How much gas does an idling car use?

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Old 04-27-2010, 08:00 AM
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How much gas does an idling car use?

A lady in my office just told me this story.

They've been working ridiculous hours the last month or so. She is in by 8am and lucky to be out before 10pm. So yesterday she comes in, spends a full day dealing with project issues, gets ready to leave at 8pm realizes she can't find her keys.

She looks everywhere, even calling down to security to see if anyone found them, She finally decides to go outside and look by her car. What does she see?

The lights on her car are on. As she gets closer she can hear that the engine is running. Yup, you guessed it, left the keys in the ignition, engine running THE ENTIRE DAY (12 hours). Unbelievably no one reported it.

So to answer the question, she burned about a 1/4 tank of gas.
Old 04-27-2010, 08:31 AM
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I'm guessing she has an SUV, which means she just burned a year's worth of CO2 by keeping her car on. What a moron.
Old 04-27-2010, 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by gatrhumpy
I'm guessing she has an SUV, which means she just burned a year's worth of CO2 by keeping her car on. What a moron.
Far from a moron. She's leading a multi-million dollar integration project for my client. She's lucky if she works less than 70 hours a week.
Old 04-27-2010, 08:59 AM
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if she has kids i would make sure she has a neon sign or an automatic honking horn to remind her that the kid was still in the vehicle.
Old 04-27-2010, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by gatrhumpy
I'm guessing she has an SUV, which means she just burned a year's worth of CO2 by keeping her car on. What a moron.
Oh my God!! Not CO2!!! Noooooo!
Old 04-27-2010, 09:24 AM
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Wow! Your parking garage must be pretty secure to not allow some Joe Schmoe to come off from the street and leave with it.
Old 04-27-2010, 09:26 AM
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lmao funny stuff, not sure how someone can do that but ok.
Old 04-27-2010, 09:42 AM
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I heard something about how condensation builds up in the engine if you leave it idiling too long, which could cause some problems.
Old 04-27-2010, 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by mn2trance
Wow! Your parking garage must be pretty secure to not allow some Joe Schmoe to come off from the street and leave with it.
That car would be gone in a second here.
Old 04-27-2010, 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by vas25tl
That car would be gone in a second here.
That bad in Milwaukee?
Old 04-27-2010, 10:02 AM
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Depending on where you are...

Our building security left me a note to remove my GPS mount from my windshield because it attracts thieves.

Where I'm working at - 3 blocks east is very nice, 3 blocks west is not so nice. I'm right in the middle
Old 04-27-2010, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by vas25tl
Depending on where you are...

Our building security left me a note to remove my GPS mount from my windshield because it attracts thieves.

Where I'm working at - 3 blocks east is very nice, 3 blocks west is not so nice. I'm right in the middle
Makes me thankful for where I live and work. In the summer I sometimes leave the windows down and the keys in the ignition if my hands are full. Car is always right where I left it when im ready to leave.
Old 04-27-2010, 10:22 AM
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what kind of car was it?
Old 04-27-2010, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by vas25tl
Our building security left me a note to remove my GPS mount from my windshield because it attracts thieves.
Ours will tell you AFTER numerous cars have been broken into. One of my co-workers had gotten her brand new RDX broken into to get her GPS and the security office was right across from where she had parked.
Old 04-27-2010, 10:45 AM
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A couple years back my grandfather was in the beginning stages of alzheimers. He took my grandmother's Sienna to the post office. He went in and got his mail, etc. A little while later he called my grandmother and said he locked his keys in his car. My aunt happened to be over and she went to pick him up with plans to retrieve the car later.

The next day my aunt came over to get my dad to go get the van. When my dad went with the second set of keys, he pulled on the handle and the door opened. The car was sitting there running for about 16 hours with the keys in the ignition, door unlocked. Needless to say, my grandfather never drove again.
Old 04-27-2010, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Far from a moron. She's leading a multi-million dollar integration project for my client. She's lucky if she works less than 70 hours a week.
Didn't mean to imply that she was a moron when it comes to her job. She's moron when it comes to cars? Did she put the car in park at least? It's a miracle she even did that!

Seriously, who forgets to take the keys out of their car?!
Old 04-27-2010, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by mn2trance
Wow! Your parking garage must be pretty secure to not allow some Joe Schmoe to come off from the street and leave with it.
She parks in a lot outside. Anyone can drive onto the campus. Only security is getting into the buildings.
Old 04-27-2010, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by SG81
what kind of car was it?
I think she drives a Camry.
Old 04-27-2010, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by gatrhumpy
Didn't mean to imply that she was a moron when it comes to her job. She's moron when it comes to cars? Did she put the car in park at least? It's a miracle she even did that!

Seriously, who forgets to take the keys out of their car?!
I thought I answered it already

Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
She's leading a multi-million dollar integration project for my client. She's lucky if she works less than 70 hours a week.
She's got a "few" things to worry about at work. That + sleep deprevation will cause you to do stupid things.
Old 04-27-2010, 12:55 PM
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i hope she doesn't make any simple/fundamental mistakes on her project.
yeah i've heard idling your car for any amount of time is very hard on it... i idle mine for about 10 mins in the winter time, which wastes quite a bit of gas when you add up all the times you go somewhere
... but even the car manufacturers etc. say only to idle your car for a minute tops, even in winter, because it takes a toll on your engine
Old 04-27-2010, 02:14 PM
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ya, you must have A LOT on your mind to leave your car running while you're at work all day.
Old 04-27-2010, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by gatrhumpy
I'm guessing she has an SUV, which means she just burned a year's worth of CO2 by keeping her car on. What a moron.

Your statements are far more moronic.
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