I need some help with a debate in our office that stemmed from the James Kim tragedy. How long will a car (4 cylinder) with a full tank of gas idle before it runs out of gas?

 

The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority says that the average car uses about 0.15 gallons of fuel per hour of idling.

 

Thanks

 

My TL uses less than 1/4 tank for 8 hour work day (with small in between driving)

 

actually i don't know whether that is with the car in gear (ie at stop lights or whatever) or just in park/neutral. so the figure may be higher/lower than the kim situation.

 

Eventually they burned the tires for heat and to signal for help....

 

Is there any use to idling besides an emergency situation? Usually if i'm going to be waiting more than a couple minutes i'll just turn off the car.

 

I remember on the Z forum, one guy forgot to turn his car off and left it on all night. Still had gas when he got back. It just got me thinking though. If it wasn't in a garage, why wasn't it stolen. And if it was in a garage, how do you not die from carbon monoxide poisoning by going anywhere near it.