Is Using Auto-Start-Stop Worth it?

[@normandlariviere8957]

Start stop feature is the best... At my shop we ve been replacing more starters and batterys since this feature came out , keep inventing OEs.

[@markstarmer3677]

Ha ha, I bet a lot of people like you take advantage of the eco loons. Fair play mate.

[@tahsin28]

It is actually the best feature no-sarcasm. But people ofc are dumb and can't it. More often then not they press the brake pedal too hard causing the idle stop to kick it. For short stops, or if U don't want the engine to stop, then don't smash the brake pedal.

[@AzamAli-ce7tt]

😂😂😂😂 well said sir 👌❤️😍😇🔥👌

[@electricman523]

@@markstarmer3677 They're not taking advantage of anyone - if you use this "feature", you'll be buying new starters sooner than you would without it.

[@tedstriker4278]

Sounds legit, I disabled this feature and my first battery is still good after many many years.

[@lanierosenberg]

Turing off this feature is just an automatic part of our car driving routine. I don't even think about it.

[@1wheeldrive751]

There are companies that make little modules that “remember” the state of the ESS disable switch so that you don’t have to remember to turn it off every time you start up your car. They go for around $100, typically, but it was well worth it for my Jeep.

[@FordRangerClassics]

I've been putting it off because I just got into the habit. Probably Once every 2 months I'll forget initially ​@@1wheeldrive751

[@jpdunn42]

I got two such devices. A bit tricky to install on Honda, but makes life easier

[@marlinlee]

@@1wheeldrive751On some vehicles such as my Jeep Wrangler if you disconnect a switch under the hood it disables the auto stop/start. It does give an error message and then leaves a small easily ignored icon on the dash but it is free. There plenty of videos on KZbin showing which switch to disable.

[@jamesc37]

Same. MB has an option to turn it off as part of your set up

[@hughjass1044]

I would also add that it negatively affects the cooling and lubrication systems which also lead to premature engine wear.

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

Yes, when you re-start the engine, it momentarily has no oil pressure for a few revolutions. This can add up to premature wear, especially on bearings.

[@piratepete4322]

It’s a superb way to wear out your engine quicker.

[@markstarmer3677]

The first thing I turn off when I start the car or van.

[@dickseevens8099]

Part of my car routine to switch it off

[@ianhillman4007]

There should be a way of permanently disabling this annoying feature rather than having to turn it off every time you get in your car. 🤬🤬🤬

[@alanmandragorian1776]

There are aftermarket plug ins you can install that bypass it

[@lrn_news9171]

So difficult to press a button

[@ianhillman4007]

@@lrn_news9171 not difficult... Just Annoying. Like you.

[@alexgolovchenko3791]

It wears out your starter prematurely and loads the engine on the street with zero oil pressure. It's a dealer option that benefits THEM only.

[@salsamancer]

It doesn't benefit the dealer it's for the auto maker to squeeze a few more percent points on the economy regulations tests. That's why you can't permanently disable it

[@Milesco]

​@@salsamancer It benefits the dealer because of all the money they make on repairs! 💰

[@garykeith1048]

@@salsamancer You can disable anything if you use your wits. No guts, no glory, stick it to the man.

[@AmigaA-or2hj]

I turn it off. Money saved will go to a new starter motor…………..

[@Richard_L_Y]

and engine...

[@Luke.Skywodka]

@rustirab3465 On my Toyota Auris (EU) i put a simple one battery in at replacement. It works fine, i switch that shit to off all time i drive. No need for a special battery, but mine is 09. Perhaps they got strikt with newer models, i don't know.

[@TRPGpilot]

Uses the starter generator motor and the hybrid battery. Japanese vehicle though

[@msorge74]

I hate auto start stop so much, I bought an EV.

[@ONLY1KUDWE]

😂👍

[@royster3345]

First thing I switch off after starting the car. Got fed up with the engine stopping just as I wanted to pull away into a traffic gap.

[@tahsin28]

Learn to use it, don't press the pedal so hard when U don't need to. Learn foot control, ur fault.

[@royster3345]

@@tahsin28 Tell my car that, any brake pressure engages stop start, I'll use it when in traffic, but other than that it stays switched off.

[@tahsin28]

@@royster3345 I see

[@electricman523]

My '70 Chevy C20 with 402 and granny gear will push you out of the way!

