Issue 40
February 12, 2004
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Any Questions?
Environment Canada's knowledgeable specialists answer questions about wildlife, air pollution, water, weather, climate change and other aspects of the environment.
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From an environmental perspective, when the temperature is extremely cold like -30 °C and below, is it better to idle the car to warm the engine before driving or warm the engine by driving? Is it good to use a block heater? Marc Ballard, Gatineau, Quebec
What are the environmental impacts associated with remote car starters? Lewis Poulin, Montreal, Quebec
When temperatures plummet there is a greater tendency to idle a vehicle engine to let it warm up. Normally, it is considered bad for the environment to allow a vehicle to idle because fuel consumption is increased as the engine is burning fuel but not moving, releasing greater emissions into the air.
However, the impact of cold weather on vehicle engines involves a number of issues. Letting the engine idle for a few minutes after a cold start up can reduce some exhaust emissions. By allowing the engine to warm up, it will use less fuel when operating at higher RPM and under load than when cold.
Researchers from the Environment Canada's Environmental Technology Centre have tested several vehicle models under cold conditions. After a cold start at -18 °C, a 1993 Buick Regal with a 3.8 V6 engine showed that when the engine was idled for five minutes and 10 minutes before putting the car in gear and driving, the regulated exhaust emissions of total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen were reduced over a simulated urban driving cycle.
In each condition, the vehicle had been parked in -18 °C temperature for at least 10 hours. Researchers also measured carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while the vehicle was idling. When the engine was left idling for a five minute period the CO2 increased by seven per cent for the total trip. This increased to 12 per cent with the 10 minute idle interval.
A second smaller vehicle, a 1996 Sunbird powered by a 2.2 litre engine was tested under the same conditions. It revealed increases in CO2 of 14 per cent after the five minute idle and 19 per cent after the 10 minute idle. The regulated exhaust emissions results were mixed with some emissions being increased and others decreased.
Finally, a sub compact car powered by a 1.3 litre engine was tested. The results indicated reductions in the regulated exhaust emissions but had CO2 increases of 14 per cent and 19 per cent respectively for the five and 10 minute idle periods.
Under colder temperatures, the impact on fuel consumption is greater as there is increased friction on all moving parts and more fuel will be required for combustion until the engine is warmed up. At extreme cold temperatures, idling the engine for a period of time is also important in order for the mechanical components to warm-up prior to subjecting them to the stresses related to normal driving.
Block Heaters
Block heaters are primarily used for starting purposes at colder temperatures and can greatly decrease the warmup time of the engine and the idling time that should be used. With the blockheater, less fuel is required to start the engine as the engine block is pre-warmed. Block heaters need only be on between 1 to 2 hours to be effective. When considering greenhouse gas emissions, the source of the electricity must be taken into account as coal or oil combustion power generation result in greater CO2 releases.
In a test program conducted by the Environmental Technology Centre, a vehicle sitting at -25 °C was warmed using a block heater for two hours and then driven over the simulated urban driving cycle. This resulted in a 25 per cent improvement in fuel consumption compared to cold-starting a vehicle and driving it over the same route.
Remote Starters
As idling a vehicle engine in cold weather for more than a few minutes will result in increases in greenhouse gases, the use of remote starters will, in the majority of cases, also lead to greater GHG emissions. Unfortunately, many people use a remote starter to warm-up the engine to the point where the car heater is warming up the interior of the vehicle and defrosting the windshield. On very cold days this could take upwards of 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon the age of the vehicle.
When possible, pre-warm your vehicle using a block heater and reduce your car idling to no more than 2 3 minutes. This is sufficient time to warm the engine and to ensure that the working components are not under stress. Of course, driving less or opting for public transit is the best way to reduce damaging GHG emissions.
