NEED HELP: why turn off car engine when stationary?

[kw10]

OK, if you were to park for an hour or so, why should you have to switch your engine off? (the person in the car wants air-con therefore wants engine on)

And obviously I know about the environment and fuel wasting, any OTHER reasons??? (because the person I'm trying to convince is not buying into them)

[Kiorrik]

That person must be American. An hour is a *[dang]* long time to leave your car running. Sorry, no other reasons. Perhaps you should paint the big picture and sketch what it would mean if EVERYONE would leave their cars on for one hour a week for that particular reason. Because that's the reason you should turn it off: if everyone does, it helps the environment and especially our kids and their kids to live in a world that's not gone to waste.

Just a thought

[kw10]

It's a shame that the person don't get it. It's just....killing me. Thanks for tips anyway.

[Actionjakson]

Leaving your car on for one minute uses the same gas as starting it up. So, unless you are going to be parked for less than a minute, it will be a waste of gas to let it sit.

[indeedproceed]

Leaving your car on for one minute uses the same gas as starting it up. So, unless you are going to be parked for less than a minute, it will be a waste of gas to let it sit.

Even the one minute thing isn't true anymore. I heard this question on car talk one day but something about how in older models (like pre 1995) in order to start the car a chamber had to fill with fuel. That amount of fuel was roughly equivelent to 2-3 mins of running idle. You could turn off your car in the drive thru and it would save gas.

[Roy Hobbs]

Question:  why does the person have to park for an hour?  Why can't they get out and walk around, go inside, etc.?  Because frankly, if I'm sitting in a car in the sun for an hour, I'd want my air conditioning on, too.

[kw10]

Question:  why does the person have to park for an hour?  Why can't they get out and walk around, go inside, etc.?  Because frankly, if I'm sitting in a car in the sun for an hour, I'd want my air conditioning on, too.

That's a good question...maybe I'll chuck the person out of the car hahahah. But assuming that's not possible, would you really turn you aircon on if you had to sit in a shaded place(on a fairly warm day)?

[JSD]

I wish I had the problem of wishing the air conditioning was on... 

[Roy Hobbs]

Question:  why does the person have to park for an hour?  Why can't they get out and walk around, go inside, etc.?  Because frankly, if I'm sitting in a car in the sun for an hour, I'd want my air conditioning on, too.

That's a good question...maybe I'll chuck the person out of the car hahahah. But assuming that's not possible, would you really turn you aircon on if you had to sit in a shaded place(on a fairly warm day)?

It depends upon how hot it was in the car.  There's a reason that animal rights groups tell you not to leave pets in the car while you're in a car; they act like a quasi-oven.  If it was very hot, I'd prefer using the air conditioning rather than sitting there and baking in my own sweat.

Again, though, my first option would be to find something else to do rather than waiting in the car.

[JSD]

Question:  why does the person have to park for an hour?  Why can't they get out and walk around, go inside, etc.?  Because frankly, if I'm sitting in a car in the sun for an hour, I'd want my air conditioning on, too.

That's a good question...maybe I'll chuck the person out of the car hahahah. But assuming that's not possible, would you really turn you aircon on if you had to sit in a shaded place(on a fairly warm day)?

It depends upon how hot it was in the car.  There's a reason that animal rights groups tell you not to leave pets in the car while you're in a car; they act like a quasi-oven.  If it was very hot, I'd prefer using the air conditioning rather than sitting there and baking in my own sweat.

Again, though, my first option would be to find something else to do rather than waiting in the car.

It gets pretty freaking hot in Sydney, Australia. I'd request the AC myself. Sorry

[kw10]

Question:  why does the person have to park for an hour?  Why can't they get out and walk around, go inside, etc.?  Because frankly, if I'm sitting in a car in the sun for an hour, I'd want my air conditioning on, too.

That's a good question...maybe I'll chuck the person out of the car hahahah. But assuming that's not possible, would you really turn you aircon on if you had to sit in a shaded place(on a fairly warm day)?

It depends upon how hot it was in the car.  There's a reason that animal rights groups tell you not to leave pets in the car while you're in a car; they act like a quasi-oven.  If it was very hot, I'd prefer using the air conditioning rather than sitting there and baking in my own sweat.

Again, though, my first option would be to find something else to do rather than waiting in the car.

It gets pretty freaking hot in Sydney, Australia. I'd request the AC myself. Sorry

mmmm...interesting, maybe I'm too much of an environmentalist lol

But thanks again to everyone for their thoughts.

[Finkelskyhook]

Leaving your car on for one minute uses the same gas as starting it up. So, unless you are going to be parked for less than a minute, it will be a waste of gas to let it sit.

.....And the average starter on a late model car costs about $250.  So leave it running.

[bopna]

Why is this not in the Ask Edgar thread?