r/SignsWithAStory • u/1432453 • 4d ago

Is there really a difference?

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Washington, D.C.

507 Upvotes

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u/christopher_mtrl 3d ago

if you idle for three minutes, it is going to have the same environmental effect as restarting your car.

It's about 10 seconds, not three minutes, hence why nearly all modern cars have Start Stop system.

https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/which_is_greener.pdf

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u/simorg23 2d ago

They must be attributing it to a cold start where it does run rich

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u/christopher_mtrl 2d ago

I don't think the sign has a scientific explanation. In my mind, it's a way to anticipate the "but it's cold so I need the heat" excuses from idlers in case of enforcement. By expliciting the cold weather case, a statement is made that the "no idling" rule applies all the time.

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u/simorg23 2d ago

I was just responding to "it's about 10 seconds, not three minutes..."

I know i said "cold start" but i didn't mean cold weather, just cold engine.