Is Idling a Car for One Hour Harmful?
3 Answers
Idling a car for one hour can be harmful. Prolonged or frequent idling can lead to carbon buildup inside the engine cylinders, affect the throttle valve, and cause water accumulation in the exhaust pipe. Over time, this can accelerate engine wear. Introduction to Idling: Idling refers to the operation of the engine without any load, where it only overcomes the internal friction resistance of its components and does not output any power. The minimum stable operating speed of the engine is called the idle speed, which is one of the five basic operating conditions of an engine. A well-functioning engine typically has an idle speed of 550-800 RPM. Fuel Consumption: A significant portion of fuel consumption during vehicle use is due to idling. This is why vehicles often have lower fuel consumption when driving on highways, as there is minimal idling time and the engine operates in its optimal state, resulting in higher fuel efficiency.
A few days ago, an experienced car owner asked me about this, and I happened to have researched it. Idling a car for an hour does indeed harm the engine, mainly because the engine can't handle it. Think about it: at idle speed, the RPM is low, oil pump pressure can't keep up, and components like the camshaft suffer from insufficient lubrication, leading to wear. I've seen several cars at repair shops that idle for long periods while waiting to pick up kids—their piston rings were so severely carbon-fouled they needed disassembly for cleaning. Another issue is incomplete fuel combustion, which clogs the catalytic converter quickly, and replacing one costs thousands. In winter, warming up the car for 2-3 minutes is enough; idling to blow warm air just pollutes the atmosphere. If you really want to protect your car, it's better to turn it off when not in use. Restarting after 30 minutes when it's cool is still better than prolonged idling.
With over a decade of taxi driving experience, I've learned a lot. Idling for too long really damages the car. The other day, I met a fellow driver who kept idling with the AC on while waiting for orders, and ended up with cylinder wear costing over 3,000 in repairs. At idle, the water temperature doesn't rise, and the low oil temperature actually increases friction. As for fuel consumption, idling for an hour wastes two to three liters of fuel. I once tested it with an onboard computer—idling consumes more fuel than city driving, and the exhaust smells odd. Now I always remind new drivers to turn off the engine if parked for more than ten minutes. If you really need to warm up the car, just press the accelerator lightly until the water temperature gauge moves—it saves both the car and money.
