perlfather

Has anybody figured out (or has some ideas/hypothesis) what is the shortest amount of time it is worth turning off the engine using the stop/start feature (applying the brakes hard). Probably one minute is worth it and 5 second is too short, however, about what is the minimum time.
Is it different for gas vs. diesel engines?
Anybody know about what is the fuel consumptions at idling - (gallons/hour)?
Is this feature useful to reduce fuel consumption or something to reduce pollution in densely populate European cities?
I have read that the starter is designed/built for frequent starts, however it does draw electric power and surely some parts are wearing out.

hgj1234

I used it only a few times and discovered it used more gas

looking@audi

2 years and 24K miles of ownership and never used the "feature."

DaveWendel

6 months and 7k miles and never disable it.

onthebeam

I hated it at first but quickly got used to it. When in traffic at lights that look like they'll change soon I keep my foot lightly on the brake so it is far less likely to engage. It's pretty easy to get the feel of letting it lock in or not.

One mystery is that it sometimes doesn't engage, particularly within 3-5 minutes of first starting the ignition. When I see the dash icon that it's not engaged, I get around that by turning the start/stop button off and then back on again. It sometimes then kicks it in.


I do think it helps mileage but obviously have no scientific facts. I always like to keep my Consumption setting showing and that's my basis for it improving mileage a bit.

simonaitch

Stop/start feature ?? Does the RS7 have this ?

looking@audi

The reason it doesn't engage is that the engine is not sufficiently warmed up to benefit from turning off. This is the way the feature was designed.

a7ubercoupe

Love the S/S feature. Of course, I'm an NRDC member greenie concerned about idling exhaust/air pollution. Rest of the family regularly complains when I abruptly braking to stop to more easily engage the feature- def not as smooth as our Prius (use for in town errands/dog car).

Rick Pardo

I was born to "go"...not "stop". A ridiculous and potentially dangerous feature. imho.

fkaufman

Subjective issue, I guess. I use it, I like it, it saves fuel, reduces emissions and when I am at a stop, it eliminates the vibration of the car that is more pronounced in a TDL.

I don't see any even remotely dangerous potential in the feature.