[@EduardSLVRU]

@@tahsin28why would you need to fiddling with brake pedal, if simply turn that shit off and use brakes as normal. Also there’s nothing to learn about how to hold a brake pedal if you using this feature. It’s a car not a truck.

[@veredictum4503]

I'm not a mechanic and I also figured out labour + starter motor will cost more than fuel. This technology was put in when fuel prices were high. But all your other tips on fuel saving - even better!

[@MikeMDs]

smart!

[@robertbarth-m3z]

How to save gas? Dont drive if you dont want to spend money for gas. To hell with emission bullshit.

[@colinschmitz8297]

I save tons of money every year by not owning a BMW. 😜

[@chrisjarvis4449]

bmw brake my windows , bite my weenie , brake my wallet

[@yashvintackoory2893]

You have the option to disable it. We dont use it in ours since we bought it. The honest dealer also warned us not to use it.

[@chrisjarvis4449]

@@chuck7432 so that makes it a good thing ? that's right up there with saying the whole world is gay so why not !

[@avasolaris1]

@@chrisjarvis4449 silly boy

[@chrisjarvis4449]

@@avasolaris1 well i got that going for me

[@normg2242]

Some taxicabs tend to have astronomic mileage numbers on their engines, 2, 3 or more million kms. The secret? The engine keeps running continuously all day...!

[@ismaelaviles932]

you are so right,I own a 2017 Mini Cooper that I bought new with auto-start-stop, I have never ever use that technology for the same reason you just explain,thank you for verifying my way of thinking at the time and thank you for your Videos

[@MikeMDs]

Thanks for sharing

[@davidmann4533]

Unfortunately mini Cooper is a piece of junk

[@alanchantiefighterskuanlia627]

​agree. 7 yrs and junk it. Comes With permanent sealed gearbox u can't service or repair.

[@davidbeazley1958]

Thanks for explaining confirmation bias so perfectly.

[@t_c5266]

If you wanted reliable, mini was already the wrong choice

[@nathanbrady8529]

Older vehicles were made to be reliable. Newer vehicles are made to be profitable.

[@MikeMDs]

Well said

[@jerryfacts9749]

When speaking with one of the tech people where I have my vehicle serviced the man told me the auto start/stop puts excessive wear on the starter, crank bearings, Bendex gear (the gear that comes in contact with the flywheel gear for starting), battery, alternator, cam shaft bearings, and so-on. When an engine is stopped the oil pressure drops to zero. When you are in this engine stop mode and stopped and shut down, as soon as you touch the gas pedal to move the engine is under load faster than the oil pressure can build up. This is what wears the engine bearings faster. The idea of synthetic oil being used is supposed to help because synthetic oil does not run off of surfaces as fast and the natural mineral based oil. I was told that after the vehicle is out of warranty, they are seeing a lot more vehicles having expensive repairs to be done when the auto stop/start function has been used often. The damages done from this feature are more costly to service than someone can save in fuel cost. In fact when an engine is restarted it uses an extra shot of fuel from the injectors, and also puts out a larger burst of exhaust emissions. In the long run it is more expensive to use this crazy feature than to not use it. In some models of vehicles it is possible to turn off or disable this feature in the menu setup of the vehicle. In my vehicle I see the prompt in the menu preferences for Fuel Economy. When I turn it off there is no difference. The affect is temporary and must be disabled after I restart the vehicle. There is also a switch on the console to disable the feature. If the vehicle is shut down, this feature is reset. I have to remember to turn it off each time I re-start the vehicle engine. The dealer service tech told me it is possible to hack the vehicle software to disable this feature completely, but it is illegal for him to do so. He will not do it. They had warnings about this. On line it is possible to by some add-on devices that can be connected to the vehicle's control system that will disable this feature. If the vehicle is under warranty it is not advised to connect non authorized devices to the vehicle's control system. In some locations this add-on is illegal to use. There are also hacks that can be found on line about how to disable this dreaded feature. These hacks may product other issues and may affect warranty of the vehicle.

[@timradde4328]

So true. It benefits you in no way.

[@RayleighCriterion]

@@chrislee6650 Many oil filter cartridges also have a check valves to prevent oil from falling back down into the sump. If someone were to check their oil level immediately after shutting off the engine, they will find that they might be low on oil, but once the engine sits for 30 minutes then the oil level will be back to normal.

