'idling offence' - Page 2

squealy · 28-11-2009, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Motorists who leave their cars running on frosty mornings to warm up the engine and clear the windscreen could face being fined under anti-pollution rules this winter.
whatever next

Yet another Daily Mail scaremongering story. Yes indeed, motorists could be fined for leaving their engines idling. Just as they could have been since 2002 when the law was introduced. But does anyone know of anybody (apart from taxi drivers, who the legislation is mainly aimed at) who's been fined for the offence in those seven years?

To be honest I'd be surprised if anyone even knew of a taxi driver who'd been fined for it.

Stuart · 28-11-2009, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

whatever next

The Mail taking speculation based upon a law that's been in force for 7 years and reporting it as fact?

AbyssUnderground · 28-11-2009, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

The worst thing you can do, especially for diesel engines is run straight from cold

Yup, you should leave it to idle for a good minute when it's very cold to allow the oil to circulate. Never rev a cold diesel hard as it wears them very very easily.

I have to be very careful myself this winter as I will be doing shorter than normal journeys, as my friend lives just a mile away who I visit most days.

Quote:

Also, if a car is idling for less than two or three minutes, it's actually more efficient to keep the engine on rather than switching it off and restarting it again.

I'd love to know how they worked that one out...

TheNorm · 28-11-2009, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbyssUnderground

... my friend lives just a mile away ...

Ever heard of Shank's pony? Very environmentally friendly.

28-11-2009, 23:00

Quote:

I'd love to know how they worked that one out..

.[/QUOTE]

thats because a cold engine can use 2-3 times as much fuel to start as it would idling

AbyssUnderground · 29-11-2009, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

Ever heard of Shank's pony? Very environmentally friendly.

Would you like to walk in the freezing cold and pouring rain if you have a car available? Doubt it

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

thats because a cold engine can use 2-3 times as much fuel to start as it would idling

Absolute rubbish. Yes a cold engine uses more fuel, but not that much more. A modern engine will use a little more fuel for just a few minutes when cold, then it returns to normal. It won't do it if the engine is already warm though.

My car being mechanical injection diesel won't use any more fuel cold as it does when warm. Modern common rail injection engines might though, but I highly doubt it with the level of computer calculations involved.

Gary L · 29-11-2009, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I always find the buggers are driving too fast to write down the number whilst I'm driving

When I'm bored and sitting behind one of them vans at the lights. I usually call it up and tell them how he's cutting up the traffic and everything

---------- Post added at 23:51 ---------- Previous post was at 23:47 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

Motorists who leave their cars running on frosty mornings to warm up the engine and clear the windscreen could face being fined under anti-pollution rules this winter.

Who's going to be doing the walking the streets and fining people? are these new job vacancies?

Pauls9 · 30-11-2009, 14:41

Are these the same people who will fine us when they catch us driving dangerously down the street unable to see through misted-up windows?

Or is that a different lot?

Stuart · 30-11-2009, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauls9

Are these the same people who will fine us when they catch us driving dangerously down the street unable to see through misted-up windows?

Or is that a different lot?

There *are* other ways of clearing your windows...

Pauls9 · 30-11-2009, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

There *are* other ways of clearing your windows...

Other than repeatedly wiping them with a demister cloth? It's a long reach to the rear side windows in some cars...

Stuart · 30-11-2009, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauls9

Other than repeatedly wiping them with a demister cloth? It's a long reach to the rear side windows in some cars...

Do you even need those windows clear when stationary? You certainly don't when parked.

Flyboy · 30-11-2009, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauls9

Other than repeatedly wiping them with a demister cloth? It's a long reach to the rear side windows in some cars...

And that's a reason for driving with windows which you can't see out of, because....?

Oh the hardship.......

Pauls9 · 30-11-2009, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Do you even need those windows clear when stationary? You certainly don't when parked.

I need clear windows to look over my shoulder to check that the blind spots are clear of traffic before moving off and to check over my shoulder for traffic on the main road when filtering onto it or when changing lanes on crowded roads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyboy

And that's a reason for driving with windows which you can't see out of, because....?

Oh the hardship.......

That's why IMHO it's safer to let the car warm up (enough for the windows to stay clear after I wipe them) before driving off.

Osem · 30-11-2009, 16:48

Oh dear, if 'idling' becomes an offence half our MP's and Lords will face prosecution....

Turkey Machine · 30-11-2009, 21:16

Oh FFS, if you don't know how to de-mist ya windows, you're doing something very very wrong. ALL cars by law have to have heating settings that can de-mist a window in around 60 seconds. Commonly, it involves turning the 2 or 3 heat switches on to a position where the icon is the heat arrows snaking towards the windscreen. If you can't see where your mirrors are, windows down, windows up usually works.