Just curious...
Given the colder months, I often sit in my Mini ('04 R53) for about an hour, running the engine and heat during my lunch break.
During that 1hr, I can just about burn through a gallon+ of gas just sitting sitting idle.
Just curious if anyone else experiences this? if it's normal? Or just an obvious reason that I don't quite comprehend?
My Mini (IMO), gets outstanding gas mileage 33mpg+(given my mods), out on the open road. Of course my ECU/Tach likes to read 36.7 ++ mpg...if one can really believe that.

 

RPMs when idling? One gallon of gas seems unusually high but I've never tried it either. No overheating issues?

 

Idling @700 rpm.
No AC compressor running - just heat.
No fuel or any kind of leak.
No/has never overheated.
I can just about watch my (gas) needle drop slowly but incrementally every 15-30min while the car sits idling.
Driving - on average, I can get about 105 - 150+ miles on a quarter tank (depending @hwy speeds).
In and around town; I average between 19 - 22mpg or 50mi+ on a quarter of a tank.

Just out of curiosity - This is what came up on Google:

• Per Hour: A typical car can burn about 0.2 to 0.5 gallons of fuel per hour idling, while larger vehicles use even more.
• Per Stop: Idling for just 10 minutes can use as much fuel as traveling 5 miles.
• Zero MPG: When idling, you're getting zero miles per gallon, meaning every minute adds up.

 

I do my very best to not let any of my vehicles idle longer than a traffic light needs to change from red to green. In addition, I absolutely hate to start one of my vehicles and then shut it down without driving it. Perhaps you might want to consider driving your car during lunch break rather than just idling.

 

Well, I never suspected that there was a problem with my Mini. Just comparing notes with other Mini/R53 owners.

Notwithstanding; However I hear what yourNC saying @NC TRACKRAT and wholeheartedly agree for the most part and makes for good practice.
Unfortunately in my line of work and given various on set locations; leaving for lunch at the risk being late can get you blacklisted. Not a risk any of us are willing to chance.
But I agree with you.

 

Appreciate your predicament but repeatedly idling for that period of time doesn't help the health of your engine. You're using so much gas because it's running on the rich side and that leads to fouled plugs and carbon deposits. If you can't avoid it, then be sure to treat your gas with TECHRON periodically and do some spirited driving ("Italian tune-up") when you can.

 

91/93 octane = always (Chevron)
Techron = 3-4 times a year
Spark plugs = every 20-30k (1-2 times year )
Oil + filter change = every 3,5k miles (approx 5-6 times yr Mobile1 5w 30)
Mini now @122k = 80k hwy miles (avg 75-85mph) (city avg 30k) since new.
I drive cross country often...more than I do city.
Been debating on doing Seafoam since I read pros & cons.

Edit:
@NC TRACKRAT - Please don't take my reply as a defense against your advisement. I learn alot.
Up until now; My Mini has lived it's entire life in the SE and now in the SW where it's always hot and has never seen snow or temps below 30° (as well as myself). This is our first real winter since ownership. Never had to run the heat parked before now. This desert environment has been really tough on this car. Hate to have it contribute more damage to the engine running (during the winter) it in this manner. Your insite is definitely an education to me and very much appreciated.