Related Links:
Testing Vehicle Emissions in Canada
Transportation and the environment
Smog Fact Sheet
Reducing Smog
Issue Number and Date |
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Issue 70 November 16, 2006 |
Is there a difference between a species being threatened, at risk or endangered, or can these terms be used interchangeably? |
Issue 69 October 12, 2006 |
Does the weather affect the Northern Lights? Where and when is it best to view them? |
Issue 68 September 14, 2006 |
Can I plant a tree in fall? How do I prepare the young trees in my yard for winter? |
Issue 67 August 10, 2006 |
What costs more, driving on the highway with the air conditioning on or with the windows down? |
Issue 66 June 15, 2006 |
Who should I talk to about an Asian Long-horned Beetle I found? |
Issue 65 May 19, 2006 |
I found an injured bird in my backyard. Is there someone I can call to get help for the bird? |
Issue 64 April 12, 2006 |
When does the Greater Snow Goose hunting season begin? |
Issue 63 March 22, 2006 |
What is an Earthquake? |
Issue 62 February 16, 2006 |
How do I find out about recycling in my city? |
Issue 61 January 19, 2006 |
What is the sunrise and sunset time today? |
Issue 60 December 15, 2005 |
What do I need to export protected species and their products from Canada? |
Issue 59 November 17, 2005 |
How do I obtain historical weather data? |
Issue 58 October 13, 2005 |
How do you calculate oxygen production of a tree? |
Issue 57 September 15, 2005 |
What is probability of precipitation (POP)? |
Issue 56 August 11, 2005 |
How many tonnes of greenhouse gases are created by a forest fire per hectare? |
Issue 55 June 9, 2005 |
Do you have any CO2 emissions data of a Suzuki Aerio SX 2003 Fastback, manual transmission? |
Issue 54 May 13, 2005 |
What produces more carbon dioxide: driving a 13-year-old van or the manufacturing of a new vehicle?
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Issue 53 April 14, 2005 |
Does a campfire create as much pollution as a fireplace? |
Issue 52 March 10, 2005 |
Where can I find information on water usage? |
Issue 51 February 10, 2005 |
Are there any subsidies or rebates for a household that installs solar panels? |
Issue 50 January 13, 2005 |
Why was the tsunami in Southeast Asia so devastating? Is there anything I can do to help? |
Issue 49 December 9, 2004 |
How can polar ice melting increase the world's sea level? |
Issue 48 November 15, 2004 |
How do various light bulbs compare for energy efficiency? |
Issue 47 October 18, 2004 |
Where can I find information on carbon neutral conferencing? |
Issue 46 September 10, 2004 |
Why should people recycle? |
Issue 45 August 5, 2004 |
What are the environmental benefits to using cloth versus disposable diapers? What types of cloth diapers are available? |
Issue 44 June 3, 2004 |
What are the main causes of air pollution? |
Issue 43 May 7, 2004 |
How did the Zebra Mussel originally get into Lake Erie and why did they populate so quickly? |
Issue 42 April 16, 2004 |
What causes a tornado to form, how long does the average tornado last and how is it tracked? |
Issue 41 March 11, 2004 |
What causes the temperature to drop as the sun rises, commonly known as "sunrise sag"? Are there any environmental or scientific benefits to snow? |
Issue 40 February 12, 2004 |
When the temperature is extremely cold is it better to idle the car to warm the engine before driving or warm the engine by driving? |
Issue 39 January 15, 2004 |
Will climate change have an effect on storm systems such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards and hurricanes? |
Issue 38 December 4, 2003 |
Why are the salt trucks going out before the snow falls? |
Issue 37 November 13, 2003 |
Are electric solar panels an efficient and cost saving alternative for household use? |
Issue 36 October 9, 2003 |
How do pollutants enter our drinking water from a landfill site? |
Issue 35 September 11, 2003 |
Are there incentive programs in Canada to take older vehicles off the road? |
Issue 34 July 24, 2003 |
In the last 10 years, what natural disasters has Canada faced and at what cost? |
Issue 33 June 26, 2003 |
Are fluorescent bulbs that contain mercury more harmful to the environment and human health than incandescent bulbs? |
Issue 32 May 22, 2003 |
Is diesel fuel more or less polluting than regular gasoline? Do motorcycles and scooters emit more toxins than other combustion engine vehicles? |
