Is it ok to idle in a car for a long period of time?

Question

For example I sometimes take a nap in my car while on break at work. Does this damage my car?

Answer 1

no it wont hurt it ,it just uses gas up,i think we all have did that a few times though,but its no worse on it than driving it,good luck.

Answer 2

if your break is a couple of days then it wouldn't be a good idea lol if it's only a half hour or even an hour that's perfectly fine, unless you're in a garage or something =) i do the exact same thing all the time, i have for a couple years now. it would take years of study to prove whether it's bad or not, but i can't see how it could be bad, that's what engines are designed to do! look at cops and taxis, their vehicles idle for hours, sometimes days on end.....

Answer 3

Yes. The cooling system is not able to sufficiently cool the engine at idle. For a traffic light or a traffic jam, it's okay but the length of a nap? No.

Answer 4

i have to agree with the dodge man, long periods of idling will only do damage to your wallet, burning gas. at idle you actually produce the least amount of heat, a rich mixture burns cooler than you think. i would be more concerned of a car jacking than doing long term damage to the car. as long as you have sufficient coolant and all vital fluids are full, i see absolutely no problem to allow the engine to idle for long periods....

Answer 5

In hot weather, to lessen the risk of overheating, leave the hood up if you must idle the engine for a long time.

Answer 6

Not only is that a complete waste of gas but it is worse for the enviroment. TURN THE DAM THING OFF!!! WHY DO YOU DO THAT??? No it is not bad but it uses more gas than you do driving.