[@stefanieb9307]

@@chrislee6650 Wrong on all counts. It is surprising how this green BS gets circulated as some sort of fact. Slipper bearings rely on oil pressure not just a 'film of oil.' Obviously you have never worked on engines and/or slept though your engineering classes. Loose your pressure you loose your bearings and journals. That does not mean an engine cannot run without oil or oil pressure. Because they do! And can even run for a longer without any oil then most people expect; withstanding several drives and start - ups. Or they can seize up right away. But the damage is done. Most all electronic oil pumps are electronically variable oil pumps and are driven by engine rotation. They are not electric driven pumps. They only work when engine is rotated and do not circulate oil when the engine is not rotated. Start/stop system was first put into production to meet fuel economy targets. Toyota did it in the 1970's for fuel economy and the sales point was fuel economy. Volkswagen followed suit in 80's again for European fuel standards. Honda stepped it up in the late 90's when the much more efficient insight couldn't sell because it was ugly and a manual transmission. CO2 had not been measured by the government and auto standards for corporate CO2 have not been developed when when start stop had been developed. It was fuel economy.

[@johncmitchell4941]

@@chrislee6650 Crank & rod bearings run on oil pressure vs just lubrication (also some cooling) of the other components as you said. Low oil pressure results from wear in their bearings over time/miles and clearances open up. btw, Crankshaft main bearing oil passages are drilled to put oil into the space ahead of the point of peak contact. At GM 30^ is typical. RIP Flint Powertrain North, our Factory 36, and our 3800 engine.

​@@chrislee6650 It sort of is there to save fuel, as CO2 emissions are in direct proportion to the amount of fuel used.

[@danielcabrera-z3v]

auto stop/start sucks balls , wearing all my engine componets , Thank you for the video

[@mr.bianchirider8126]

What are componets ? Misspelling a word or poor punctuation defeats any argument.

[@Abitibidoug]

If I had a car with this feature, I would disable it after every start up. This is where the Ockham's Razor idea comes into play where the simplest idea is the best. For brief stops I leave my engine running, but I do shut the engine off for longer periods like waiting for a freight train to go by or waiting for a car ferry. He also mentions slowing down on the highway. I've found that makes a respectable difference in gas mileage and is easier on your tires also. Again, simplest is best.

[@christophersommers5735]

Mechanics told us to shut it off as the starters wear out.

[@mtlfpv]

It's basically muscle memory to press the disable auto start stop button after starting the car now.

[@joedennehy386]

I paid a couple of hundred bucks and deleted it from the cars software

[@user-zu5do6ri6r]

It costs that much to hit delete?

[@princesunnyboy]

Sitting in your car very hot weather, and the car shuts down while you were enjoying the AC, technology like that is not for me.

[@ShoehornBundy]

Can't roll the windows down either.

[@princesunnyboy]

@@ShoehornBundy Exactly, it’s really not a smart invention, let’s say if a battery is on the weak side you might end up stuck in traffic.

[@akamehi]

Don't get me wrong, I hate Start/Stop and have it completely disabled on my car, but you're aware that the car loses no function in the "Off" state during a Start/Stop cycle, right? No loss of A/C, heated seats, heated mirrors, electronics or anything for that matter. It's just the engine that turns off for a while. There's a reason for which engineers are engineers and you're not one of them.

[@princesunnyboy]

@@akamehi I understand you, seems like you don’t know that the engine turns the AC compressor, how did you reach to the point telling me that I’m not an engineer, i never claimed to be one, but I’m capable enough of knowing a stupid invention when I see one.

[@johnehlert4366]

How does the A/C compressor run with the engine turned off?​@@akamehi

[@sanchezking6188]

It’s definitely worth it for dealers. OEM replacement parts aren’t cheap and start/stop-equipped cars will need about 5 of them sooner than later.

[@JenGM24]

I can just imagine the amount of wear and tear that causes in the engine.

[@CarpeUniversum]

Aside from all the mechanical Concerns...I drive. A lot. 500 miles a week or so. There have been at least a few instances over the years where being able to suddenly move my car from a stop has been extremely beneficial. Getting away from threats, dodging runaway cars, shopping carts, etc. In at least 2 of those situations, having to wait the extra second and a half for my car to actually drive again would have changed my life. I want my car to do EXACTLY what I expect it to, EXACTLY when I ask it to. Anything else is dangerous.

[@EastCoastScott]

My buddy owns an alternator and starter shop and he says since this stuff came out, business is booming even more so than it was prior. Starters are the main thing he does more so than alternators though.

