# Should I cut the engine at the red lights to save gaz? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639 "2003-05-12T06:12:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/21 "2003-05-13T02:20:22Z")
I remember hearing that either in Switzerland or Germany, there are signs at some lights advising you to turn the engine off. Can anyone confirm or deny? I have to add, this thread was perhaps the most appropriate use of ‘YMMV’ I’ve seen 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/22 "2003-05-13T02:41:46Z")
Frank #2, did I understand you right? You mean that red lights never last more than 30 seconds before they turn green again? Wow, I want some of those here. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/23 "2003-05-13T03:21:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kristi \* > \*\*My pop has been a mechanic for many, many years, and he always says this is a no-no. However, I have noticed that if he is at a light, a drive-thru, or railroad crossing , he pops the car into neutral - he says this causes less stress on the engine than idling in gear. \*\* This is not uniformly true. Especially with a manual transmission car, where it’s going to make no difference whatsoever. You might save a tiny bit of wear on your clutch throwout bearing bu going to neutral. Other than that, no difference. I don’t know that it’s true at all with an automatic either. I guess if the idle is set by engine speed, rather than throttle position, then the engine might be under less load in neutral. Any benefit would be questionable. ---
**Author:** ![MajorTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MajorTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MajorTom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/24 "2003-05-13T03:56:12Z")
Just one more point. (plus I agree with all the reasons above for keeping it running) I have a 1987 full size Bronco with a 302 4 spd. At about 64,000 mi. the “check engine” light came on. Dealer said that the mileage was about right for it to automatically do so to prompt me to take it in to check all the emission components. I said "\>LINUI&:I:LO{)\*&%6"“whattaya mean about the right mileage?” Answer was that it’s based on the number of successful starts which would correspond to an average driver’s mileage. Kinda sounded to me like starts are more detrimental than mileage to these components, but I sure can’t see why they would be. Also look at it this way if buying used would you prefer 50,000 highway miles vs: 50,000 stop and go vs 50,000 stop, shut off start and go? A ballpoint pen is designed to extend and release the tip enough times to outlast the filler. If you sit there and click it, it won’t! ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/25 "2003-05-13T12:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hermann \* > \*\*Frank #2, did I understand you right? You mean that red lights never last more than 30 seconds before they turn green again? Wow, I want some of those here. \*\* In my experience, yes. Red lights rarely last for more than 30 seconds. It seems like an eternity when you’re sitting there but that’s the same effect as watching the microwave. Time seems to take forever. Next time you come to a red light, time it with your watch. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/26 "2003-05-13T13:03:01Z")
I have. On my route to work in the morning, there are 5 lights. The first three are about 30 seconds, true. Number 4 takes about half of “That’s the Name of the Game” by the Crystal Method, so that’s about 2:09. Number 5 takes as long as about a third of “Star Guitar” by the Chemical Brothers, so that’s about 2:10. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/27 "2003-05-13T13:42:10Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by_ **DarrenS** > I remember hearing that either in Switzerland or Germany, there are signs at some lights advising you to turn the engine off. Can anyone confirm or deny? In Germany, definitely. At some traffic lights (presumably the long-period ones) and also at a lot of railroad crossing barriers. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/28 "2003-05-13T14:04:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > \*\*I also seem to remember when I was in Switerland (Basil) Quite a few people would turn the vehilce off when they came to a red light. \*\* I _believe_ that this is a local law in the canton of Basel (note the spelling, it’s either Basel or Basle). I have heard it repeated several times, but not backed by any overly reliable sources. Can anyone confirm it? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639/29 "2003-05-13T23:01:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Popup \* > \*\*I _believe_ that this is a local law in the canton of Basel (note the spelling, it’s either Basel or Basle). I have heard it repeated several times, but not backed by any overly reliable sources. > > Can anyone confirm it? \*\* Well, My aunt lives in Buus right outside of Basel. Sorry for the error. She was the one who pointed it out that everyone turned their car off at red lights. Maybe I can dig up her e-mail addy and get a straight answer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-cut-the-engine-at-the-red-lights-to-save-gaz/174639.md?page=1)