Starting a Car
During a cold start, particularly in colder climates, the engine benötigt additional fuel to overcome the increased resistance caused by cold oil and the need to bring the engine to its operating temperature. This typically results in higher fuel consumption than during normal running conditions. Depending on the engine size, it can take anywhere from 0.1 to 0.2 gallons (0.38 to 0.76 liters) of fuel to start a car.
Idling
On the other hand, idling refers to when a car's engine is running without the vehicle moving. While idling does consume fuel, it is generally less than what is needed for starting the car. Idling for about one minute typically consumes around 0.01 to 0.02 gallons (0.038 to 0.076 liters) of fuel, depending on the car's specifications.
Conclusion
Comparing the two, starting a car consumes significantly more fuel than idling for a few minutes. Therefore, it is generally not efficient to keep the car idling for extended periods instead of turning it off and then restarting when needed. However, in certain situations, such as extreme cold weather, idling for a short time may be necessary to warm up the engine and help reduce wear and tear on the vehicle's components.
