Can a car remain idling for a long time without turning off the engine?
3 Answers
It is not advisable to keep a car idling for an extended period without turning off the engine. Here are some extended details about cars: 1. Impact: When a vehicle remains parked with the engine running for a long time, the engine continuously operates at low RPM, which makes the pistons and valves more prone to carbon buildup. This can lead to unstable idling and other adverse effects on the engine's performance, and may even shorten the engine's lifespan. 2. Safety: In a relatively enclosed space, prolonged engine operation generates a large amount of exhaust fumes. Due to insufficient air circulation, the concentration of exhaust fumes in the space increases. If the car's external air circulation is on, these fumes can quickly enter the cabin, potentially causing carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal in severe cases. Additionally, keeping the air conditioning on while the engine is idling for a long time increases the load on the radiator's front fan, leading to heat accumulation. This is detrimental to the vehicle's cooling system and can cause the engine temperature to rise sharply, negatively affecting the operation of precision machinery. Always turn off the engine when waiting, especially in underground parking lots, as idling is neither safe nor environmentally friendly, offering no benefits and numerous hazards.
I think this issue needs to be examined from a technical perspective. As an experienced car enthusiast who frequently tinkers with vehicles, I've found that prolonged idling without turning off the engine causes significant damage. When the engine keeps running at idle speed, it burns fuel without moving the car, which easily leads to carbon buildup. These carbon deposits accumulate in the pistons and cylinders, accelerating component wear over time. Temperature management also becomes problematic: in summer, engine overheating may damage the cooling system, while in winter, it's difficult to maintain proper warmth during startup. Once, my car idled in a parking lot for an hour, and the mechanic later told me the bearings had loosened considerably. Therefore, I recommend avoiding idling for more than 20 minutes, otherwise maintenance costs will increase significantly, not to mention the waste of fuel resources. Some modern cars come with automatic start-stop functions that can shut off the engine automatically, which I find quite practical.
In my daily commuting experience, keeping the car idling unnecessarily is truly uneconomical. Every time waiting at traffic lights or parked by the roadside, a quick calculation shows idling consumes nearly 1 liter of fuel per hour – money literally going down the drain. Over time, wasting hundreds of dollars annually is minor compared to accelerated engine wear. I once kept the engine running overnight for heating during a suburban camping trip, only to face difficult startup and significantly higher fuel consumption the next day. Saving small change isn't worth it – turning off the engine and using backup power or window ventilation is safer. Economically speaking, unnecessary idling is pure money burning; many cities now prohibit prolonged idling anyway, making avoidance the wiser choice to dodge fines. Developing the habit of shutting off when parked saves money while protecting your beloved vehicle.