[@brycejames8770]

We have a Mazda 3, when our battery was dropping in power “three years old” the auto shutdown stopped working and our fuel economy improved. I disengage it when I drive it now.

[@Phantom-309-e9p]

Makes sense that fuel mileage would improve. It takes Les gas to idle the engine than it does to accelerate it from the 1 or 200 rpms the starter cranks it at to idle. One thing absent as well was a mention of increased bearing wear. I know engineers like to brag about today’s engines and today’s lubricants but until oil pressure reaches the point it keeps the metals separated, you’re putting the most wear on those surfaces they will get all day.

[@Taidaan]

@@Phantom-309-e9p I think the RPM math evens out around 8-10 seconds, i.e. 8-10 seconds of idle equals the RPM surge on startup. But AS/S kicks in immediately without any delay, causing unnecessary engine starts and defeating its own purpose.

[@thecomedyspot11]

Thank you, you've confirmed my suspicions. I got into the habit of turning it off in my Golf when I start up. The hesitation when needing to move quickly at an intersection was my greatest concern. I do put it on if stuck in a jam for an extended time.

[@billybassman21]

Ram Etorque uses the Etorque motor to restart the engine vs using the starter which is only for cold starts. Its very responsive and a much better system. The main reason I don't usually use it is because I live in Texas and when the engine shuts off the AC doesn't work. It won't use the stop/start if the cabin isn't at the set temperature, but it raises the humidity when the engine shuts off on cooler days

[@SD-hl5ed]

Such a well explained concept that few appreciate - can be coded out so the stop start remembers its last setting. Thanks for sharing I agree with the additional strain stop start does on the component wear. Keep it off if out of warranty best advice!!

[@MikeMDs]

Thanks for taking the time for such a genuine comment!

[@marcusnolte7476]

it can't be coded off in all cars though. Could be done in my mercedes c class (can even be saved by myself as individual drive mode). in my slightly newer VW it can't be permanently decoded (I went to a "specialist" with this, he could deactivate or even activate other functions though :-))

[@SD-hl5ed]

@@marcusnolte7476 appreciate that may be the case, but as far as BMW which was mentioned they can coded. But thanks for sharing as it clarifies for those unaware.

[@dj1111s]

I just talked to a friend who's wife drives a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The thing just gave them all kinds of warnings pointing to the start stop system. Instead of him trying to figure it out on his own they took it in to be repaired. Both the main battery and the one for the start stop had to be replaced. Just over a $700. bill. Makes me happy to drive my 2005 Caravan.

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

I daily drive a 2002 Mercury Cougar. The biggest fuel saving device it came equipped with was the manual transmission. The biggest fuel saving device I've installed is my right foot.

[@karrolsmulovic6596]

I always turn the system off, get more mpg and its not trashing the starter. As I have a double clutch semi auto I put it into neutral when I stop in traffic as that stops the clutch plates rubbing.

[@alankarsarai1847]

Definitely correct analysis. I suffered & learnt the bitter lesson. Our new car runs mostly in a densely crowded city like Delhi, India. Within one year the car's starter motor went down. And as you rightly pointed out the company's authorised service centre asked to leave that car for a week to diagnose fault & then discuss the next step. I decided to take a second opinion from a very trusted roadside mechanic. He confirmed it's the starter motor. So I took the chance & got aftermarket repair work done to the starter motor at a miniscule price. It's doing fine now. So my experience proves you right that car manufacturers earn far more from repairs later. Bottomline is it's good to deactivate Start-Stop function.

[@michaelpage8337]

This was fitted to the new buses in use locally and they were frequently breaking down due to a flat battery which hadn't enough time to recharge

[@bobbarker1476]

It’s a “feel good” feature for the earthy crunchies.

[@johncmitchell4941]

Mostly an upsell to buyers and a cookie to offer federal regulators. To all, "Look what we're doing now! Aren't you glad?"

[@Abitibidoug]

Using it is like winning the battle but losing the war.

[@BlueDroneBlues]

Earthy Crunchers are way ahead of that. They buy Hybrids! ❤

[@rulerofthemoon]

I’ve got a mini from 2015. I turned this feature off immediately because of the extra wear. Good call

[@ic08jy700]

Thanks, this has long been a bone of contention with me and although I hadn't built in the wear and tear aspects as you have, I always maintained it as an unnecessary drain on the battery and usually, a car uses more fuel on start up than left idling. I don't include cold engine start ups here, just start ups overall.

