Start stop - Actually worthwhile, or pointless eco gimmick?
Discussion
Anybody used Mazda's new system? It doesn't use the starter but instead it knows which cyclinder currently is in the right phase of the cycle and simply ignites it with the spark plug. Meant to be a lot quicker.
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mazda said:
To restart the engine by combustion, the compression-stroke and expansion-stroke pistons need to be stopped at exactly the correct positions to create the right balance of air volumes. Mazda's i-stop ensures precise control over the piston positions during engine shutdown. With all the pistons stopped at the optimum positions, the system then identifies the initial cylinder for fuel injection. It injects fuel and ignites it to restart the engine. Even at extremely low rpm, cylinders are identified for sequential ignition, making the engine quickly pick up to idling speed.
http://www.mazda.com/technology/env/i-stop/i guess the starter is upgraded over a standard one, but rather than being used once in a trip it could be used hundreds of times
i wonder how much quicker you'd be replacing the starter in its life time, and how much that would cost in comparison to fuel savings. If you are then replacing it, you have to factor in the production costs in terms of pollution against the cost of leaving the engine running
Guess we'll find out in the next 5-10 years
i wonder how much quicker you'd be replacing the starter in its life time, and how much that would cost in comparison to fuel savings. If you are then replacing it, you have to factor in the production costs in terms of pollution against the cost of leaving the engine running
Guess we'll find out in the next 5-10 years
I wouldn't worry about the starter, arent we using electric motors to drive cars 100 percent of the time,I am sure they can develop one that is robust enough to keep starting the engine.
As a cyclist, start stop can be confusing, you hear a car stop and the engine is switched off and you then need to ponder whether its going to start back up, not a problem but takes a bit of getting used to.
As a cyclist, start stop can be confusing, you hear a car stop and the engine is switched off and you then need to ponder whether its going to start back up, not a problem but takes a bit of getting used to.
Chicane-UK said:
From what I read it was supposed to generate fuel savings if you were going to be stationary any more than a few seconds so, gets a thumbs up from me.
In my car when stationary the 'instant' mpg displays in g/h. From memory it's about 0.2g/h. I figure if I had stop-start and did a 20mile trip at 20mpg but was stationary for 20minutes I'd improve my mpg by about 1.4mpg and save <drum roll...........> 0.3 litres or about 39p.
That's not a lot but it adds up.
Its a bit of a bodge really isnt it, the manufacturers have had all the low hanging fruit off the economy tree and now they are after the little last bits, electric cars do this by default.
Saying that, VW did this in the nineties on a Golf called an Ecomatic, if you want one of those, hurry as there are only four left !
Saying that, VW did this in the nineties on a Golf called an Ecomatic, if you want one of those, hurry as there are only four left !
Apparently (so many of the info sites for travellers say, anyway) many Swiss drivers have always switched off at red traffic lights - a manual version of stop/start.
I certainly noticed it a few months ago when driving there - it felt almost wrong to turn off the tech in the Giulietta hire car I had.
I certainly noticed it a few months ago when driving there - it felt almost wrong to turn off the tech in the Giulietta hire car I had.
Kozy said:
Except I was asking a question?
Are you asking us if you were asking a question?As already said, if the type of driving you do would benefit from it, brilliant; if not, it's no different to not having it (and also as mentioned, it can be turned off). Reliability notwithstanding, I don't see a reason not to have it.
Had it on a manual, although being an Alfa it hardly ever worked so effectively switched itself off. On our Touareg auto it is brilliant, unobtrusive and really works. Its not the entire reason of course but we went from a 2005 Touareg with a 5-pot deisel to the 2010 V6, gained 70hp, lost half the road tax and gained 10 mpg (real world urban driving). I considering that staggering progress in 5 years. Since it works on brake pressure you soon learn how to avoid it coming in during crawling stop traffic. Fingers crossed on the long term starter costs.
TheInsanity1234 said:
garyhun said:
GetCarter said:
I have it in both my cars. There's a button to turn it off.
Same with mine. On short stop-start journeys I just turn it off so that the engine can warm up properly.
Shall report back!
2013 BMW 320d loan car I had for a while had it, I liked it! computer showed about an extra 30+ miles per tank saved whilst using it and in eco mode, so that's a noticeable saving.
However, said saving may be balanced out by the battery/starter motor additional costs? I hear they are fitted with beefier starts and batteries to handle it, which surely cost more to replace?
OP - Your issue with your mx-5: have you checked the earth strap at the rear of the car underneath? Mine was rotton and caused dodgy starting issues. Should be a feed from the battery through the boot floor to it.
However, said saving may be balanced out by the battery/starter motor additional costs? I hear they are fitted with beefier starts and batteries to handle it, which surely cost more to replace?
OP - Your issue with your mx-5: have you checked the earth strap at the rear of the car underneath? Mine was rotton and caused dodgy starting issues. Should be a feed from the battery through the boot floor to it.
The ones I have driven certainly didn't work in cold weather for a while until the engine was properly warm or if the battery needed some charge.
Most of the manual ones I've driven have been a bit meh tbh, just more to go wrong, can see the point but as we have a just over 1k value snotter runabout that could need almost £600 worth of instrument cluster one day soon I get a bit jaundiced over elderly electronics frankly.
The stop start system that absolutely bloody infuriated me was on a Audi A7 auto. Pull up to a roundabout, say, you have to stop because of the traffic but only for a second, engine stops. Lift foot off brake and it starts. Bit pointless.
However pull up to some red lights, engine stops, put on handbrake and lift off brake pedal to avoid dazzling the bod behind as it's dark, engine starts. Wtf! Ended up disabling it total pos.
Most of the manual ones I've driven have been a bit meh tbh, just more to go wrong, can see the point but as we have a just over 1k value snotter runabout that could need almost £600 worth of instrument cluster one day soon I get a bit jaundiced over elderly electronics frankly.
The stop start system that absolutely bloody infuriated me was on a Audi A7 auto. Pull up to a roundabout, say, you have to stop because of the traffic but only for a second, engine stops. Lift foot off brake and it starts. Bit pointless.
However pull up to some red lights, engine stops, put on handbrake and lift off brake pedal to avoid dazzling the bod behind as it's dark, engine starts. Wtf! Ended up disabling it total pos.
MrDan said:
Iv got it on my New Golf 7 R , I get the idea but to me its another thing to go wrong.
and in all honesty.. I bought a 300hp Hatchback, economy is not at the front of my mind... Its like having a ordering a diet coke with a supersize big mac meal
Some people prefer diet coke.and in all honesty.. I bought a 300hp Hatchback, economy is not at the front of my mind... Its like having a ordering a diet coke with a supersize big mac meal
My Golf 7R has it too. I don't really care about the economy, but I tend to leave it on because its nice to sit in peace and quiet.
That the 7R can change from a supersize big mac to a diet coke at the push of a couple of buttons is what makes it great (for me).
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