Does idling with AC on after starting the car have any impact?
2 Answers
Idling with the AC on after starting the car does have negative effects. Keeping the AC on while idling not only harms the vehicle, increases fuel consumption, and poses health risks, but also contributes to greater atmospheric pollution. Running the AC for an entire day can easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Leaving the AC on while the car is stationary means the engine is only operating at idle speed, which results in incomplete combustion of gasoline. This incomplete combustion produces toxic substances such as carbon monoxide. If the car windows and doors remain tightly closed for an extended period under these conditions, exhaust fumes can enter the sealed cabin. When these fumes accumulate to a certain level, they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Precautions for using the car AC: After the car has been exposed to the sun outdoors, first turn on the external circulation to ventilate and dissipate heat. You can also open the windows and sunroof to speed up the cooling process. After 3-5 minutes, when the interior temperature has stabilized, close all windows, turn on the air conditioning, and switch the AC to internal circulation. In cold weather, wait a moment after getting in the car until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Then, turning on the heater with internal circulation can quickly raise the temperature.
As a working professional who drives frequently, I used to habitually turn on the AC while parked and waiting. However, I later realized it wastes a lot of fuel. When the engine runs without moving to power the AC, fuel consumption is much higher than when driving. Last time I tested it, idling with the AC on for 10 minutes burned the same amount of fuel as 5 minutes of normal driving. Doing this long-term increases engine load, leading to carbon buildup and performance issues. The AC compressor may also wear out prematurely, costing thousands to repair. Additionally, stationary vehicles emit more exhaust, which is bad for the environment. Now, I only use the AC briefly on extremely hot days or simply park in the shade with windows down for ventilation. It's best to limit AC use to under 5 minutes when idling. If necessary, briefly drive the car to save fuel and reduce emissions.
