City drivers urged to 'switch off' one dashboard button or risk expensive repairs
Urban motorists who have the technology in their car should consider disabling it in some conditions, say experts
Motorists have been urged to think twice before relying on a popular modern car feature designed to save fuel that could actually be increasing wear and tear on your vehicle. Experts have warned that technology found in most new vehicles might claim to save you money by decreasing fuel consumption but could actually shorten the lifespan of your engine.
And those who drive in cities regularly are at a higher risk of falling foul of this modern feature. The automatic stop/start system, which cuts the engine at traffic lights or in slow-moving traffic, is found in most new vehicles and is often marketed as an eco-friendly upgrade.
But according to car repair finance experts at Bumper, regularly using the feature could shorten the life of your engine and lead to expensive repairs down the line.
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A Bumper expert explained: "While start/stop systems are intended to boost fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, they’re not always kind to your engine’s key components.
"The starter motor and battery are under constant strain, and repeated stops and starts can take their toll – especially over time.”
This warning follows a viral tip from US mechanic Scotty Kilmer, who said 97 percent of engine wear happens during ignition – meaning constantly stopping and starting the car only increases that damage.
Bumper said: "For drivers who mainly do short, urban journeys with frequent stopping, the risks are higher."
And they suggest motorists should think about disabling the feature to help prevent engine wear out.
They added: "Turning the stop/start system off when appropriate could help preserve your engine’s lifespan and reduce long-term costs.'
The stop/start system can usually be turned off via a dashboard button, often labelled with an ‘A’ in a circle. While the feature is useful in some scenarios, Bumper warn that it’s not one-size-fits-all.
They said: "If you’re commuting through stop-start traffic daily, it might be worth switching it off – especially if you drive an older car or want to avoid premature engine wear."
With more drivers holding on to their vehicles for longer due to high replacement costs, small adjustments like this can make a big difference to ongoing bills.
This advice has been backed by Kilmer who warned the feature can see drivers needing to replace their car far sooner.
He went further and said the start/stop button should be permanently 'switched off' by all owners and called it the 'dumbest' thing that has been invented in years.
And in a YouTube video, the mechanic said by doing this motorists can actually 'double the life of your engine'.
He told his 6.5 million followers: "Turning it off is a smart thing to do. Start/stop technology is the dumbest thing that's come out in years.
"97 percent of the wear happens when you start the car so do you want to keep starting and stopping it? Not if you want your car to last longer."