tühikäigu

Tühikäigu, often translated as "idle" or "idling," refers to the state of an engine when it is running but not engaged in any driving or productive work. This typically occurs when a vehicle is stationary with the engine on, or when a machine is powered but not performing its intended function.

In the context of internal combustion engines, such as those found in cars and trucks, idling occurs when the throttle is not being pressed and the transmission is in neutral or park. The engine continues to cycle, consuming fuel and producing exhaust gases, but without generating motive force. This is necessary for the engine to remain running and be ready for immediate acceleration or operation.

However, prolonged idling is generally considered inefficient and wasteful. It consumes fuel unnecessarily, contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and can lead to increased engine wear over time due to incomplete combustion at lower operating temperatures. Many modern vehicles incorporate features like automatic start-stop systems that shut off the engine after a period of idling to mitigate these drawbacks.

The concept of tühikäigu also extends beyond vehicles to other machinery and systems. For example, a computer can be considered to be idling when it is powered on but not actively running any applications. Similarly, some industrial equipment might idle between production cycles. In all these cases, idling represents a state of readiness or inactivity that consumes resources without active output.