Idle the engine

[DaveH23]

Reading through the handbook for my mazda 3 MPS and it explains how to start the engine in 6 steps.

The 6th and final step reads:

"After starting the engine, let it idle for about 10 seconds (prohibited in Germany)."

Can anybody explain the prohibited in Germany bit?

[RealSquirrels]

You're not allowed to sit in your car with the engine running if you aren't driving somewhere.

[Laurel Green]

Article said:

Section 30 of the StVO (German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations)
states:
“When operating a vehicle it is forbidden to produce
undue noise and avoidable air pollution from exhaust
fumes. Especially prohibited is the unnecessary idling
of engines.”
According to the LImSchG (Federal Immission
Control Act) and the StVO it is against the law to
wilfully and knowingly violate these paragraphs.
Violation can result in a heavy fine.

[Matt UK]

In Germany it is prohibited, ie against the law to have the engine running whilst in the car and not driving.

[DaveH23]

Everyday is a school day.

[Ozzie Osmond]

DaveH23 said:

"After starting the engine, let it idle for about 10 seconds."

An engine should be getting full oil pressure a lot quicker than 10 seconds but I guess it's an easy thing to write in a manual.

Maybe the German version should say,

• Get in
• Start engine
• Put on seat belt
• Drive

[plus5dB]

So you're allowed to scream down the autobahn at max revs (in top gear) producing lots of emissions and noise, but idling at <1k revs is forbidden. I love it.

[GravelBen]

plus5dB said:

So you're allowed to scream down the autobahn at max revs (in top gear) producing lots of emissions and noise, but idling at <1k revs is forbidden. I love it.

You're getting a lot more mpg from maxing out top gear than idling on the spot!

[ging84]

that is fking stupid

how can it be illegal to run the engine for the amount of time the manufacturer recommends before setting off

[McSam]

ging84 said:

that is fking stupid

how can it be illegal to run the engine for the amount of time the manufacturer recommends before setting off

So if I were a manufacturer and wrote in the manual that on cold mornings, you should start the car, then leave it running for five minutes while you go back in and do your hair, British law would be "fking stupid" for saying that was prohibited?

What an odd viewpoint. Why should a manufacturer's recommendation automatically be legal in whatever country it fancies selling to?!

[steveo3002]

whats the deal with pulling out of junctions etc? 10 secs sounds a bit sharp

[ging84]

reading the law quote
it says more or less the same as the UK law, it's a ban on unnecessary engine idling
are the manufacturer saying, the 10 seconds they tell you to idle it for, are unnecessary ?
why mention it at all?
they could be there all day listing unnecessary things to do before setting off.
Check your nose hair, polish the gear knob, check the wind direction, smell your own breath, take any loose change out of your pockets. I'm sure if i thought really hard i could think of more things that you don't need to do before setting off, or i could just watch my gf set off for work

[Riley Blue]

Matt UK said:

In Germany it is prohibited, ie against the law to have the engine running whilst in the car and not driving.

Traffic jams excluded presumably or are you obliged to switch off?

[McWigglebum4th]

God can you imagine that law in the UK

Officer steps into the road and orders you to halt

Counts to ten while walking towards your car

£100 (plus victim surcharge) and 3 points as he can hear your engine running

[ging84]

we already have a very similar law
it's a stationary idling offence
a £20 non endorsable fixed penalty

[Matt UK]

Riley Blue said:

Matt UK said:

In Germany it is prohibited, ie against the law to have the engine running whilst in the car and not driving.

Traffic jams excluded presumably or are you obliged to switch off?

Not sure of the detail there. but I do know that in winter German cabbies at the airport are always cold and really pleased a fair allows them to warm up!

[Badgerboy]

Surely most people simply ignore it? The ring car park is full of cars idling after a lap to cool down!

[Riley Blue]

Matt UK said:

Riley Blue said:

Matt UK said:

In Germany it is prohibited, ie against the law to have the engine running whilst in the car and not driving.

Traffic jams excluded presumably or are you obliged to switch off?

Not sure of the detail there. but I do know that in winter German cabbies at the airport are always cold and really pleased a fair allows them to warm up!

Years ago, probably 20 or more, whilst driving through Frankfurt you were required to turn your engine off when waiting at traffic lights. They had a count down lights to indicate when they would turn green so you could re-start just before moving off.

[GAjon]

So how do you defrost your car in winter?

[danjama]

steveo3002 said:

sounds fair enough i spose , they dont want to be gassing anyone

Very subtle!