You HOLD THE KEY—
REDUCE POLLUTION
AND SAVE MONEY
WHAT You SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
TRUCK AND Bus ENGINE IDLING
HAT CAN
YOU DO?
Turn off your
engine when your
vehicle is not in
motion and you will:
Save money
Use less fuel
Reduce engine wear
Follow the
New Hampshire
anti-idling rule
Use proven
technologies
such as:
Electric engine
heaters to minimize
warm-uptime
Auxiliary power
units to provide
electric power
Diesel engines in trucks
and buses play an important
role in transport-
ing goods, ser-
vices, and people
nationwide. How-
ever, there is
growing concern
about the health
effects associ-
i ated with expo-
sure to diesel
exhaust.
Diesel exhaust affects every-
one, but people with heart or
lung disease, asthma or other
respiratory problems are most
sensitive to the small particles
in diesel exhaust. Fortunately,
new emission standards and
new technology are helping to
ensure that the cleaner
diesel engines of the future will
dramatically lower these
health risks.
If you drive a diesel vehicle,
the first thing you can do now
to save money and reduce
air pollution is stop idling.
Idling for extended periods of
time generates significant
amounts of diesel exhaust -
and air pollution. It also wastes
fuel, causes excessive engine
wear, and poses health risks
to everyone including drivers.
In New Hampshire, a state
regulation limits idling time.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
ANTI-IDLING RULE
New Hampshire rules (Env-A 1101.05 and Env-A 11.01.06)
prohibit idling of any diesel-powered motor vehicle for more
than five minutes when the temperature is above 32°F, or
15 minutes when the temperature is below 32°F, with the follow-
ing exceptions:
• When the temperature is below -10°F;
• When a diesel-powered motor vehicle is forced to remain
motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical
difficulties over which the operator has no control;
• When a diesel-powered motor vehicle is being used as an
emergency motor vehicle;
• When a diesel engine is providing power takeoff for
refrigeration, lift gate pumps or other auxiliary uses, or
supplying heat or air conditioning necessary for passenger
comfort in those vehicles intended for commercial passenger
transportation;
• When a diesel-powered motor vehicle is being operated by a
mechanic for maintenance or diagnostic purposes; or
• When a diesel-powered motor vehicle is being operated solely
to defrost a windshield.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED
WITH IDLING?
IDLING CAUSES POLLUTION
• Idling vehicles emit significant amounts of pollution
including: carbon dioxide (CO contributes to global
climate change); nitrogen oxides and volatile organic
compounds (NOx and VOCs contribute to the
formation of ozone smog); poisonous carbon monoxide;
and particulate matter (PM contributes to asthma, heart
disease, lung damage, and possibly cancer).
IDLING WASTES FUEL AND MONEY
AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE
ENGINE WEAR
• A typical truck burns about a gallon of diesel fuel for each
hour it idles. If a truck idles for 6 hours per day, operating
300 days a year, it would consume more than 1,800 gallons
of fuel per year-just idling. At $1.25 per gallon of diesel,
this would add over $2,250 to the truck's annual
operating cost.
• Running an engine at low speed (idling) causes twice
the wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular
speeds. The American Trucking Association estimates
that this can shorten the life of the engine and increase
maintenance costs by $2,000 per year.
• It is more fuel efficient to turn off your engine than to
idle. Fuel consumption during engine start-up is equal to
about 30 seconds of engine idling if the engine is within
normal operating temperature.
IDLING POSES HEALTH RISKS TO
EVERYONE INCLUDING DRIVERS
• While sitting in an idling vehicle, drivers are exposed to
the vehicle's pollution more so than when the vehicle is
in motion since there is no airflow to vent the emissions.
TIPS FOR DWNERS AND
OPERATORS OF DIESEL
VEHICLES
INITIAL STARTING/WARM-UP TIME
Most engine manufacturers recommend that newer engines
run for roughly 3-5 minutes before driving. In colder climates,
block heaters are a good alternative to excessive idling. They
plug into electrical outlets and help warm the engine to avoid
starting difficulties.
RESTARTING
Most newer diesel engines, when properly maintained, will
not have starting difficulties and do not need to idle for long
periods of time in order to restart. Older vehicles may have
more difficulty restarting, but don't assume new engines
should be operated like older ones. Check the manufacturer's
recommendations.
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PROBLEMS
ASSOCIATED
IDLING
fuel and money
excessive engine
air pollution
O Pollution from
idling poses health
risks to drivers
FUEL GELLING
In recent years, refiners have
worked to resolve the problem
of diesel fuel gelling. They have
created special winter blends
that better withstand colder
temperatures.
AUXILIARY
POWER UNITS
Installing a small generator,
or auxiliary power unit, that
provides heat, air conditioning,
and/or electrical power while
the vehicle is not in motion
can save up to 95 percent of
the fuel used during idling,
saving you money and creat-
ing less air pollution. Depend-
ing on the amount of time spent
idling each year the payback
on these devices can be one
to two years. For more infor-
mation about idle control tech-
nology, visit: www.epa.gov/
otaq/retrofit/idlingtech.htm.
NEW VEHICLES
When buying new equipment,
purchase engines already
equipped with devices that
minimize idling and warm-up
time automatically.
EXTRA TIPS FOR DWNERS
AND OPERATORS OF
DIESEL BUSES
PASSENGER COMFORT
Depending on the weather, many buses will maintain a comfort-
able interior temperature for a while without idling. However,
bus owners may want to consider installing auxiliary power units
to maintain comfortable interior temperatures without idling.
WAITING FOR PASSENGERS
In most cases, the three minutes of idling allowed under state
law is enough to ensure that passengers will be comfortable
when they reach their seats. Because many newer buses are
equipped with air conditioning and windows that do not
open, buses that do not have auxiliary power units must
run their engines at some
point to supply ventilation
and climate control. But out
of habit, some drivers leave
their vehicles running for
the entire waiting period.
It is better to shut the
engine down between drop
off and pick up times.
Letting an engine idle does
more damage to the engine
than starting and stopping.
Most engine manufacturers
recommend that newer
engines run for just 3-5
minutes before and after
driving.
Many buses will maintain
a comfortable interior
temperature for a while
without idling.
Visit our website at www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
EPA-901-F-04-004B
February 2004
y printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of
50% post consumer waste, using vegetable based inks
NEW HAMPSHIRE EDITION
REDUCE POLLUTION
AND SAVE MONEY
You HOLD THE KEY-
WHAT You SHOULD
KNOW ABOUT
TRUCKAND BUS
ENGINE IDLING
Environmental
Services
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
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