Car idling for 8 hours - any potential damage?

Car idling for 8 hours - any potential damage?

Author
Discussion

RZSupra

Original Poster:

76 posts

220 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
My partner has just disclosed that she forgot to switch off the engine and left her car a petrol renault scenic idling all day whilst at work!

Amazingly no-one stole the car (or perhaps thieves have some taste) despite it being left open with keys in and engine running.

Is there likely to be any long-term damage to the engine?

Thanks

A911DOM

4,084 posts

237 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
RZSupra said:
My partner has just disclosed that she forgot to switch off the engine and left her car a petrol renault scenic idling all day whilst at work!

Amazingly no-one stole the car (or perhaps thieves have some taste) despite it being left open with keys in and engine running.

Is there likely to be any long-term damage to the engine?

Thanks
Only that inflicted during manufacture.

My commiserations, both on the car and the dappy wife wink

touching cloth

11,706 posts

241 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
I have nothing useful to say but..........rofl

tuffer

8,850 posts

269 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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At least it was warm for the trip home.

magnus911

584 posts

191 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Don't these engines get stress tested at full throttle for days and days? I guess that means it should be ok smile

blueg33

36,283 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Blonde per chance?

*Al*

3,830 posts

224 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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There will be no reason for any damage, as long as the engine regulated it's coolant temperature and never overheated then it will be fine.

Mastodon2

13,835 posts

167 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Just imagine if you owned a Supra, and she left that idling away. I doubt you could leave one of those running for long before someone nicked it...

*Al*

3,830 posts

224 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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I just wondering out of curosity now, how much fuel did it use?

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

206 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Can i just say as an electric car fan.


The problem with petrol cars is you just don't know they are running.

And whenever someone sayes they could never move to an electric car because of the lack of noise i can just point them at this thread

Heathwood

2,565 posts

204 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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We need to know more about this story. Just how do you manage to forget to turn the engine off??

V88Dicky

7,308 posts

185 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Apart from being a bit lighter, I'm sure the car will be fine, but.....rolleyes

How the feck?! Didn't she think it strange that she just jumped out of the car without locking it?

jb9193

809 posts

169 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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biglaughsmile

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

206 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Apart from being a bit lighter, I'm sure the car will be fine, but.....rolleyes

How the feck?! Didn't she think it strange that she just jumped out of the car without locking it?
Haven't locked any of my cars for ages

1 doesn't have any locks, the other doesn't have any locks that work and the shed i just don't care

Steamer

13,879 posts

215 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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Serious contender for a 'classic from the mrs' thread!!

s3fella

10,524 posts

189 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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fk me that's dim! But as a MMGW non beleiver, it is awesome too.


God news is the car is probably fine so long as the rad cooling fan is all working.

When I leave my car diling for more than 7 hours i tend to leave the heater runnning full bore just in case!

PS Please post a photo of your wife as punishment!

s3fella

10,524 posts

189 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
s3fella said:
fk me that's dim! But as a MMGW non beleiver, it is awesome too.


Good news is the car is probably fine so long as the rad cooling fan is all working.

When I leave my car diling for more than 7 hours i tend to leave the heater runnning full bore just in case!

PS Please post a photo of your wife as punishment!

vit4

3,507 posts

172 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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roflrofl


As others have said, as long as rad kicked in ok it should be fine. But seriously?!

Yuxi

648 posts

191 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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1000 hour idle test is a normal validation test, normally shows valvetrain wear.

Stedman

7,230 posts

194 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
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hehe