Is It Seriously Harmful to Leave the Car Running Overnight?
2 Answers
Leaving the car running overnight can cause certain harms. Related explanations: 1. Carbon deposits: Prolonged idling extends the time for the engine to reach normal operating temperature, slowing down the evaporation of gasoline sprayed onto the back of the valves, leading to carbon buildup. Additionally, frequent idling reduces the airflow into the engine, weakening the scouring effect on carbon deposits and promoting their accumulation. 2. High fuel consumption: If the vehicle remains in an idling state, it continues to inject fuel, resulting in significant fuel consumption. 3. Damage to electronic components: Modern vehicles are equipped with an increasing number of electronic components, all of which consume power when the vehicle is running. Even if some functions are not activated, they remain connected and consume a certain amount of electricity. Leaving them on will continuously drain the battery.
This is really tough on the car! Last time I accidentally left my car idling at the doorstep overnight, and the next morning the engine bay reeked of carbon buildup. While short-term idling isn't an issue, leaving it running all night is brutal on the engine internals – piston rings can get gummed up, and engine oil oxidizes and deteriorates. My old Ford Focus suffered because of this, and the mechanic said the cylinder walls even got scratched. Plus, it's a huge fuel waster – at 0.8 liters per hour idling, you're burning at least 5-6 liters overnight, enough to drive 80-100 km. Don't forget the safety risks either – my neighbor once nearly got poisoned by exhaust fumes backing up into the garage. So no matter how tired you are, always check the tachometer before leaving the car!
