle cable controls how much air gets into the engine. If it’s not adjusted correctly, it can make your car idle too high.
3. Idle Air Control Valve (IACV) Problem: The IACV helps control the engine’s idle speed. If it’s dirty or broken, it can make your car idle high.
4. Coolant Temperature Sensor Issue: This sensor tells your car’s computer how hot the engine is. If it’s not working right, it can cause high idling.
5. Too Much Carbon: Over time, carbon can build up in your engine and cause it to idle high.

How to Fix a High Idle on a Car?

Here are some simple steps to fix high idling:

1. Check for Leaks: Look at all the hoses in your engine to see if any are cracked or loose. If you find a leak, fix it right away.
2. Check the Air Filter: Make sure your air filter is clean. If it’s dirty, replace it.
3. Look at the Fuel System: Make sure the fuel injectors are clean and that the fuel pressure is right. Replace any clogged fuel filters.
4. Clean the IACV: Take off the IACV and clean it with a special cleaner. If it’s still not working, you may need to replace it.
5. Adjust Idle Speed: Sometimes, the idle speed just needs to be adjusted. You can use a tool to measure it and make sure it’s set correctly.

Is Idling Bad for Your Engine?

Yes, idling can be bad for your engine, especially if it happens a lot. It wastes gas, makes parts wear out faster, and can cause carbon buildup, which damages the engine. Even though modern engines can handle some idling, too much can still cause problems.

Extra Tips

• Pay attention to how your car idles after you start it. This can give you clues about what’s wrong.
• If you notice other issues, like rough idling or the engine stalling, it could help diagnose the problem.

Conclusion

High engine idling is not just a small problem; it can cost you a lot of money and hurt the environment. By fixing it, you can save money on gas and repairs and help keep the air cleaner.

At Skywonder, we help businesses manage their vehicles better with our GPS tracking systems. Our technology can help you track idling time, fuel use, and more. This can save you money and make your business run more smoothly.

Here’s how our GPS tracking devices and software can help you reduce idle time:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Monitor engine idling in real-time and catch excessive idling as it happens.
• Idle Time Alerts: Get notified instantly when a vehicle exceeds an idle time limit so you can act fast.
• Driver Behaviour Insights: Analyse driver habits with detailed reports on idling and identify patterns to train your drivers.
• Route Optimisation: Use our software to plan more efficient routes and reduce unnecessary stops and idling.
• Fuel Management: Monitor fuel consumption and idle time together to see how they impact your costs so you can make informed decisions.
• Custom Reports: Create custom reports to show idle time across your fleet so you can pinpoint problem areas and track progress over time.
• Driver Training Tools: Train your drivers on reducing idle time with our integrated training resources and get better driving behaviour.

By leveraging these features, you can significantly cut down on idle time, saving fuel, reducing maintenance costs, and improving overall fleet efficiency.

If you want to reduce idling and improve your bottom line, get in touch with us at Skywonder today!

FAQs

1: Why does my vehicle’s engine run at a higher-than-normal RPM?

It might be because of a vacuum leak or a problem with the IACV.

2: Is it normal for the engine to work hard in the cold?

Yes, but too much idling in cold weather can cause damage.

3: How do vacuum leaks contribute to great idle?

They can mess up the air-fuel mix, causing the engine to idle high.

4: What makes my engine work so hard when I start the car?

It could be a problem with the coolant temperature sensor or too much carbon buildup.

5: Can a dirty air filter cause high-speed idle?

Yes, a clogged air filter can restrict airflow and lead to higher idle speeds.

6: What’s the ideal idle speed for my engine?

The ideal idle speed is usually between 600 and 1000 RPM, depending on your vehicle. Check your owner’s manual or ask a mechanic to find the correct idle speed for your car.

7: Is it better to turn off the engine during long stops?

Yes, turning off the engine during long stops (like waiting in a parking lot or at a long red light) can save fuel and reduce wear on the engine.

At Skywonder, we’re not just experts in GPS tracking; we help you manage your fleet better. Let us help you take control of your vehicles today!