Does idling with the air conditioning on harm the car?

[Julie]

Idling with the air conditioning on can harm the car. Prolonged idling can easily lead to carbon buildup in the engine and may also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Here are the details: Carbon Buildup: When the engine runs at low speed for an extended period, the likelihood of carbon buildup increases significantly. This can affect the fuel injector's performance, leading to poor atomization and improper fuel-air mixture, which in turn increases fuel consumption. It can also reduce engine power, impair performance, and interfere with the spark plug's ignition timing, causing difficulty in starting and engine vibration. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Incomplete combustion of gasoline during idling produces high concentrations of carbon monoxide. If the surrounding air circulation is poor, the carbon monoxide emitted by the engine can enter the car's interior, potentially poisoning the occupants.