Is Start Stop Technology Going To Shorten Engine Life Or Cause More Repairs?

Stop-start, the system that acts with blink-of-an-eye speed to save fuel in traffic queues, has not just come of age, it’s something car buyers now expect.

In urban situations especially, stop-start should be making a real-world difference, but will the durability of engines be affected in the long term?

A conventional electric starter motor works by engaging a small pinion gear with a large ‘ring’ gear fitted around the outside of the engine flywheel.

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TheSteve - 9/22/2014 4:56:38 PM

+2 Boost

We'll certainly find out, won't we! I definitely don't want to participate in consumer field trials, though.

vdiv - 9/22/2014 6:11:41 PM

+1 Boost

According to any given hybrid out there the question has been answered. It is not only going to shorten the life of the internal combustion engine, it will remove it entirely ;)

"The electrification of the vehicle fleet is a foregone conclusion."
-- Bob Lutz

abqhudson - 9/22/2014 6:00:37 PM

+1 Boost

I don't believe that my Mercedes start/stop works as he described.

skytop - 9/23/2014 11:25:00 AM

+1 Boost

Better stock up on replacement starters motors if you use stop-start technology.

stampfer - 9/23/2014 3:58:59 PM

+1 Boost

There has to be greater potential for faster wear and failure, but supposedly saves fuel in urban environments. I guess it all depends on how much time you spend stopped. Even my 2011 E90 M3 has the feature, though thankfully its default is actually off, so I don't use it. There is a button on the console to press if you wish to activate it, but it also takes into account engine temp, cooling needs, battery charge and other parameters? On non-M modern BMW's the default is on, but you can manually deactivate it each time you drive the car.