What are the effects of prolonged idling on a car?

[SarahRose]

Prolonged idling of a car can have several effects: 1. If the engine idles for a long time, the throttle opening will be very small, and the fuel injector will spray a high concentration of fuel to keep the engine running. Therefore, idling itself is more likely to cause carbon deposits compared to driving or high-speed driving. Prolonged idling will definitely lead to more severe carbon deposits in the engine. 2. According to tests, idling for three minutes consumes fuel equivalent to driving one kilometer. This means that idling for two hours can consume almost 2-3 liters of fuel. 3. 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 it easier to produce knocking sounds and shortening the engine's lifespan. 4. During prolonged idling, the engine's air-fuel mixture becomes too rich, and the exhaust gas contains low oxygen levels. The unburned mixture can ignite at the location of the three-way catalytic converter, potentially damaging it.