Is it bad to idle the engine?

[etc]

2000 2.2L 5spd

Is it bad to idle it in really hot weather, with the AC on?

Does the engine have to work harder?

For how long is it safe to idle it?

[etc]

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.a...51b22d6e2b26c6

[trickyazn]

eh im still sleeping in my car with the a/c on, beats sleeping in a 110 degree car anyday

[etc]

I don't idle it anymore for more than 3 mins.

[trickyazn]

idling car for 2 hours FTW

[Rick@CTCorvette]

Originally Posted by etc

I don't idle it anymore for more than 3 mins.

Letting your Camry idle for 5 minutes with all the accesories on is just fine. Here's an example of how too much idle time can cause damage. Lets take your typical Ford Crown Vic police interceptor. They spend more of their life idleing than driving. Thats what kills them so quickly. 80K miles but 10,000 hours of idle time with the a/c on and the hood popped. The same car driven daily will last almost twice as long wihout all the idle time. Hope this helps

[Forced Induxion]

as long as your temp guage isn't reading hotter than normal you should be fine.

[trickyazn]

simple solution: rev your car after idling for a while.

[Ken4]

For old carburettor cars, extended idling is a problem bcos is caused a condition known as fuel dilution. For modern fuel injected engines with 02 sensor, extended idling is not a problem. In fact, idling cools the engine oil and is less stress on the oil. However, the down side is that the cooling system heats up bcos of lack of air flow thru the radiator. So the electric radiator fans have to work harder. Also idling gives you zero mpg. Conservative estimate is about 1 gallon per hour of idling. If you're feeling rich, go ahead.

[toyomoho]

Engines are designed for a certain amount of idling. Otherwise they would never last in stop and go driving. If the water temp is OK, the engine should be OK.

[marc780]

Is it bad to idle it in really hot weather, with the AC on? Does the engine have to work harder? For how long is it safe to idle it?

WARNING LONG POST FOLLOWS

Idling is not good for the engine. Anymore than overrevving. But of course it is something we all have to do in our cars!!! but your question is how much is too much and is there anything i can do to help the engine. So yeah i have an answer for you but its long.

Allow me to explain what happens in the engine at idle to the mechanical parts, since many seem curious about this -

Item 1, Idling is tough on the valve train, especially the camshaft. At idle the cam lobes are fighting the entire tension of the valve springs. But At higway speed, there is more mechanical inertia goin on in there and this makes a (normal condition called "valve float". Bottom line is that at highway speeds the cam has a much lighter load imposed on it. And another reason why highway driven engines give much more mileage on the odomoter before they need overhaulin.

2. More blowby from combustion process at idle. The engine vacuum is at its very highest, this means more PCV gases forming in the plenum cause they are not being burned as fast, and air intake parts like the infamous TBI and IAC to get gummed up alot faster. Engine oil gets dirtier faster too for this and other similar reasons caused by idling.

3. Gasoline engines are not really designed for steady rpm that doesnt change for hours. Deisel engines ar made for this, gasoline ditto are not. The Cam engine will do it but there might be a durability penalty at 180K, or thereabouts when it needs engine work. So vary the idle speed!

4. Cooling! Notice when you take it in for Smog the guy puts the giant fan in front of the engine to blow air through the radiator while he tests the engine? At idling theres no air going through the radiator, which of course might increase chance of overheating. And thats the last thing you want of course.

So ultimately, what can you do, if i were in your unusual situation here's what i would try, some unusual solutions!

-Use Mobil 1 oil, it is your single best bet to minimize engine wear.
-Run the heater if you can (my guess is you cant though), it helps get rid of some of the heat.
-Vary your idle speed sometimes (with your right foot not settings), this will help circulate the oil faster.
-When your hot weather driving is done and you are about to shut off the engine, wait for a minute. Put car in park and fast rev the engine for a minute or two before shutting it off. This helps the engine to cool off just a little by circulating water through the engine and evening out the temperatures.

[kenny1773]

Is it bad to idle the engine?

Yes, avoid it as much as you can within reason.

Don't sit in your car with the AC on for 10-15 minutes while your wife/gf runs into the store to buy something.

When gas prices were lower, I went with the 5 minute rule. less than 5 minutes it was OK to idle.

Now that gas prices are high, I don't idle for more than 30 seconds.

[Forced Induxion]

Originally Posted by kenny1773

Yes, avoid it as much as you can within reason.

Don't sit in your car with the AC on for 10-15 minutes while your wife/gf runs into the store to buy something.

When gas prices were lower, I went with the 5 minute rule. less than 5 minutes it was OK to idle.

Now that gas prices are high, I don't idle for more than 30 seconds.

that is a matter of opinion...

however you will not damage your car simply by idling unless your car has trouble with the cooling system. As I and another person on this thread have previously said... just watch your temp guage (which measures the temperature of your coolant/water). It'll tell you if your engine is getting hot. If its in normal range then theres nothing to worry about.

[etc]

marc780 vbmenu_register("postmenu_1335703", true);

Thanks for the long explanation. It confirms my suspicions.

[Camry005man]

Idling more than 3 min is not allowed here, police can give you ticket, that's the law, second the price of gas too high.