Does idling for half an hour damage the car?
3 Answers
Idling for half an hour can damage the car. Prolonged or frequent engine idling can easily lead to carbon buildup inside the engine cylinders, and the throttle may also be affected. When carbon deposits accumulate to a certain extent, they can reduce the vehicle's power performance and, over time, easily cause engine wear. The idle state refers to a working condition where the engine runs without load. When the engine is running and the accelerator pedal is completely released, the engine is in an idle state. The idle speed can be adjusted by modifying the throttle opening size, among other methods. Generally, a good idle speed is a lower RPM at which the engine does not vibrate.
As an experienced driver with over a decade behind the wheel, let me tell you that idling for half an hour is the most damaging to your engine. The engine keeps running while the car remains stationary, meaning it's constantly working without rest. At low speeds, the lubrication and protection from engine oil aren't as comprehensive, especially for critical components like pistons. Doing this frequently can accelerate wear and tear, and the oil temperature tends to rise too high. Moreover, prolonged idling easily leads to carbon buildup, particularly around the fuel injectors. While it may seem like the battery is charging, the little charge it gets isn't worth the wasted fuel. If you really need to park for an extended period, it's better to turn off the engine—it's good for the car and saves fuel.
I used to think idling while waiting was no big deal, but later learned from emission tests that idling actually causes the worst pollution. Not only does it burn nearly 1 liter of fuel in half an hour, but the exhaust pipe emits particularly high concentrations of harmful gases. The emission control system operates inefficiently at idle speed – the catalytic converter can't properly filter pollutants when below optimal temperature. This leads to rapid carbon buildup in the engine, with the throttle body getting dirtiest fastest. Although the coolant temperature gauge may show normal readings, the oil pan temperature doesn't rise sufficiently, resulting in poor oil flow and reduced lubrication. While two or three minutes of idling is acceptable, it's strongly recommended to turn off the engine if waiting exceeds ten minutes.
