tyhjäkäytöstä

Tyhjäkäytös refers to the state of an engine or machine operating without any load. In the context of internal combustion engines, this means the engine is running but not delivering power to any external mechanism, such as the wheels of a vehicle or the blades of a lawnmower. The engine is simply consuming fuel to maintain its operational speed.

This state is common when a vehicle is stationary but its engine is still running, often referred to as idling. For other machines, tyhjäkäytös can occur during startup or testing phases before the primary function is engaged. While sometimes necessary, prolonged tyhjäkäytös can be inefficient, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions. It can also contribute to increased wear on engine components in some cases, although modern engines are designed to tolerate short periods of idling. The term emphasizes the lack of productive work being done by the operating machinery.