primitives discuss leaving car running overnight

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018561603

Oh my.

CTyankee (38,559 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:09 PM

Can you leave your car running overnight?

The reason I ask is because there was a Car Talk caller today who said members of the military stationed in Nepal used to leave a car running overnight during extreme cold weather and through some method transferred the warmth via the tailpipe to a cold car, enabling it to warm and then start up.
 
I find that odd, but I know nothing about cars. Wouldn't leaving a car running overnight harm the car? How long can you leave a car running anyway...I mean safely...?

<<<about two months ago, during a deep freeze, left the car running for four hours; was distracted and forgot all about it.

<<<was surprised that it'd consumed less than a gallon of gasoline while running.

loli phabay (5,380 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:27 PM

1. my vehicle runs non stop 24/7 for four days at a time, not sure about the manufacturers advice about this though.

CTyankee (38,559 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:29 PM

2. Idling or in motion?

loli phabay (5,380 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:36 PM

3. both, idles a lot as well as hard running, longest ive idled it was eight hours, almost ran outta gas.

CTyankee (38,559 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:38 PM

4. and it didn't do any damage to the car?

Wounded Bear (4,448 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:52 PM

5. Running a car continuously....

is probably better for it than turning it off and on. Most wear actually occurs during startup and first operation, when the oil is not properly distributed around the engine and parts are not fully expanded from heat.
 
Obviously, it will use up fuel and not be good for air quality in the area, but for cold nights, it's an option. When operating, it can't freeze up from cold weather.

TexasTowelie (6,756 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 04:53 PM

6. You could actually overheat your car engine if your air intake into the engine compartment is too low.

pipi_k (18,398 posts)   Sat Jan 25, 2014, 05:01 PM

7. Left ours running for almost 3 days straight a bunch of winters ago when a huge storm blew through and knocked out the power, the road couldn't be plowed, and the generator crapped out.
 
The battery was hooked up to some sort of inverter and plugged into a special outlet in the house.

hunter (18,245 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 05:20 PM

8. Electric engine heaters are cheaper than gasoline.

Better for the air too.

kristopher (23,721 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 06:18 PM

9. Catalytic converters can cause fires.

We all know the warnings about not parking over combustibles, but I saw a van that had been left idling catch fire on asphalt pavement once. I don't recall the particulars that well but the cat caused the asphalt to burn and that spread to the van. It was pretty new so perhaps there was a defect in the cat or something but it wasn't mine, and I didn't hear the follow up.

I'd bet there's a good chance that vehicles in Nepal don't have cats.

panader0 (10,400 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 06:27 PM

10. One night a friend and I were drinking and smoking and playing guitar.

We ran out of beer so he headed home to get more. We're out in the boonies. He never came back. He had left his truck running, gone inside for beer and passed out. The next day, his truck was out front, still running.

ConcernedCanuk (13,489 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 07:05 PM

11. Absolutely - the only governing factor is gas.

Barring any mechanical failure like fan belt, coolant or oil loss - yep - a gas engine can run for extended periods with no harm.
 
Most generators are gas, and they can run for days or weeks.

An exhaust hose such as they use in auto repair shops could certainly be used to funnel the exhaust heat underneath the engine of another vehicle to warm it up.
 
Another poster mentioned that most of an engines wear and tear is at start-up while the engine is cold.
 
This is true.

Vehicles' engines that run around the clock (like taxicabs and cop cars) last much longer than short commuter trips.
 
The only "safety" concern would be the exhaust - you wouldn't want the exhaust too close to a building where the fumes could enter a partially opened window or vent.
 
No danger of overheating as one poster mentioned, unless the car had some defect.
 
So - the only "danger" is running out of gas.

[I_B_Perky]

I read they actually do that up in the arctic circle at the industrial sites like mines, etc.

I don't know about gas vehicles but the train company never turns off their locomotive engines even when they are parked for days over on the side tracks.

[Skul]

ManBearPig just coughed up a hair ball. 

[JakeStyle]

They should sleep in their cars with the engine running, preferably in an enclosed space, like a garage.

[I_B_Perky]

They should sleep in their cars with the engine running, preferably in an enclosed space, like a garage.

