A mechanic with over 50 years of experience has shared a simple tip that could help drivers reduce engine wear and extend the life of their car's engine by switching off a particular feature. Scotty Kilmer, a motoring expert, has claimed that a straightforward tweak could potentially double the life of your engine. Drawing on more than five decades of mechanical expertise, Kilmer has suggested that a commonly used feature in contemporary vehicles may actually be damaging their performance.
The Auto Start/Stop Controversy
In a YouTube video, Kilmer recommended drivers disable the auto start/stop function on their cars. While this feature has gained popularity thanks to its promise of enhanced fuel efficiency and lower emissions in modern vehicles, Kilmer argues it may accelerate engine wear. "Turning it off is a smart thing to do," he declared in the video. He further stated: "Start/stop technology is the dumbest thing that's come out in years. 97 per cent 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."
How to Disable the Feature
The stop/start function can usually be switched off using a dedicated button positioned on the dashboard, typically marked by an 'A' surrounded by an arrow. A small indicator light generally shows when the setting is deactivated. Kilmer added: "Most cars still have these lead acid batteries... they're smaller but they're not made for continually stopping and starting the car."
Driver Reactions
Following Kilmer's guidance, many of his subscribers expressed their surprise. One commented: "I recently was driving a rental with this feature and after realising it wasn't the car stalling at every red light I realized what was going on. I thought this was... worse for the engine than just idling." Another wrote: "I test-drove a car once with that function and I found it annoying." A third exclaimed: "Sitting next to them at red lights, I always wonder how many starters they go through. Good advice as usual from Scotty." A fourth YouTube user shared: "Funnily enough I canceled an order on a new car because I couldn't permanently disable this feature. Found this video later. It really reinforces my concern."
