i-Stop & engine longevity

[tubamanandy]

Does anyone know if using the i-Stop on the Mazda engine shortens its life in any way ?

I understand the i-Stop doesnt use the starter motor but fires one of the cylinders for quick starting - just concerned it may cause issues much further down the line

[Willpower]

Difficult to answer this.   Mazda i-stop technology was first introduced on the Mazda 3 2.0 ltr Sport in 2009. 

That's only a matter of 6 years. As far as longevity is concerned we are hardly down the road.  However I have to say that as far as I am aware there have been no issues detrimental to engine life reported in that time on either the Mazda 3, Mazda 6 forums  or here.

[BigAl]

I wasn't aware of that restart method? When it does restart, it sounds the same as a normal starter so I assumed that was how it worked? One thing I would say about the system - since I've had the car, the iStop has been active for at total over 20 hours. That's got to be a worthwhile fuel saving.

Alan

[DHZ7945]

My iStop as stopped working altogether   

[xtrailman]

Does anyone know if using the i-Stop on the Mazda engine shortens its life in any way ?

I understand the i-Stop doesnt use the starter motor but fires one of the cylinders for quick starting - just concerned it may cause issues much further down the line

I can't see how the engine can be damaged, istop will not turn the engine off if the turbo is too hot and needs lubrication to cool it.

Also I believe only the petrol engine uses two firing cylinders to start, I believe the diesel uses the starter motor which is a specially designed one for heavy duty.

[xtrailman]

Thought I would share this.

http://www2.mazda.com/en/technology/env/i-stop/

My take on the diesel engine is it still uses the starter motor?

[Deeps]

I totally agree with the final 3 sentences below the diagram. Whilst I personally always disable i-stop prior to starting a journey for reasons I won't go into here, on the occasions that I have forgotten to disable it and the i-stop has kicked in, I've always been impressed with just how smooth it is.

[twabrigs]

The iStop has a fairly complex algorithm governing it...see the owner's manual for the list of specific conditions that have to be met for it to operate (to do with engine temperature, the amount of equipment currently on and drawing power (eg. lights, aircon, audio, satnav etc etc). So it probably is working, it just appears to work intermittently.

[Deepjoy22]

I've also found that the amount of pressure on the brake pedal can affect whether it kicks in or not. If I'm stopped with just minimum pressure on the pedal the engine continues to run; if I apply a bit more pressure, iStop then kicks in.  Not sure if this is how it is intended to work - but suits me as I can affect to some degree.

[twabrigs]

I've sort of found the opposite to that, if I cruise to a halt very slowly at traffic lights or something it seems like the iStop is more likely to activate than if I brake sharply

[xtrailman]

I just turn istop off, its the most irritaing device ever fitted to a car.

But if you do want to use it one of the conditions for it to work is the battery must have over 80% capacity available.
Istop would be more useful if a timed period was also used before operation, rather than the instant stop that catches me out if i depress the brakes harder than intended, something easy to do with an auto with little engine braking.

[Anchorman]

Istop is only a nuisance if you don't understand it and how it works. Mine works perfectly as designed and I use it all the time. Very often, the Istop meter reads 80-90% when I get to my destination.

[Jonno21]

Hi all

I can only go by my own experience but I find i-stop very useful. Since I bought my present car in November 2013 i-Stop has saved me 23 hours worth of pumping out emissions and fuel saving. My car is also an auto and I have found it very rare indeed that pressing the brake pedal for stopping activates the i-stop when not intended.

Cheers all

Jonno21

[xtrailman]

Istop is only a nuisance if you don't understand it and how it works. Mine works perfectly as designed and I use it all the time. Very often, the Istop meter reads 80-90% when I get to my destination.

What makes you think i don't understand how it works?

I've had it on two cars now, and prefer not to use it, its a gimmick fitted to pass emmision tests.

[xtrailman]

Hi all

I can only go by my own experience but I find i-stop very useful. Since I bought my present car in November 2013 i-Stop has saved me 23 hours worth of pumping out emissions and fuel saving. My car is also an auto and I have found it very rare indeed that pressing the brake pedal for stopping activates the i-stop when not intended.

Cheers all

Jonno21

I forgot to turn it off today leaving a fishing lake, got to the main road and braked to a halt ready to pull out, istop operated just when i wanted to set off, due to the delay restarting i missed my window to pull out of a dangerous junction, not what i want in a car.

There can also be an hesitation setting off in auto, not what i need at this junction, so the auto is put into manual.