[@jamesgraham6122]

As for dropping the speed 10mph on a long drive.. that equates to me being 40 miles short of my destination after 4 hours of driving.. I'll stick to 'somewhere around' the speed limit.

[@3DJapan]

I don't have this function but I turn my engine off and on while I'm sitting through a long drive thru line and I often wonder if it's worse rather than better.

[@send2gl]

I'm in the UK and standard fitting on my Kia car. I turn mine off soon as I start up for reasons you outline, mind you, I don't do much traffic driving but even so I am mindful of starter motor and battery. Didn't really think of engine mounts but good point.

[@MervynPartin]

I think that you are absolutely right. I would not buy a new car now because I also think that auto start-stop does more harm than good. I do try to drive in a fuel saving manner in the ways that you described. Last year, I had a rental Mini Cooper (Alamo) during a vacation in Florida. That was my first experience of auto stop-start and I hated it. If I could have stopped it , I would have done so as it was a terrible driving experience. Unfortunately, there was no handbook with the car, so if it was possible to disable it, I do not know. All the new automatic features now being built into cars (at extra cost to the buyer who doesn't want them anyway) are making driving unpleasant. This year, I had a KIA Sorrento (Hertz) with lane assist which kept tugging on the steering wheel, even when I was trying to change lanes. Driving used to be much more relaxing when I was able to rent a Chrysler Neon, Chevrolet Impala and HHR, Nissan Sentra, Saturn or a Dodge Dart (my wife loved driving that one). All so simple, but nice.

[@philipgerry5228]

The largest expense in car ownership is depreciation. $1 per week in gas savings is peanuts,but extra repairs on starters and get expensive.

[@paulreid2223]

Your raft of tips at the end to get better mileage works - I've been doing them for the last decade and reaping the benefits !!!

[@MikeMDs]

nice!

[@sipet214]

It must be a maintenance mechanic who invented this feature.

[@danarussell4246]

I purchased 2 brand new cars last year and I eliminated any vehicle with this feature. Zero regrets and made sure I bought before it was installed in all vehicles. These are the last 2 vehicles I will ever buy.

[@sd906238]

We rented a Subaru that had this. Stop at a traffic light and wait and wait and wait the whole time the engine is running. The very second that I take my foot off of the brake the engine shuts off before I can step on the gas pedal. This didn't happen once, it happened at every stop light. It didn't save any gas. In fact it wasted more gas and caused more engine wear.

[@chargeriderepeat7024]

I turned it on in my wifes C3 it never works, checked the forums and there are that many sensors involved that quite often never kicks in for years.

[@kilroy987]

Some sources say the engine only does this when it's properly warmed up, and properly aligns things for the easiest restart. I still shut it off. I spoke to a Tuffy mechanic, and he said absolutely turn it off, it wears out your engine.

[@thecuss6817]

All our vehicles are too old to have this "feature". But it reminds me of an intelligent defrost function of our previous refrigerator, theoretically to save electricity used over the refrigerator lifetime instead of using a timered defrost. However, over the lifetime of the refrigerator, one needs to replace this advanced control module several times, negating any dollars savings of electricity; and if one needs a repairman for this, costs are significantly higher.

[@golfco4life]

I used a Subaru with this feature as a loaner once. It had 3000 miles on it and a little counter for the auto start feature that let you know how much fuel was saved over the life of the feature. It showed 1 gallon of gas was saved.

[@seanharrigan6365]

This creates a lot more wear and tear on the starter and other engine components. Give me an old school car every time.

[@jamesslick4790]

I had a car whose engine would often shut down at red lights. It was a 1972 Buick with 300K+ miles though....

[@richardspalding3622]

Thank you for your video my Granddaughter runs one of these cars very interesting

[@Nonplused]

On many domestic Chrysler products, there is a sensor on the negative battery terminal that you shouldn't unplug because it disables the start/stop function. If you do unplug it or forget to plug it in when changing the battery, the "start/stop unavailable" indicator light will come on every time you drive the car.

Sounds like the battery management system. Unplugging it will probably do a lot more than just disable start stop.

[@Nonplused]

So far no other effects that I've noticed, but I'll keep that in mind if I continue to forget to plug it back in.

[@joecirillo374]

Thanks for this information. I with there was a way to switch it off permanently on our Subaru Forester. I try to remember to switch it off with every time I drive it.

