Does idling the car with the heater on cause damage to the vehicle?

[Yvette]

Idling the car with the heater on does not cause damage to the vehicle as long as the engine reaches its normal operating temperature. However, if the heater is turned on while the engine is still cold and has not reached its normal operating temperature, it can slow down the engine's warming process, leading to increased fuel consumption. Nevertheless, this does not harm the car. Below is some relevant information: 1. The fuel consumption when using the heater during idling depends on the car's displacement and engine tuning. For household cars, idling with the heater on for one hour consumes approximately 1 to 2 liters of fuel, though this may vary depending on the car model. 2. While idling with the heater on does not cause serious damage to the car, it can affect the passengers inside. Since the fuel does not burn completely during idling, carbon monoxide is produced. If the windows are not opened, the concentration of carbon monoxide inside the car can gradually increase, potentially leading to carbon monoxide poisoning for the passengers.