Leaving the car running
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Question](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/icons/icon5.gif)
I've always heard it's bad to leave a car running for an extended period of time with out moving (or accelerating). Is this true? Why? How long can I sit in the running car (AC on) and have it not be detremental to the car's health (or mine)? Thanks.
#2
Instructor
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: SUnny So Cal
Age: 43
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have no idea as to whether how detrimental it is to leaving the car in park for a long period of time, but i hate doing it. I hate when i pick up someone and they make me wait outside for 10 minutes, like my gf. :banghead:
#3
Originally Posted by EulisCool
I have no idea as to whether how detrimental it is to leaving the car in park for a long period of time, but i hate doing it. I hate when i pick up someone and they make me wait outside for 10 minutes, like my gf. :banghead:
![Roll Eyes](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
#4
well i can think of a few things off the top of my head just trying to reason it. first off the cooling system, the radiator is not getting any wind. will this drive up the thermostat temp? i dunno i have never overheated from idle before. but it does say not to idle for long periods of time in almost all car manuals.
#5
What caball88 said...if you're idling you aren't getting the cooling normally associated with moving. Plus, at idle RPM you don't have as high of oil pressure as you do compared to moving. With lower oil pressure and no cooling of the pan, the oil temp goes up which can be bad. In addition, no movement causes engine compartment temps to go up, making the natural dissapation of heat through the aluminum less efficient. It won't kill a motor, just makes it run a little warmer.
Typically this isn't an issue for FWD cars as they run electric fans so even when still you get some cooling. Sitting idle was more of a problem for motors with fans driven off the water pump pulley with a fan clutch like my old 5.0. If I sat in traffic, the combo of slow fan speed from idle plus not moving would sent my H2O temps up.
Typically this isn't an issue for FWD cars as they run electric fans so even when still you get some cooling. Sitting idle was more of a problem for motors with fans driven off the water pump pulley with a fan clutch like my old 5.0. If I sat in traffic, the combo of slow fan speed from idle plus not moving would sent my H2O temps up.
Trending Topics
#9
NBP - Public Relations
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NY/PA
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With AC on + not moving(parked) = bad idea. If you have your windows down and the car on without AC, you could probably leave it on for a while without causing harm. Just dont leave AC and not move.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#10
Originally Posted by MikeyK
With AC on + not moving(parked) = bad idea. If you have your windows down and the car on without AC, you could probably leave it on for a while without causing harm. Just dont leave AC and not move. ![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
#11
TL hacker
The bad thing with the navi is that it takes a few seconds to boot up. So you sit there idling just waiting for the navi to come online before you enter that mysterious address you just don't know how to get to.
#12
Pro
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Houston
Age: 66
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I will say that it is according to what car you have.
One time my mom went out in her Ford Crown Vic and was in a meeting for over 2 hours. When she came out, her car was running
AND, she did not have another set of keys. SOOO, she calls me at my apartment as said could I go pick up her extra set of keys!! I drive the 30 minutes to her house and the 40 minutes to where she was and the car was still purring away. She opened up the car, put it in gear and drove away with no problem. Nothing went wrong with the car!! Like it was NORMAL to do this.....
One time my mom went out in her Ford Crown Vic and was in a meeting for over 2 hours. When she came out, her car was running
![Doh](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
#13
TL-SHAWD 6MT Rocks!
I've been stucked in traffic for 1 hour! - what's the difference ?
I used to get bad traffic everyday for 5 years, and my car at the time never had a problem.
I used to get bad traffic everyday for 5 years, and my car at the time never had a problem.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post