Can You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by Sleeping in a Car with the AC On?
1 Answers
Sleeping in a car with the AC on can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, but sleeping in an electric vehicle with the AC on will not cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional information: 1. Idling: Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs because when the engine is running, if the fuel does not burn completely, it produces high concentrations of carbon monoxide. When the car is parked but the heater continues to operate and the windows are closed, the carbon monoxide emitted by the engine can accumulate and increase in concentration. Therefore, it is best not to sleep in the car when it is parked. 2. External circulation: Running the AC in a closed car can produce a large amount of carbon monoxide, and the concentration can exceed safe levels in just over 20 minutes. Staying in the car for too long can cause a noticeable feeling of suffocation. If the car is set to external circulation, carbon monoxide from outside the vehicle can be drawn into the car in large quantities, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.