Does Long-Term Idling with Air Conditioning On Cause Significant Damage to the Car?

[StPhoebe]

It causes certain harm to the car, but the impact is not too severe. The car won't break down, but there will be some wear on the engine, potentially requiring a shorter maintenance cycle (such as changing the engine oil and other upkeep). Below is the relevant analysis: 1. Engine Damage: Firstly, if the engine's RPM is too low, it may not be able to power the air conditioning. Even if it can, it will cause unstable engine operation and incomplete combustion, leading to carbon deposits. Additionally, idling with the air conditioning on results in poor system cooling, which can easily cause the engine's water temperature to rise too high, potentially damaging the engine. 2. Carbon Monoxide: When the car's engine is running, if the gasoline in the cylinders does not burn completely, it produces high concentrations of carbon monoxide. While driving, the air flow through the air conditioning system creates convection, keeping the carbon monoxide concentration inside the car low. However, when the car is stationary with the air conditioning on and the windows and doors are closed, the air inside the car cannot circulate.