Engine Idling during cold weather--info cards?

[efusco]

For whatever reason I've noticed that people are leaving their cars idling more as the temps start to cool (it is no where near "cold" yet)...I've noticed it mostly at my kids' daycare where they're inside for 5-10 minutes to drop kids off and it's a fairly safe area (Church parking lot).

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows of any friendly, informative info cards that one can print off telling the negative things about idling one's car...how much CO2 is released annually, how much gas burned, etc. Something I could leave on people's car without upsetting anyone but rather informing them so they at least idle their car knowing the negatives.

[jayman]

Evan

Honestly, I think you're wasting your time. Most folks are simply too brain dead to even give a s***.

Yes, I understand this is frustrating, waste of resources, bad for environment, bad for the actual MOTOR, etc. Until strict anti-idle laws are passed, not going to happen

I was at a carwash last winter and this fool in a Dodge Ram Cummins pulled into the stall next to me. He left that thing idling and I was damn near getting gassed by it. SO I finally walked around to his stall and told him to turn it the f*** off.

The guy was a scrawny little thing. He claimed it was "bad" for the motor to turn it off. I told him it would be bad for his rectum if I shoved the wash wand up his ass and turned it on

He turned the motor off

jay

[FreshAir]

Jerry I like your persuasive attitude, rude as it may be perceived. Evan I think a line about personal $$$ cost at 10min/dayX5 daysX# of school days may be as persuasive as nebulous costs to the environment.

[efusco]

I realize it's probably a waste of time...but it'll make me feel better.
I take it nobody's seen anything online that covers this stuff....

[Fibb222]

I made a word doc for that purpose once. I'll try to find it if I get a chance....

[qbee42]

Evan, perhaps you could make some note-holders out of potatoes. If you get the correct size, they fit snugly in the end of an exhaust pipe. That way you don't have to worry about them blowing away in the wind, and there is a better than even chance that they will be noticed.

Tom

[SSimon]

Here's something a little more diplomatic than Tom's and Jay's approach....

Idling Your Car

There are sites that address the consequences more comprehensively however I think this sums things up well enough and anything longer than one page without bullet points would probably be ignored. I also think people will respond better to potential costs saved by them (i.e. fuel costs saved and avoiding damage to their car) than they would about CO2 and the link hits on those points.

Lots 'o luck. I, too, believe you're fighting an uphill battle but how very noble of you.

I just thought of something. I leave my car idle at times when running quickly into a store where I can keep an eye on it. Sometimes I'll be in there for about 10 minutes as well. I do this to keep the engine warm so that I don't revert back to that dreaded 25 MPG 5 minute segment when getting back in my car but does idling drain the battery to the extent that the ICE will have to recharge it thereby netting no benefit?

[Fibb222]

Originally Posted by Fibb222

I made a word doc for that purpose once. I'll try to find it if I get a chance....

no luck, couldn't find it. But this might help Idle Free BC | Resources

[JimN]

Originally Posted by SSimon

I just thought of something. I leave my car idle at times when running quickly into a store where I can keep an eye on it. Sometimes I'll be in there for about 10 minutes as well. I do this to keep the engine warm so that I don't revert back to that dreaded 25 MPG 5 minute segment when getting back in my car but does idling drain the battery to the extent that the ICE will have to recharge it thereby netting no benefit?

No. I do it all the time and the only ill effect I've noticed is that trips to the gas station are less frequent.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by SSimon

Here's something a little more diplomatic than Tom's and Jay's approach....

Idling Your Car

There are sites that address the consequences more comprehensively however I think this sums things up well enough and anything longer than one page without bullet points would probably be ignored. I also think people will respond better to potential costs saved by them (i.e. fuel costs saved and avoiding damage to their car) than they would about CO2 and the link hits on those points.

Lots 'o luck. I, too, believe you're fighting an uphill battle but how very noble of you.

I just thought of something. I leave my car idle at times when running quickly into a store where I can keep an eye on it. Sometimes I'll be in there for about 10 minutes as well. I do this to keep the engine warm so that I don't revert back to that dreaded 25 MPG 5 minute segment when getting back in my car but does idling drain the battery to the extent that the ICE will have to recharge it thereby netting no benefit?

Good link.