Issue 31 April 24, 2003 |
I would like some information on lawn care products. |
Issue 30 March 20, 2003 |
What are future concerns about landfills? |
Issue 29 February 20, 2003 |
Which areas of Canada have the greatest number of species at risk? |
Issue 28 January 23, 2003 |
Is it true that using salt on roadways to prevent icing in the winter is bad for the environment? Are there alternatives? |
Issue 27 December 19, 2002 |
How much do I save in greenhouse gas emissions by not having a car? |
Issue 26 November 21, 2002 |
What does the recycling symbol stand for and what do the numbers inside the triangle represent? |
Issue 25 October 17, 2002 |
How do I buy good quality compact fluorescent light bulbs? Does turning them on and off every time one leaves the room shorten the life of the bulb? |
Issue 24 September 19, 2002 |
Why doesn't Canada get any hurricanes? What climate is associated with hurricanes? |
Issue 23 August 15, 2002 |
What guidelines or regulations does Canada have in place for the use of two-stroke engines? Will they be restricted for marine use? |
Issue 22 July 18, 2002 |
What are the major causes of water pollution and what is being done to prevent them? |
Issue 21 June 21, 2002 |
Is pressure-treated wood a good choice for fencing? What are the alternatives? Are the alternatives worth the fuss? |
Issue 20 May 21, 2002 |
What can be used to seal or paint a pressure-treated wooden play structure to make it safe? |
Issue 19 April 22, 2002 |
How does a rooftop garden improve air quality? How much air can a rooftop garden clean? |
Issue 18 March 21, 2002 |
What is a wetland and what good is a wetland? |
Issue 17 February 21, 2002 |
What is the difference between a sea and a lake? There are salt water lakes and fresh water seas and some lakes that are bigger than other seas. |
Issue 16 January 31, 2002 |
What do you do with old computers and the parts that are obsolete or just a few years old but lack the latest capabilities? |
Issue 15 December 19, 2001 |
Are plans available for building your own compost bin?
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Issue 14 November 30, 2001 |
How much does wearing a hat or tuque in the winter help prevent body heat loss? |
Issue 13 October 30, 2001 |
What are endangered species and how do they obtain their designation? |
Issue 12 August 27, 2001 |
Why not ban the sale of lead sinkers, jigs and shotshell altogether? |
Issue 11 July 25, 2001 |
How do hydroelectric plants affect the environment? |
Issue 10 June 27, 2001 |
Where would I be able to find an overview of the air, water and soil quality in different regions of Canada? |
Issue 09 June 4, 2001 |
Could you give me a historical picture of the air quality in Ontario, and include information on what is being done to clean up the air? |
Issue 08 May 18, 2001 |
Do you have any information on the effects of weather on human behaviour? |
Issue 07 May 1, 2001 |
How long does a cotton t-shirt take to decompose in a landfill? |
Issue 06 April 2, 2001 |
What is the procedure for cleaning up oil spills? |
Issue 05 March 19, 2001 |
Where do I get general info on landfills? How many are there in Canada? |
Issue 04 February 15, 2001 |
Does composting create greenhouse gases? How to calculate relative humidity. |
Issue 04 February 15, 2001 |
Can relative humidity be calculated if you have the Barometric pressure, elevation, temperature and dew point? |
Issue 03 January 29, 2001 |
What happens to confiscated endangered species products? |
Issue 03 January 29, 2001 |
What to do with your old appliances? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
How many trees does it take to convert the carbon dioxide produced by a car travelling 20 000 kilometers per year to oxygen? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
Which plants are the most efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
Do coniferous trees continue to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen or are they simply inactive during the winter months? |
Issue 02 January 15, 2001 |
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Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
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Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
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Issue 01 December 18, 2000 |
What is climate and how is it different from weather? |
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