Is the automatic start-stop technology a fuel-saving tool or the culprit of destroying cars? Tested data speak

Is automatic start and stop a fuel-saving tool or the culprit of destroying a car? The actual test data of the senior sister + the blood and tears of the old driver, explain it clearly in one go!

This car is interesting!

Dear riders, today we will talk about a function that allows car owners to "love and hate" - automatic start and stop! Some people say it can save 2,000 yuan in fuel a year, while others complain that the battery is scrapped and repair costs are costly. Is this technology a "fuel-saving tool" or a "culprit of car destruction"? Senior sister, I searched through the laboratory reports and dismantled cases, and combined with 20 years of experience in my career, I told you all about it!

Is automatic start and stop a fuel-saving tool or the culprit of destroying a car? The actual test data of the senior sister + the blood and tears of the old driver, explain it clearly in one go!

This car is interesting!

Dear riders, today we will talk about a function that allows car owners to "love and hate" - automatic start and stop! Some people say it can save 2,000 yuan in fuel a year, while others complain that the battery is scrapped and repair costs are costly. Is this technology a "fuel-saving tool" or a "culprit of car destruction"? Senior sister, I searched through the laboratory reports and dismantled cases, and combined with 20 years of experience in my career, I told you all about it!

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1. It is true that fuel saving is true, but don’t be fooled by the “ideal value” of the car company

Laboratory data speaks: China Automobile Technology's actual test shows that automatic start and stop on congested roads can reduce fuel consumption by 8%-15% (Source: China Automobile Technology's 2024 Test Report). Taking a 1.5L family car as an example, wait for the red light to turn off the engine for 30 seconds, saving 0.3-0.5L fuel per hour. But be careful! There are two conditions that must meet the fuel efficiency:

1. The parking time is > 30 seconds (below 30 seconds, it will cost more fuel);

2. The air conditioner is not running at full capacity (after the engine is shut down, the compressor goes on strike, and wait for the red light to take a sauna in minutes in summer).

The "fuel-saving hallucination" of ordinary people: car companies promote "save 2,000 yuan a year" and is calculated based on the "ideal value" of 2 hours of traffic jam every day. In practice:

- Car owners in third- and fourth-tier cities: Save about 500 yuan per year;

- Early and evening peak people in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen: annual savings of 1,200-1,500 yuan (calculation formula: fuel saving = number of start and stop times × single fuel saving × oil price).

Senior sister’s key points: It’s true that fuel saving is true, but don’t expect to make a fortune with it. The money saved in first-tier cities is enough to exchange for half an AGM battery (1,500-3,000 yuan)!

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2. Destroy the car? The car in 2024 is already different from 10 years ago!

The rumors online that "start and stop hurt the engine" are actually using the old almanac to cover new technology.

The truth about engine wear:

- Cold start vs Hot start: Automatic start-stop is "hot start" (water temperature > 70℃), the engine oil has been fully lubricated, and the wear is only 1/10 of the cold start;

- Strengthened components: The life of the start-stop special start-up motor reaches 350,000 times, 5 times that of ordinary motors; with AGM batteries, the charging and discharging capacity doubles.

The 3-class car that really needs to be careful:

1. Old models before 2015 (low design standards, cannot withstand frequent start and stop);

2. Cheap models with turbocharged (insufficient heat dissipation, easy to overheat);

3. Cars that drive for a long time (inadequate charging of the battery will reduce the lifespan of half).

Senior sister suggests: Use it with confidence when buying a new car, and the manufacturer has already calculated the cost of the car price; but it is easier to manually close the domestic scooter within 100,000 yuan when traffic jams!

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3. Teach lessons from blood and tears! These 3 scenarios use start and stop = chronic car damage

Combined with the auto repair shop dismantling report and the car owner case, the following scenarios must be turned off and automatically started and stopped:

1. During heavy rainstorms, restart may turn the engine into a "pumper" (reference case: Hangzhou BMW X3 is overhauled in 2024, with a bill of 87,000);

2. Up and down the slope of the basement: The ramp starts and stops and causes the gear gear to rebound, and the wear accelerates by 300%;

3. Turn on the air conditioner and wait for more than 5 minutes: the battery is overloaded, the compressor goes on strike, and the car turns into an oven in seconds.

Life-saving operation: Press and hold the start and stop button (with the "A" mark) on rainy days, hang N gear when the slope is > 3%, and press the brake lightly for 30 seconds!

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4. Horizontal comparison: These brands' start and stop systems are the most resistant to manufacturing

According to JDPower 2024 China Vehicle Reliability Research + 200,000 kilometers of actual measured data:

- TOP3 of joint venture brands:

- Toyota THS-II system: start and stop > 120,000 times without faults, dual motors can resolve impact;

- Volkswagen EA888 Gen3B: Ceramic coated bearings reduce start wear by 80%;

- Honda i-MMD: Lithium battery packs last 3 years more than traditional batteries.

- Dark Horse of Independent Brands:

- BYD DM-i: Blade battery buffer, start and stop vibration reduction by 70%;

- Geely Thor Hybrid: Planetary Gear + Hydraulic Accumulator, Lifespan of 8 years.

Senior sister’s comment: After the technical iteration, the start-stop system of mainstream models is reliable enough, but when choosing a car, the three-electric technology and component reinforcement design are preferred!

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5. Actuary Account Book: Is it profitable or loss to start and stop for 5 years?

Calculated in 5 years and 60,000 kilometers:

| Project | Turn on Start and Stop |

|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

| Fuel savings | 8620 yuan | 0 yuan |

| Maintenance cost | 6800 yuan | 2200 yuan |

| Driving experience | Pause - 30% | Conciseness + 40% |

Conclusion: The average annual net income is 364 yuan, but you have to endure 1,300 vibrations - how do you calculate this account?

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The ultimate advice of senior sister

1. New Japanese/German cars: use with confidence, the technology is mature and the cost has been allocated;

2. Domestic scooters: manually shut down when traffic jams, saving money and worry;

3. The golden rule for veteran drivers: red lights are required for 90 seconds, and reversing and entering the garage must be cleared!

Finally, let’s ask: Does your car belt start and stop automatically? What pitfalls have you encountered? The car model is shown in the comment area, and the senior sister answers questions online!

I wish you all your wishes come true, good health, gain nothing for work, and enjoy the success!