 

H5 for making me LOL!!!!

[BlueStateSaint]

They should sleep in their cars with the engine running, preferably in an enclosed space, like a garage.

I was thinking the same thing.  Their net carbon footprint would decrease.

[Big Dog]

Context is everything:

kristopher (23,721 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 06:18 PM

9. ... I saw a van that had been left idling catch fire on asphalt pavement once. I don't recall the particulars that well but the cat caused the asphalt to burn and that spread to the van. It was pretty new so perhaps there was a defect in the cat or something but it wasn't mine, and I didn't hear the follow up.

I'd bet there's a good chance that vehicles in Nepal don't have cats.

[miskie]

Context is everything:

They're cats. They're all evil. Some are just better at hiding it than others. Our current cat used to hide it. She doesn't now.

She will look you straight in the eye as she knocks over the trash can.

[Gern]

ConcernedCanuk (13,489 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 07:05 PM

11. Absolutely - the only governing factor is gas.
 
Most generators are gas, and they can run for days or weeks

He's right on that...During the Great Ice StormTM of 2008 here in New England we were out of power for almost two weeks--my generator runs the whole house and I kept it on 24/7 the entire time, even filling it while it was running (which I know you're not supposed to do).

[marv]

A 40 watt bulb on an extension will do just fine; close to the battery, but not in physical contact.

[Gern]

A 40 watt bulb on an extension will do just fine; close to the battery, but not in physical contact.

Interesting...never thought of something as common sense as that. 

This actually generates enough heat to keep the battery warm, even in subzero temps with wind chills? 

I imagine the hood and engine casing would act as a sort of insulation.

[Delmar]

He's right on that...During the Great Ice StormTM of 2008 here in New England we were out of power for almost two weeks--my generator runs the whole house and I kept it on 24/7 the entire time, even filling it while it was running (which I know you're not supposed to do).

[BlueStateSaint]

First name is 'Carlos,' right?

[Big Dog]

Interesting...never thought of something as common sense as that. 

This actually generates enough heat to keep the battery warm, even in subzero temps with wind chills? 

I imagine the hood and engine casing would act as a sort of insulation.

Go to your local hardware store and get one of these (~$15):


Heat lamp

Some come with a clamp. Use a regular incandescent bulb, 40-60 watts (do not exceed 60 watts). Obamabulbs don't work.

[Chris_]

Go to your local hardware store and get one of these (~$15):


Heat lamp

Some come with a clamp. Use a regular incandescent bulb, 40-60 watts (do not exceed 60 watts). Obamabulbs don't work.

That works for keeping your pipes from freezing inside.  Put one under the kitchen sink (or wherever you have pipes that might leak).

[diesel driver]

I have a block heater on my truck to heat the coolant in very cold weather.  However, rather than running it all night, I have mine on a timer that cuts it on about 3 hours before I leave for work.

It won't hurt a gas engine to idle a lot, however, a diesel will start to dilute the crankcase oil with unburned diesel fuel from excessive idling.

[Gern]

Go to your local hardware store and get one of these (~$15):


Heat lamp

Some come with a clamp. Use a regular incandescent bulb, 40-60 watts (do not exceed 60 watts). Obamabulbs don't work.

hmm. Cool...maybe I'll try it. GF's car battery sometimes has trouble starting, she prob needs a new one, but this might work in the meantime.

[formerlurker]

Police vehicles run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

[catsmtrods]

I have a block heater on my truck to heat the coolant in very cold weather.  However, rather than running it all night, I have mine on a timer that cuts it on about 3 hours before I leave for work.

It won't hurt a gas engine to idle a lot, however, a diesel will start to dilute the crankcase oil with unburned diesel fuel from excessive idling.
 
 I think the same might happen in a carbureted gas engine?

[RobJohnson]

Police vehicles run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Unless they are eating doughnuts. 

[Karin]

panader0 (10,400 posts)    Sat Jan 25, 2014, 06:27 PM

10. One night a friend and I were drinking and smoking and playing guitar.

We ran out of beer so he headed home to get more. We're out in the boonies. He never came back. He had left his truck running, gone inside for beer and passed out.

What a charming little story!