Does it take more gas to start a car than to have the car run in
nuetral for short period of time? For example, turning the car on and
off numerous times versus leaving the car running in park or neutral
for short period of time?

Hello.

Generally speaking, you burn more gas idling (even for a short period)
than you do starting the car.


Automotive experts Tom & Ray Magliozzi address this question on their
CarTalk web site:

"Ray: Modern, fuel injected cars start so quickly and meter gasoline
so carefully, that practically none is wasted on starting.
Tom: So if the only consideration were fuel, you would shut off your
car everytime you stopped for more than a minute."
source: Cartalk
http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/1995/August/10.html


Additional sources:

"Don't let a vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling can consume
as much as a gallon of gas per hour. Idling also wastes more fuel than
restarting the engine."
source: AAA Chicago
http://www.autoclubgroup.com/chicago/autos/car_maintenance/articles.asp?articleID=9

"Once it has reached the right temperature, an engine left idling for
more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting the engine."
source: CAA Quebec Tips for Drivers
http://www.caaquebec.com/en/automobile/carburant_conseils.asp

"Myth: Shutting off and restarting your vehicle is hard on the engine
and uses more gas than if you leave it running.
Reality: Frequent restarting has little impact on engine components
such as the battery and starter motor. Component wear caused by
restarting the engine is estimated to add $10 per year to the cost of
driving, money that will likely be recovered several times over in
fuel savings from reduced idling. More than 10 seconds of idling uses
more fuel than restarting the engine."
source:
State of Vermont: The Myths and Realities of Idling Your Car
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/reflect/mar1102.htm

"Myth #4
Shutting off and restarting your vehicle uses more gas than if you
leave it running.
Reality
The bottom line is that over 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than
restarting the engine. As a rule of thumb, if you are going to stop
for 10 seconds or more - except in traffic - turn off the engine."
source:
Hamilton County Environmental Services
http://www.hcdoes.org/airquality/vehicles/IdleMyth.htm

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search strategy:
"burn more gas" restarting
"more gas" idling restarting

I hope this helps

Remarkable! This is exactly what I was looking for! The response time
was fast and the thoroughness of the answer is exceptional. I will
definitely be using this service again.

Thank you for the tip.
-juggler