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Camping & Wilderness |  |
Parks & Conservation |
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Wildlife & Biodiversity |
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Monitoring the Environment |
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Education & Youth |
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Publications, Maps & Data |
Let's Clear the Air About Vehicle Exhaust
By learning the simple rules for running your vehicle, you'll help reduce the amount of smoke and pollutants going into the air we breathe. Your lungs, friends and wallet will thank you.
The Truth About Idling |
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More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel and produces more CO2 than turning off your engine and restarting it. |
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Even at temperatures as cold as -30 Celsius, modern vehicles need a maximum of 30 seconds of idle at start up. |
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If you idle for more than 30 seconds (except on really, really cold days when the oil is really thick), you may be doing more harm than good to your engine. Why? An idling engine isn't operating at its peak temperature, which means that fuel doesn't undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residues that can condense on cylinder walls, where they can contaminate oil and damage parts of the engine. |
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Idling warms only the engine - not the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission or tires. These parts also need to be warmed up, and the only way to do that is to drive the vehicle. |
How to Warm Up Your Vehicle |
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At temperatures above -30 warm the engine for a maximum of 30 seconds. In the time it takes to scrape your windows, your vehicle engine will be warm enough to drive. |
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At temperatures below -30 Celsius, warm the engine for a maximum of 3 minutes. |
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Make sure that windows are free from snow and properly defrosted before driving away! |
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Drive slowly for the first 5 Kilometers until the engine is warm. |
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Avoid using a remote car starter during warmer weather (above -10 Celsius). |
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Having a block heater, oil pan heater and a battery blanket ensures that the fluids in your vehicle are ready to go when you are. Installing a power saver cord to cycle the power to your block heater only when needed will save up to 60 percent of vehicle plug-in costs. |
Fuel Saving Tips |
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Avoid the drive-thru. Instead of idling in line for several minutes, save gas and pollute less by going inside for your order. |
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If you are driving around doing errands, turn off your engine for all stops longer than 10 seconds. |
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Walk, cycle, carpool or ride the bus, it’s good for you and the environment. |
Additional Resources
Contact Environmental Programs Environment Yukon Government of Yukon Box 2703 (V-8) Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Phone: 867-667-5683 Email: envprot@gov.yk.ca |
