Practically, there is no car for sale currently that does not have a Stop / Start system on its skeleton. This technology, although it seems a thing of the last five years, already existed from past times. The first car to incorporate it was the 1983 Volkswagen Polo Formel E , exclusively for the European market. About its advantages few doubts remain, but is it really imperative to always have it activated? On some occasions, is it advisable to turn it off?
If you come from an aging vehicle, it is normal for you to have doubts about it. Before it was a rarity and now it comes standard on almost any vehicle with four wheels and a roof. It is relatively normal for you to wonder about this technology. Even more when you know that it can be disconnected, and not because we have told you, but because in every new vehicle we can find a button (usually to the left of the steering wheel) that allows us to disconnect in the system.
First of all, it is worth clarifying what this technology is for. Stop / Start is a system present in most modern cars that turns off the engine when the car is stationary with the intention of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. In hybrids, the same system can also shut down the combustion block when the vehicle is driving under light acceleration loads, when descending slopes, or when decelerating from higher speeds.
The thermal thruster restarts when the clutch is engaged or the brake pedal is released, or when the driver is ready to move and accelerate again, or on some models, at the time some type of motion is applied to the direction. The process occurs automatically, but drivers can choose whether they want to be said system active or deactivated by pressing the button that is usually located near where we would find the ignition key.
The system (identified as an A with an arrow) uses a computer to detect when the vehicle is stationary, or when it is operating under low load conditions. At that point, it stops the fuel supply and sparks the engine. In the case of hybrids, the electric motor can provide a limited amount of power while the block is off, although it's usually only enough to maintain speed on a level slope or in the city.
These situations usually represent an average of 30% of the usual routes, and therefore equipping a Start / Stop system can reduce fuel consumption by between 8 and 15%, according to the measurements of the NEDC cycle. The theory always supports engine shutdown, as optimizing the start of modern mechanics makes turning the engine off and on again more efficient than keeping it running as long as the stop does not exceed 10 or 20 seconds.
If you are already a regular of the Stop / Start system, you will have noticed that there are times when it is not activated. Why? Because over the years this technology has evolved into a safer electronic complex for our cars since early models did not take into account certain factors in order to safely generate a complete engine stop without damaging the internal components.
Based on what we have seen, it might seem not. However, despite the optimization that has been achieved over the years, there is a “failure” that has not yet been resolved, and that is that it tends to interrupt the regeneration process of the antiparticle filter. As a consequence, breakdowns may appear which, in the long run, will hurt enormously in your pocket. This filter is in charge of retaining the soot particles generated by engine combustion, especially in diesel-powered engines.
But the answer in broad strokes is that it doesn't hurt your vehicle. However, when it comes to durability, more stop-start cycles lead to increased engine wear unless steps are taken to prevent it. A fundamental component of the block and also one of the heaviest is the crankshaft. When the engine is running, the crankshaft and main bearing surfaces do not touch thanks to a thin film of oil that acts as a lubricant.
This process is called "hydrodynamic lubrication, " but when the engine stops, the crankshaft sits on the block bearings and the metal surfaces come into contact. The typical architecture of a conventional Stop / Start system is made up of a starter motor more resistant to abuse associated with a more capable battery and an internal combustion engine optimized so as not to be penalized by lubrication and cooling in the continuous stopping and start.
For this reason, the Stop / Start function is governed by standards that assess engine temperature, particulate filter condition, ambient temperature, battery condition, use of air conditioning, demand for steering assistance. , the brake booster, the security systems, and small etcetera. In short, it can be said that all the mechanical and electrical systems of our car have been adapted so that the use of Stop / Start does not lead to failure while driving.
Although we have seen that the Stop / Start system has been designed to take into account all kinds of situations, it is also worth knowing that, sometimes, it is better for the engine to rest for a few seconds to lubricate its parts and improve cooling. Such situations can occur on high mileage trips, dragging a trailer, or spirited driving up the mountain or on a circuit. Steep slopes or days of extreme heat are also other factors to consider.
The Stop / Start function has almost more advantages than disadvantages, but as the case may be, there are several points to consider. Although imperceptible in the short term, in the long run, it can cause wear on the internal components due to the lack of lubrication on repeated occasions. The idea of stopping and starting several times continues to be somewhat strange in today's world, generally due to a lack of knowledge about the improvements made to the Stop / Start system and the prejudices that were held about it at the beginning.
Previously, batteries and starters could fail prematurely, but these components are now much stronger. Still, manufacturers have repeatedly noted that the Stop / Start device is programmed to last as long as the car itself. Also, soon they will also be able to recognize the power demands according to the route, and thus be able to circulate well with the engine running or off and with the gearbox disconnected.
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