What are the consequences of leaving a car running overnight without turning it off?
1 Answers
Leaving a car running overnight without turning it off will increase fuel consumption and carbon deposits, causing certain environmental pollution, so prolonged idling should be avoided as much as possible. If you need to wait for a long time after parking, it is generally recommended to turn off the engine if the wait exceeds 5 minutes. Idling is not a speed but rather an operational state. When the engine runs without load, it is referred to as idling. When the engine is running and the accelerator pedal is completely released, the engine enters an idling state. The effects of prolonged stationary idling on the engine are as follows: 1. Increased carbon deposits: If the engine idles for an extended period, the throttle opening will be very small, and the injector will spray highly concentrated fuel to maintain engine operation. Therefore, idling itself is more likely to cause carbon deposits compared to driving or highway speeds. Prolonged idling will inevitably lead to more severe carbon buildup in the engine. Carbon deposits directly affect the car's power and comfort. 2. Increased fuel consumption: During idling, the car's fuel consumption relatively increases. According to tests, idling for three minutes consumes fuel equivalent to driving one kilometer, and idling for 4 hours can consume almost 4-6 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 cylinder's sealing performance decreases, making it prone to knocking sounds and shortening the engine's lifespan. 4. Damage to the catalytic converter: Prolonged idling causes the engine's air-fuel mixture to become overly rich, reducing oxygen content in the exhaust. The unburned mixture may combust at the catalytic converter's location, potentially burning out the catalytic converter.
