Is It Harmful to Idle a Car for Two Hours?

[LaNorah]

It can have certain impacts on the car. The following are the hazards of prolonged idling: 1. Increased carbon buildup: When the engine idles for a long time, the throttle opening is very small, and the fuel injector sprays highly concentrated fuel to keep the engine running. Therefore, idling itself is more likely to cause carbon buildup compared to driving or highway speeds. Prolonged idling will definitely worsen engine carbon buildup. 2. Fuel consumption: The fuel consumption of a car is quite high when idling. According to tests, idling for three minutes consumes as much fuel as driving one kilometer, meaning two hours of idling can consume almost 2-3 liters of fuel. 3. Shortened engine lifespan: When the engine idles, the temperature and pressure in the cylinders are relatively low, prolonging the preparation time for fuel ignition. Additionally, the sealing of the cylinders decreases, making knocking sounds more likely and shortening the engine's lifespan. 4. Damage to the catalytic converter: Prolonged idling leads to an overly rich air-fuel mixture, resulting in low oxygen content in the exhaust. The unburned mixture can ignite at the catalytic converter, potentially damaging it.