vB Easy Archive - Whats the longest you've left your engine running?

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Whats the longest you've left your engine running?
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Posted by: Joel930

So, whats the longest you've ever left your engine running for?
I know its probably not much but i'd say my all time record is around 6-7 hours when I was on a road trip.
I'd be curious to know how long you've left your cars running for and also what was the reason for it.

Posted by: eimajuno

7-8 hours on a road trip.

Posted by: WRX2k3

2-3 hrs most. Always had a break every so often. Better for my bladder and better for my engine.

Posted by: Nokarola

the car i drive has probably been motor running for days (retired cab) but my personal best probably 4-5 hours in the Xcab, and 17hours in a van on a road trip.

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by Nokarola
the car i drive has probably been motor running for days (retired cab).

WOW! Leaving the engine running for that long HAS to cause some really bad damage, Right?

Posted by: Koofteh

I thought you meant how long I've left my car idling. I'm guessing my record would be 1-1.5 hours.

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by Shawn_230
I thought you meant how long I've left my car idling.

Yeah. Thats exactly what I meant.

Posted by: Nokarola

I hope not, i might have exagerated alittle but you have to imagine 2 guys working the car, one guy drive it around 12 hours, then goes to the other guy for him to drive it 12 hour back and forth. there must be times that it was turned it off but probably not for long (fueling, Restroom breaks, lunch). I think the car was working for 3 or 4 years, only had 65k on it when i got it, now it has close to 80k and not to many major repairs.

Posted by: phatroyale

8 hours driving straight down to NYC
didnt shut the car down for anything

Posted by: Roasted

I'm sorry but I don't see how 700 rpms (idling speed) can damage a car.

Now say your redline is 5,000 RPMs, if you hold it at 4,500 RPMs for 5 hours straight, then I can understand.

And as long as your oil is properly changed you should be fine, because the wind speed from you driving the car would be cooling the engine even more.

Posted by: bizzy928

Don't you guys have to refill on gas?

Most police cars are used 24/7/365. With the exception of refilling gas, human breaks, car maint etc.

Posted by: mittens

Quote:

Originally posted by Roasted
I'm sorry but I don't see how 700 rpms (idling speed) can damage a car.

well sometimes ilding for extended periods can have strain battery. the engine may not be working hard enough to recharge and such

Posted by: buhdussy

Quote:

Originally posted by Roasted
I'm sorry but I don't see how 700 rpms (idling speed) can damage a car.

Now say your redline is 5,000 RPMs, if you hold it at 4,500 RPMs for 5 hours straight, then I can understand.

And as long as your oil is properly changed you should be fine, because the wind speed from you driving the car would be cooling the engine even more.

Leaving a car at idle for to long can be very damaging. While a car is at idle the oil pressure is much lower and oil is not able to travel all the way to the top of the motor and it causes lifter knocks.

Posted by: thegentleMAN

After long trips they say its good to keep the engine at idle.

Posted by: pokerface

1 hour of idle at the most, but that doesnt happen often, and i dont approve of it either (parents waiting at the train station on cold winters)

Posted by: WoNGsTeR

one time this winter..... during my night job.. before i leave.. i would just warm up the car.. and go in and wait for a bit... one time.... while i was waiting.. i was very tired.. and fell asleep for 2 hrs!!.. ××××.. my car was idle for 2 hrs.. but thats the longest idle for my car

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by Nokarola
I hope not, i might have exagerated alittle but you have to imagine 2 guys working the car, one guy drive it around 12 hours, then goes to the other guy for him to drive it 12 hour back and forth. there must be times that it was turned it off but probably not for long (fueling, Restroom breaks, lunch). I think the car was working for 3 or 4 years, only had 65k on it when i got it, now it has close to 80k and not to many major repairs.

Oh thats not much for a cab. Usually yellow NYC taxi cabs have much higher mileage on them. For example a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria (former NYC yellow taxi cab) on ebay had 229k miles on it, and that was about 2 years ago. So thats very low for a taxi cab unless the odometer was rolled back.

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by WoNGsTeR
one time this winter..... during my night job.. before i leave.. i would just warm up the car.. and go in and wait for a bit... one time.... while i was waiting.. i was very tired.. and fell asleep for 2 hrs!!.. ××××.. my car was idle for 2 hrs.. but thats the longest idle for my car

LOL! You must've been pissed when you woke up thinking "Oh no, don't tell me I left the engine running for 2 friggin hours!".
LOL!

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by buhdussy
Leaving a car at idle for to long can be very damaging. While a car is at idle the oil pressure is much lower and oil is not able to travel all the way to the top of the motor and it causes lifter knocks.

Thanks for proving my point.

Posted by: Joel930

Quote:

Originally posted by eimajuno
7-8 hours on a road trip.

Straight through? What about when you stopped for gas?

Posted by: alpha tag

hmm.. maybe longest was 10 - 20 minutes.. but i shut her off since there's some law bout no engine idling for more than 3 minutes

Posted by: The Rex

sitting there idling? not too long, maybe a couple of minutes to warm her up in the mornings in winter

Posted by: Joel930

I'm talking about from the time you switch the key to on, to the time you switch the key to off.

This is where the GM engine hour meter comes in handy. Who would've known the odometer doubles as an engine timer. Gotta love that.