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I'm sure this has been asked before, I just can't seem to find the thread where it was discussed. I want to know more about engine and transmission wear when you stop your engine. I stop my engine for trains and just started stopping for very long lights, but how much engine wear does that cause? I'm no mechanic and neither are my friends, but we have always heard it's hard on your car and not worth the FE gain. Anybody with more information on this?

I also tried turning off my engine when exiting the interstate and coasted with the engine off probably 45 seconds to the stop sign. What I FORGOT to do was check the odometer, it's a digital display, so I thought maybe it wasn't counting miles with the engine off. Is that not true?

Turning off at a stop causes some wear to the starter. It is not a lot of wear, and most starters are fairly inexpensive. Wayne has been P&Ging with his Accord and starting it with the starter every time with no problems. You also save the wear on the engine that would have occurred while idling. If you are going to be stopped more than 10 seconds, it is wise to turn off the engine.

The proper way to turn off the engine is to put it in neutral, turn the key back one notch (IG1) for 1 second or less (long enough that it won't restart) and then turn it back forward one notch (IG2, not all the way forward to start it). If you don't turn it back to run, not only will the odometer not work, the airbags and other safety features won't work as well. Your odometer will only lose the distance traveled while in IG1.

Kirk

I'm sure this has been asked before, I just can't seem to find the thread where it was discussed. I want to know more about engine and transmission wear when you stop your engine. I stop my engine for trains and just started stopping for very long lights, but how much engine wear does that cause? I'm no mechanic and neither are my friends, but we have always heard it's hard on your car and not worth the FE gain. Anybody with more information on this?

I just brought up the question here yesterday...

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12557

and got lots of great replies, most for shut off engine, one not. I decided to do the shut off thing today and have got great results.
I paid only 900 clams for my ride, so I don't have much to lose. If you have a newer car and are concerned, mabye ask a couple of mechanics you know, more opinions can't hurt!:)

Added wear on the starter motor would be difficult to quantify (until it says 'replace me'). However wear on the engine's moving parts is very easy to quantify, by used engine oil analysis. For a little money and effort you learn a lot about its condition. I recommend it for everything except the common cold.

DAS

I posted this topic in the hardware section a while back, but it might have some relevance here:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12157

For anyone concerned about mechanical wear almost anywhere in your vehicle, this stuff fits the bill. I continue to be very satisfied with their quality products.

BTW: I also agree with Tochatihu...UOAs are the way to go for definative answers about engine wear. Additives are more of a preventative measure.

For what it's worth, I drove a Honda Civic for 14 years, replacing it only when the body started falling apart. When it had around 140k miles, the starter went. I sent the bill to Honda and they covered it, stating the starter should have lasted longer.

When I'm done with the Toyota I'm driving, I'm returning to Honda.