[@nigeldavey1043]

Had it on a Peugeot 3008 and it stopped working after eight weeks. Peugeot told me in an email that if you didn't do enough mileage to keep the battery fully charged it won't have enough power for the electronic features to operate correctly. After a further year of frustration I returned the car. I like pushbutton start/stop but the auto start/stop is a waste of money. Strange that despite their protestations and the physically miniscule battery fitted this was the only aspect of the electronics that underperformed. Ive owned two Peugeots about thirty years apart , a 307 and the 3008. Actually what I mostly drove when I had the 307 was a 205 diesel because the 307 was mostly in the dealership workshop. 🙄

[@dave3657]

I did have a loaner car with start/stop on it. Found it very annoying, but by putting it on sport mode disabled it. But I agree the start/stop does more harm than good.

[@paulmoffat9306]

Did not mention that cars on a start cycle, go fuel RICH and fast idle for a period, depending if the engine is at operating temperature. Gets worse in winter weather.

[@jerrypolverino6025]

It depends where you live, and what the traffic situation is like. In my case it doubles my milage. I checked and kept continuous records, very carefully. I have 256,000 miles on my vehicle. The savings in fuel easily pays for extra maintenance expenses. I drive daily and still have the same starter and battery. It also doubled my range. I fill up half as much.

[@MikeM-uz4yb]

I always turn mine off, I hate the way the transmission shudders when it turns off, and restarts to move forward.

[@bikeman123]

You've got bad engine mounts

[@lucasdog1]

My car bypasses this feature if you ease up on the break just before completely stopping, roll ahead a foot or so, then come to a stop. It continues to run after this.

[@tonygoochafanchi578]

This is the first thing we turn off, followed by the seat belt tightening feature.

[@rogerthat487]

Creeping up to an intersection 1 car at a time I'm next, engine shuts down at the critical moment ( it hadn't on the previous halts) then fires up and the car leaps ahead. Oh shit! Now I turn the damn thing off as part of start up routine

[@JettaRedIII]

On Mercedes, you can actually permanently disable the Start/Stop function through some simple code changes to the ECU. These are more "configuration" changes written to the ECU. The problem with Start/Stop is that when the engine stops, oil pressure drops, and the crankshaft comes to rest on its bearings. After a few moments, you have metal to metal contact. Starting up again is like starting the car in the morning -- the same amount of wear. And as you pointed out, the starter, alternator, and other components are starting "new". When you triple, quadruple, or more the frequency of those start events, you are significantly reducing the life of the engine, transmission, and connecting components. Start/Stop is just marketing propaganda to help manufacturers achieve fleet mileage mandates -- not benefit the consumer. Equally bad, if not worse, are the two-stage oil pumps that reduce oil pressure until certain high-demand conditions are met. Again, all to reduce fuel consumption, not to benefit the consumer. The amount of savings never approaches the cost of potential engine damage from these "tricks". Consider the effects of oil starvation on cylinder walls, pistons, camshafts, and high-pressure fuel pumps.

[@12345diehappy]

Kia Soul salesman turned it off when he pulled the car up, then lied to me and told me it didn't have the feature. Then tried to add a $2500 market adjustment so I walked. Then a month later I found the color I wanted for 900 under so I bought it sight unseen. When the salesman showed me the button to push to turn it off I was so pissed!

[@no1but24]

I bought out my lease on my 2020 F-150 right after I purchased a auto stop/start eliminator, now it’s off all the time regardless of how many times I start my truck.

[@m.newman7722]

I was given a loaner Mercedes Benz when my car was rear ended and in the auto body shop, with the start/stop feature. I found it very annoying and learned to disable the feature the moment I turned on the car. I would never buy a car with this feature included. I was told I had to disable the feature every time I started the car when initially turning it on. This was several years ago. I did not like driving the M.B.

[@keithsuggs7935]

My F-150 has it and as an experiment I have never turned off the AESS. It has been used in Europe for decades where fuel is MUCH more expensive. So far I've replaced the battery 1 time in 6 years and I have 350 idle hours on it. It's NEVER been disabled.

[@MikeMDs]

Thats great. And normal battery life for any vehicle these days really.

[@robertbercht9875]

Luckily on VW’s there’s a button on the centre console to turn it off. Some cars you have to go into the dashboard computer menu.

