How Long Can A Car Engine Run At Idle Until It Overheats?

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How long can a car engine run at idle until it overheats?

• Thread starter jtvang125
• Start date Aug 29, 2006

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jtvang125

Diamond Member

Nov 10, 2004 5,399 51 91 Considering the level of gas is monitored and refilled when low, how long can the engine run at idle until it overheats. The only cooling it has is its own cooling system and no air is being blown into the engine compartment. The engine and cooling system is in good running order and the car is placed in a 80 degree environment. A

Armitage

Banned

Feb 23, 2001 8,086 0 0 It should run indefinitely.

FoBoT

No Lifer

Apr 30, 2001 63,084 15 81 fobot.com until something breaks? why would it overheat if it isn't broken? A

ArchCenturion

Senior member

Aug 6, 2006 890 0 0 forever? Or until your cooling system breaks. F

fbrdphreak

Lifer

Apr 17, 2004 17,555 1 0

Originally posted by: jtvang125 Considering the level of gas is monitored and refilled when low, how long can the engine run at idle until it overheats. The only cooling it has is its own cooling system and no air is being blown into the engine compartment. The engine and cooling system is in good running order and the car is placed in a 80 degree environment. Click to expand...

The only cooling it has is its own cooling system? As in the radiator fans that cool the radiator? Why wouldn't it run?

Specop 007

Diamond Member

Jan 31, 2005 9,454 0 0 Until something breaks, such as the fan belt or thermostat or some other part. B

Biggerhammer

Golden Member

Jan 16, 2003 1,531 0 0 Assuming properly functioning systems, it should get to operating temperature and stay there until you run out of gas. (Then, it'll cool down to ambient again ) J

jtvang125

Diamond Member

Nov 10, 2004 5,399 51 91

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine?

MrChad

Lifer

Aug 22, 2001 13,507 3 81

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system.htm Most modern cars are liquid-cooled, not air-cooled. L

LordUnum

Golden Member

Jul 3, 2001 1,153 0 0

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

RADFAN FTW! You don't need much airflow at all to keep an idling engine cool. A

Armitage

Banned

Feb 23, 2001 8,086 0 0

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

The fan is pulling air through the radiator. That's all it needs.

Amused

Elite Member

Apr 14, 2001 57,547 20,262 146 All modern water cooled cars have radiator fans. Only air cooled older VWs and V-twin motorcycles will overheat if left idling. Your car will simply run out of gas if it's in good repair and functioning properly.

Zenmervolt

Elite member

Oct 22, 2000 24,514 44 91

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

Only if there are fans to pull air through the radiator. There absolutely must be airflow through the radiator for a car (in very cold weather, some semi trucks may not need this because their cooling systems are massively over-engineered in order to be able to stand pulling several tons through places like AZ in the summer at 80 mph and 130 degrees, but I'm not sure). The fans in an engine compartment are not to blow air on the engine, they are to pull air through the radiator. ZV

Specop 007

Diamond Member

Jan 31, 2005 9,454 0 0

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

Only if there are fans to pull air through the radiator. There absolutely must be airflow through the radiator for a car (in very cold weather, some semi trucks may not need this because their cooling systems are massively over-engineered in order to be able to stand pulling several tons through places like AZ in the summer at 80 mph and 130 degrees, but I'm not sure). The fans in an engine compartment are not to blow air on the engine, they are to pull air through the radiator. ZV Click to expand...

I can attest to not needing it. Our Jetta TDI, hell I could drain the radiator I swear, if its under...ohhh....20 degrees or so. get around 0 and you'll be at your destination before its warmed up.

JulesMaximus

No Lifer

Jul 3, 2003 74,600 1,005 126 It should not overheat when running at idle. If it does, there's something wrong with it. I've sat in a 100 degree parking lot in the sun with the windows up and the A/C blasting for a good 30-40 minutes in my Maxima while my son slept in the back. The gauge never moved up past normal. J

jtvang125

Diamond Member

Nov 10, 2004 5,399 51 91

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

Only if there are fans to pull air through the radiator. There absolutely must be airflow through the radiator for a car (in very cold weather, some semi trucks may not need this because their cooling systems are massively over-engineered in order to be able to stand pulling several tons through places like AZ in the summer at 80 mph and 130 degrees, but I'm not sure). The fans in an engine compartment are not to blow air on the engine, they are to pull air through the radiator. ZV Click to expand...

Yes, I know the fan is not meant to blow air to the engine but to draw air from the outside and through the radiator to cool the coolant. I just wasn't sure if this was efficient enough to keep the coolant cool for an extended amount of time.

Raduque

Lifer

Aug 22, 2004 13,140 138 106

Originally posted by: jtvang125 Considering the level of gas is monitored and refilled when low, how long can the engine run at idle until it overheats. The only cooling it has is its own cooling system and no air is being blown into the engine compartment. The engine and cooling system is in good running order and the car is placed in a 80 degree environment. Click to expand...

Sounds like an experiment! Try it and report back.

JulesMaximus

No Lifer

Jul 3, 2003 74,600 1,005 126

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Armitage It should run indefinitely. Click to expand...

So the cooling system is efficient enough to keep the engine cool even without air moving to the engine? Click to expand...

Only if there are fans to pull air through the radiator. There absolutely must be airflow through the radiator for a car (in very cold weather, some semi trucks may not need this because their cooling systems are massively over-engineered in order to be able to stand pulling several tons through places like AZ in the summer at 80 mph and 130 degrees, but I'm not sure). The fans in an engine compartment are not to blow air on the engine, they are to pull air through the radiator. ZV Click to expand...

Yes, I know the fan is not meant to blow air to the engine but to draw air from the outside and through the radiator to cool the coolant. I just wasn't sure if this was efficient enough to keep the coolant cool for an extended amount of time. Click to expand...

A typical internal combustion engine operates at a temperature of between 190 and 200 degrees F and should be able to idle for an extended amount of time without overheating in most conditions. Unless it's a British car of course.

Vic

Elite Member

Jun 12, 2001 50,422 14,337 136

Originally posted by: Amused All modern water cooled cars have radiator fans. Only air cooled older VWs and V-twin motorcycles will overheat if left idling. Your car will simply run out of gas if it's in good repair and functioning properly. Click to expand...

Even an old air-cooled VW should be able to run indefinitely at idle without overheating. There is a cooling fan, located inside the shroud, that is turned by the generator pulley. F

flxnimprtmscl

Diamond Member

Jan 30, 2003 7,962 2 0 Until the rapture. A

Armitage

Banned

Feb 23, 2001 8,086 0 0

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl Until the rapture. Click to expand...

Or the rupture, whichever comes first

FoBoT

No Lifer

Apr 30, 2001 63,084 15 81 fobot.com is this on or off a treadmill? which direction is the treadmill rotating? A

Armitage

Banned

Feb 23, 2001 8,086 0 0

Originally posted by: FoBoT is this on or off a treadmill? which direction is the treadmill rotating? Click to expand...

Ban!

xanis

Lifer

Sep 11, 2005 17,571 8 0 Until your cooling system or something else breaks.

BW86

Lifer

Jul 20, 2004 13,114 30 91 until you run out of gas

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