Will You Suffocate from Sleeping in a Car with the Doors Closed?
2 Answers
Sleeping in a car with the doors closed will not cause suffocation. When the engine is turned off, the air circulation system usually remains in the external circulation mode, allowing fresh air from outside to enter the car through the air conditioning intake. Additionally, some air will also enter through the vents. Therefore, even with all the car doors and windows closed, occupants inside will not suffocate. More details are as follows: 1. You can sleep in the car after turning off the engine: The prerequisite is to be in an open and well-ventilated area, preferably with a window slightly open to ensure sufficient air exchange. 2. Do not sleep in the car with the engine idling and the air conditioning on: Prolonged idling of the engine can lead to incomplete fuel combustion, producing carbon monoxide gas. Inhaling excessive amounts of carbon monoxide can result in poisoning.
To be honest, I've tried sleeping in the car with the doors closed a few times. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal, but once I overslept and woke up feeling dizzy, realizing the oxygen had been gradually depleted. Cars aren't completely airtight—gaps around the doors and windows allow some air to circulate. A short nap of about twenty minutes is fine, but sleeping for several hours in a poorly ventilated garage or on a hot day can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide, making you feel stuffy. Worse yet, if the engine is running, exhaust fumes containing carbon monoxide can seep into the car—that stuff is silent, odorless, and deadly. I recommend cracking a window slightly or turning on the air conditioning in ventilation mode if you really need to sleep in the car. Keeping the air flowing makes it much safer. Safety first—don't be as reckless as I was in my younger days.