[@garyradtke3252]

One of the biggest savings in city or roads with a lot of stop lights is to watch the lights ahead and time yourself to make the light green instead of racing up and brake heavily dozens of times. Then need to use the extra fuel to accelerate from a dead stop. This also extends brake life and other components including the engine oil. On some roads, if you get the timing right, you can catch all of the following lights green if you maintain the right speed. I also believe the multi cylinder, 4,6,8, variable displacement engine or whatever buzz name it is given is a farce. I ran an unscientific test by tracking the fuel mileage for one month with it engaged and one month without it engaged. I actually got very slightly better mileage without it but that may have been do the slightly different weather and usage. My contention is so much of this gas saving stuff works fine and some good numbers can be produced in a sterile lab situation or the extreme effort to make it give good numbers out in the real world but in normal day to day driving it only increases the acceleration time when needed when needed quickly to avoid something or to merge into faster traffic without causing the traffic to pump their brakes or get rear ended.

[@tyler9703]

Putting the auto-start-stop button directly next to the starter button is PERFECT. I cannot believe some OEMs are baffling enough to bury it in the infotainment.

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

They really don't want you keeping the car past it's warranty. If you aren't buying new, they aren't making bank.

[@tmcclafferty]

I have a 2020 Subaru Outback with start stop feature I bought a wiring kit that turns it off all the time, I have no regrets

[@jamesburns2232]

I rented new a Jeep in St. Louis and then got in heavy traffic. The constant engine dying and then starting again to only move a couple feet in heavy traffic was highly annoying. I returned the Jeep to the rental agency and they said: "Everybody complains about it but we can't do anything. Just press the Circle A button every time you drive and turn it off."

[@snapon666]

best thing I ever added to a car the stop start bypass ..works perfectly

[@Luke.Skywodka]

As an Toyota Auris driver (EU), it's not saving anything. The 12V battery also wants to be charged again at ASS, and guess where the energy or electricity comes from. From the generator, which is powered by the combustion engine. Luckily there is a button to deactivate it, the one I use most in my car.

[@williamthethespian]

Great report. Thank you.

[@MikeMDs]

Thank you too!

[@keepgrindingup7661]

It helps the manufacturer's pad the city MPG statistics... when going from brake to gas there is a slight delay with all of these systems and it's downright dangerous

[@ehulbert5]

The first time I encounted a vehicle that shut down the engine at a stop (an uber ride) I thought was insane. i thought it was something that obviously would only benefit car dealers, manufacturers, and repair shops.

[@StephenMosley-db7gc]

I had a 2022 Jeep Compass and the starter went out at 22,000 miles. The dealer wanted to keep the vehicle for 3 weeks before they would run a diagnosis on it, something I could not do since it was the only vehicle I had. (They do not give out loaner vehicles). So I traded it for a truck and I turn the start switch off, so I won’t have that problem again!

[@jublywubly]

That's for the best. "Jeep" brand vehicles haven't been real Jeeps for many years, since the brand got sold to Chrysler and then on to some other company, a couple of years ago. Modern "Jeeps" are notorious for having issues.

[@flyboy4911]

Maybe if you drive in southern states, where the traffic lights take forever to change but in any other situation I can’t imagine it helps. Wear and tear, extra cost of the start stop tech can’t make up for the seconds of gas savings.

[@KC9UDX]

Everybody talks about the starter. Nobody talks about the oil getting cooked.

[@OrangeUp]

… and the turbo charger possibly…

[@KC9UDX]

@@Yumbutteredsausage I guess you never heard of heat soak. It's why the oil darkens over time, and why you don't turn your engine off when it''s warmed up if you plan on restarting it soon.

[@KC9UDX]

@@Yumbutteredsausage I'm not an engine.

[@KC9UDX]

@@Yumbutteredsausage by the way, it's pretty humorous when calling yourself a racer but don't know what a turbo timer is for

[@KC9UDX]

@@Yumbutteredsausage heat soak. When the engine isn't running, the engine cooling isn't running and it heats up. A turbo timer prevents a quick shut-off and does the opposite of start/stop. That way the oil cools and doesn't leave char in the turbo bearings. Those who race pigeons shouldn't ridicule those who know what they're talking about.

[@gearsofwar3xXx]

And to think we have hybrids that constantly stop and restart the engine and they routinely go 200k-300k (mostly Prius). Wonder how that happens.

