Why you should not buy a car with a start-stop system
- April 6, 2023
- 0
The start-stop system, which turns off the engine at traffic lights, is already widespread: it can be found both on premium Germans and on some much cheaper cars.
The start-stop system, which turns off the engine at traffic lights, is already widespread: it can be found both on premium Germans and on some much cheaper cars. The owners are promised fuel efficiency, but you should not believe in the fairy tales of marketers. The AvtoVzglyad portal tells who really wins with the “useful” option.
At first glance, the start-stop algorithm is simple: during short stops, it turns off the engine, and when the driver releases the brake pedal or depresses the clutch, the device comes back to life. But in fact, with this option, engineers have seriously changed the design of power plants. Naturally, they became more expensive and all costs were passed on to the buyers. But back to technology.
During the operation of the car, the electronics control many parameters. In particular, the battery charge is analysed, the ambient temperature is measured and the crankshaft sensor is read. Since the number of launches is increasing dramatically, manufacturers use not a simple battery, which lands in a year under such conditions, but a helium battery. Of course, they charge much more for it, and it is impossible to save money.
Special lubrication is also necessary, because with frequent starting, the cylinder-piston group wears out much faster. The crankshaft actually rests on the liners every time, and this causes a reduction in friction pairs. For example, marketers from the Castrol company, which left Russia, calculated that the number of starts and stops of the “iron horse”, which belongs to the average car enthusiast, reaches 18,000 per year – that is, 50 times a day.
We like to believe that, because this is exactly what happens when driving into traffic jams. Of course, a special lubricant is more expensive. And filling the one that is cheaper will be an expensive repair. In some cases it will be necessary to purchase a contract engine altogether, as modern “hearts” are all aluminum and spray painted on the cylinder walls. All this does not allow to remove the scuffs and restore the performance of the device.
Let’s not forget that our people like to “escape” from a traffic jam and immediately accelerate. And here comes another nuance. Experts have calculated that with the start-stop system turned on, the acceleration of even a compact passenger car up to 20 km / h deteriorates by 85%. That is, fuel consumption increases. Therefore, in actual use there is no benefit – only the cost increases.
And in summary, we note that only manufacturers of cars and components make money on “profitable” options. Well, and military, because engines on cars with a “start-stop” are more at risk of breakdowns.
An engine with a start-stop system is subjected to increased loads, so its resource is less than that of a conventional unit
Photo: Drive2.ru (GoodWill)
At first glance, the start-stop algorithm is simple: during short stops, it turns off the engine, and when the driver releases the brake pedal or depresses the clutch, the device comes back to life. But in fact, with this option, engineers have seriously changed the design of power plants. Naturally, they became more expensive and all costs were passed on to the buyers. But back to technology.
During the operation of the car, the electronics control many parameters. In particular, the battery charge is analysed, the ambient temperature is measured and the crankshaft sensor is read. Since the number of launches is increasing dramatically, manufacturers use not a simple battery, which lands in a year under such conditions, but a helium battery. Of course, they charge much more for it, and it is impossible to save money.
Special lubrication is also necessary, because with frequent starting, the cylinder-piston group wears out much faster. The crankshaft actually rests on the liners every time, and this causes a reduction in friction pairs. For example, marketers from the Castrol company, which left Russia, calculated that the number of starts and stops of the “iron horse”, which belongs to the average car enthusiast, reaches 18,000 per year – that is, 50 times a day.
We like to believe that, because this is exactly what happens when driving into traffic jams. Of course, a special lubricant is more expensive. And filling the one that is cheaper will be an expensive repair. In some cases it will be necessary to purchase a contract engine altogether, as modern “hearts” are all aluminum and spray painted on the cylinder walls. All this does not allow to remove the scuffs and restore the performance of the device.
Let’s not forget that our people like to “escape” from a traffic jam and immediately accelerate. And here comes another nuance. Experts have calculated that with the start-stop system turned on, the acceleration of even a compact passenger car up to 20 km / h deteriorates by 85%. That is, fuel consumption increases. Therefore, in actual use there is no benefit – only the cost increases.
And in summary, we note that only manufacturers of cars and components make money on “profitable” options. Well, and military, because engines on cars with a “start-stop” are more at risk of breakdowns.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
