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How-to guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Auto Start-Stop Explained
Auto start-stop shuts the engine off when you come to a stop and starts it again when you are ready to go. Here is how it works, what fueleconomy.gov says it saves, how it differs from a hybrid, and which 2026 Ford models list it in the EPA fuel economy data.
2%potential efficiency improvement for stop-start, per fueleconomy.gov
1/4 to 1/2gallon of fuel an hour that idling can use
10 secondsworth of fuel to restart an engine
51 of 562026 Ford EPA records with an engine that list stop-start
The short answer
Auto start-stop, which fueleconomy.gov also calls idle-stop or smart-start, automatically turns the engine off when the vehicle stops and restarts it instantaneously when the brake is released or the accelerator is pressed. It cuts fuel wasted while idling, with a potential efficiency improvement of 2%. Most 2026 Ford gas and hybrid models list it in the EPA data.
How auto start-stop works
At a stop, the engine shuts off. Fueleconomy.gov says stop-start systems automatically turn the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop.
When you go, it restarts. The engine restarts instantaneously when the brake is released or the accelerator is pressed.
Other names. Fueleconomy.gov lists idle-stop and smart-start as other names for the same technology.
What it saves. The point is to reduce fuel wasted during idling. Fueleconomy.gov puts the potential efficiency improvement at 2%, from a 2015 National Academy of Sciences study, and says most of its values were rounded down to the nearest percent to be conservative.
From fueleconomy.gov, Hybrid and Other Advanced Technologies and fueleconomy.gov, Energy Efficient Technologies, read November 8, 2026.
Why idling matters
Idling burns fuel and goes nowhere. Fueleconomy.gov says idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use, and its cold-weather page puts it simply: idling gets 0 miles per gallon.
Restarting is cheap. It only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle, according to fueleconomy.gov.
Turning the engine off yourself. When you are parked, fueleconomy.gov suggests turning the engine off. Its best practices are to limit engine starts to about 10 times per day on average unless the vehicle is equipped with a start-stop system, to expect any shutdown longer than 1 minute to save money as long as 10 starts a day are not exceeded, to limit electric accessory use during shutdowns, and to drive at least 5 miles between start cycles to fully recharge the battery.
Warming up in winter. Fueleconomy.gov says most manufacturers recommend driving off gently after about 30 seconds, because the engine warms up faster being driven.
From fueleconomy.gov, Driving More Efficiently and fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Economy in Cold Weather, read November 8, 2026.
Start-stop vs. mild and full hybrids
Stop-start is the first step on a ladder of hybrid technologies. Fueleconomy.gov compares them this way:
| Technology | What it does | Potential efficiency improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Stop-start | Turns the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the brake is released or the accelerator is pressed | 2% |
| Mild hybrid | Stop-start plus a small regenerative braking system; the stored electricity powers the starter and helps acceleration for very short distances | 3% to 6% |
| Full hybrid | Stop-start and regenerative braking with a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor that can assist the engine or drive the vehicle by itself at lower speeds | 27% to 35% |
From fueleconomy.gov, Hybrid and Other Advanced Technologies and fueleconomy.gov, Energy Efficient Technologies, read November 8, 2026. Fueleconomy.gov says full hybrids can also travel much farther using electricity than mild hybrids. Other names it lists for mild hybrids: integrated starter generator (ISG), belted alternator starter (BAS) and electronic assist (eAssist).
Which 2026 Ford models list start-stop
The EPA fuel economy data has a startStop field for each vehicle: Y if the vehicle has stop-start technology, N if not. Of the 62 model year 2026 Ford records, 56 have an engine, and 51 of those are listed Y:
| Model | Records listed with stop-start | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bronco | 9 of 9 | 2.3L, 2.7L and 3.0L turbocharged, including the Bronco Raptor; automatic and manual |
| Bronco Sport | 3 of 3 | 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged |
| Escape | 5 of 5 | Includes the hybrid and plug-in hybrid |
| Expedition | 2 of 2 | 3.5L turbocharged |
| Explorer | 6 of 6 | 2.3L and 3.0L turbocharged |
| F-150 | 11 of 12 | Includes the hybrid; the F-150 Raptor R (5.2L supercharged) is listed N |
| Maverick | 7 of 7 | Includes the hybrids |
| Ranger | 4 of 4 | Includes the Ranger Raptor |
| Mustang | 4 of 8 | Listed Y: 2.3L turbocharged, 5.0L automatic and manual, Performance Package. Listed N: Dark Horse (automatic and manual), Dark Horse SC, GTD |
From the EPA fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) published on fueleconomy.gov, read November 8, 2026, and the fueleconomy.gov field descriptions. The six Mustang Mach-E records are electric and are listed N. Features can vary by trim and build; check the window sticker or ask us about a specific vehicle.
Service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Fueleconomy.gov notes that battery performance decreases in cold weather, so a battery test is a good idea before winter.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 8, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Auto start-stop FAQ
What is auto start-stop?
Fueleconomy.gov describes stop-start systems, also called idle-stop or smart-start, as systems that automatically turn the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart it instantaneously when the brake is released or the accelerator is pressed. This reduces fuel wasted during idling.
How much fuel does start-stop save?
Fueleconomy.gov lists a potential efficiency improvement of 2% for stop-start systems, based on a 2015 National Academy of Sciences study, with most values rounded down to be conservative.
Why does stopping the engine at a light save fuel?
Fueleconomy.gov says idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use, and that it only takes about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart a vehicle.
Do all 2026 Ford models have start-stop?
Not every version. In the EPA fuel economy data for model year 2026, 51 of the 56 Ford records with an engine list stop-start technology. The five listed without it are the Mustang Dark Horse (automatic and manual), Mustang Dark Horse SC, Mustang GTD and F-150 Raptor R. The six Mustang Mach-E electric records are listed without it.
Is start-stop the same as a hybrid?
No. Fueleconomy.gov explains that mild hybrids add a small regenerative braking system to stop-start, and full hybrids add a larger battery and a more powerful electric motor that can drive the vehicle by itself at lower speeds.
Does restarting the engine wear it out?
Fueleconomy.gov's idling advice for drivers turning off their own engine is to limit engine starts to about 10 times per day on average, unless the vehicle is equipped with a start-stop system, and says occasionally exceeding that should not cause excessive starter wear. Your owner's manual explains how your vehicle's system works.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Questions about a new Ford?
Talk with the Michigan City Ford team, or read our guide to getting better gas mileage.
Sources
How stop-start, mild hybrid and full hybrid systems work and their potential efficiency improvements are from fueleconomy.gov (U.S. Department of Energy and EPA), read November 8, 2026, which cites a 2015 National Academy of Sciences study. The idling and restart figures are from its Driving More Efficiently and Fuel Economy in Cold Weather pages. The 2026 Ford list is from the EPA fuel economy data file on fueleconomy.gov, read the same day. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website.
- fueleconomy.gov, Hybrid and Other Advanced Technologies, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Energy Efficient Technologies, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Driving More Efficiently, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov, Fuel Economy in Cold Weather, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- EPA fuel economy data (vehicles.csv), model year 2026 Ford records, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- fueleconomy.gov web services: vehicle data field descriptions, fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE/EPA), read November 8, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 8, 2026