[@BradThePitts]

I personally don't believe you can save 10% on fuel economy with the engine shutting off at stop lights. I have a Toyota Tacoma and ran the engine at idle to run my 400W outlet to power the bare necessities in my home after a storm. After 36 hours I still had a quarter tank of gas left. I'm no math expert but again, I can't believe that a car will save 10% on fuel by shutting off of the red lights.

[@gunnarlandin3258]

Some cars reverse the alternator to start the car with a super capacitor to unload the starter and battery.

[@milfordcivic6755]

I bought a new Ridgeline. First thing I did was install an Idlestopper. No worn starters and flywheels for me. I still get 24-26mpg

[@Salsa_Shark]

I always thought the hardest thing on a car was starting the engine, so let’s do it as many times as possible during any given drive 🤓

[@Mr10Alpine]

Short answer: No Long answer: Yes, with a 'but"...

[@robalexander7348]

I Agree with each thing you said, with my Subaru WRX cars each time i start my car i press the Stop Start feature to Off, it becomes a Automtic thing to do, you get used to it. I also check my tyre pressures each Week i do not rely on the TPMS dash readings, and most "Important" drive your cars with Respect 👍 Au

[@angelrogo]

At least on VW mild-hybrid cars, Start-Stop system can be temporary disabled. On these cars, the car start with the 48 V. battery, so the 12 V. battery is not continuously used and damaged on the Start-Stop system. Start-Stop is quite usefull driving on thr city, but I recommend deactivate it while driving on the highway because the risk to affect the turbo system after a sudden stop.

[@dennislarson4960]

An engine idling for a few minutes creates virtually no wear on internals (or externals, like the alternator). Oil pressure is up, valve/cylinder lubrication is good, coolant is flowing, electrical charge is constant, no load on the engine... the damage caused to the engine and components by frequent restarts hugely offsets the minimal savings of fuel by shutting off. I guess it helps manufacturers meet the federal mileage standard ("in ideal situations"), which is all they care about. Building a vehicle which will go 200k miles with minimal repairs is not in their best interest (although it should be... I typically buy used vehicles with 100k miles on them, expected to get the next 100k with minor--but not major engine/transmission--repairs. If a manufacturer has a poor track record when the vehicle is new, I don't expect any better when it's older -- so I just skip over those.)

[@richarddragonetti2308]

Thank you for this I had no idea. I am disconnecting it immediately!

[@bellytripper-nh8ox]

replying to @richarddragonetti2308: i will finish your first sentence **FOR** you: "this would ruin my engine" Did I finish your sentence right?

​@@bellytripper-nh8oxdid I ask you to come on my comment and reply?

[@SquarePeg1]

Toyota counts the start/stops and turns on check engine light at a certain point for a new starter.

[@Giorg189]

This system is only used on vehicle test for the standardised consumption and emissions. By having the vehicle stationary and the engine turned off, they achieve better results on paper.

[@blackened872]

I find it funny that all these new cars always have some sort of recall issue shortly after any car should be out of warranty. They get you back to the dealer to “fix” the recall issue and then by some crazy chance you also have over a thousand dollars worth of repairs that need IMMEDIATE attention. And they always say, “I wouldn’t drive that out of here, but what do I know just been doing this all my life.” Then I leave and take the “list” to my mechanic and get it all fixed for less than half.

[@chrisbarnes2823]

Auto - stop - start is only a benefit for the auto manufacturers to bring down their corporate fuel efficiency. As for the owner, just disable it.

[@ashwatt2885]

I've a Fiat Doblo in Scotland and an oil filter which I change every second year is 50% more expensive for Fiats with the factory stop starting inbuilt, compared with a filter without stop starting !

[@adrianvasile4683]

I replaced the battery, a AGM type which costed me double the price of a normal battery, about $100 more. My distribution is a bit off because of so many starts. And my car has just 40000km.

[@Rapscallion2009]

I'd love a button on the wheel to use it manually. If I am stopped at lights I press it to stop the engine. If i'm only stopping briefly, i dont.

[@warrendarrah2555]

It is mainly done to cut emissions. Think of it in a large city.

[@carlosfernandes9798]

The 1st thing I do after starting the engine is to switch off the auto start function. In one car I rented in the US, at least the system was more "inteligent". After stoping, it would only reengage after reaching a certain speed (20 MPH?). This avoids start-stop when crawling in the trafic.

[@johncollins392]

As I have always believed!,especially in heavy traffic!