Long idles bad for the engine?

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 06:38 PM

I somehow forgot the car running in parking lot and went shopping and eating for approximately 3.5 hours, found out the engine was running the entire time when I came back. Inside was pretty hot compares to outside.

Was this bad for the engine? Like maybe carbon buildups?

PS: It wasn't the start/stop, I simply walked out of the car with engine idling. I was distracted

overcoil · 09-23-2017, 06:51 PM

Wouldn't worry about it.
Of course don't make a habit of doing it.
The only thing you could possibly do is change your oil if the think the engine got very hot - but that's just guessing.

Sportstick · 09-23-2017, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerfulF22

Forgot the car running in parking lot and went shopping and eating for approximately 3.5 hours, found out the engine was running the entire time when I came back.

Was this bad for the engine? Like maybe carbon buildups?

How does that even happen? As you get up and out of the seat, you don't know the engine is running? You locked the door with it running? Were you texting someone or taking a selfie???

Deutsche-Broke · 09-23-2017, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

How does that even happen?

I was, "jaw open" thinking the same thing.. It's not like it's a "silent" car..

I would have had to been at gunpoint to do that, and would probably would have gotten shot for instinctively reaching to lock the doors.

Sindarin · 09-23-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

How does that even happen? As you get up and out of the seat, you don't know the engine is running? You locked the door with it running? Were you texting someone or taking a selfie???

Probably had MSA (engine start stop) on. Pull into parking space and MSA shuts off engine. Get out of car without hitting start/stop button not knowing this leaves ignition on. Lock car and walk away. Some minutes later MSA starts engine due to battery charge getting low, climate control request, etc.. Come back to vehicle hours later and engine is running.
On newer cars or vehicles since programmed with ISTA/P verison 60.0 or newer it has added the three horn beeps if you try to lock the vehicle with the ignition on.

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

How does that even happen? As you get up and out of the seat, you don't know the engine is running? You locked the door with it running? Were you texting someone or taking a selfie???

I was thinking about some stuff I left in the trunk, I opened the trunk with the engine running, and forgot that because the parking lot was really noisy at the moment.

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sindarin

Probably had MSA (engine start stop) on. Pull into parking space and MSA shuts off engine. Get out of car without hitting start/stop button not knowing this leaves ignition on. Lock car and walk away. Some minutes later MSA starts engine due to battery charge getting low, climate control request, etc.. Come back to vehicle hours later and engine is running.
On newer cars or vehicles since programmed with ISTA/P verison 60.0 or newer it has added the three horn beeps if you try to lock the vehicle with the ignition on.

I don't have MSA on. I was just distracted. And I didn't hear the horn at all

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deutsche-Broke

I was, "jaw open" thinking the same thing.. It's not like it's a "silent" car..

I would have had to been at gunpoint to do that, and would probably would have gotten shot for instinctively reaching to lock the doors.

That's the weird thing. I locked the car doors with the engine on, I didn't hear the engine because the parking lot was very noisy. Why locking the car while engine is running and key outside the car is possible?

Kolyan2k · 09-23-2017, 08:09 PM

I used to idle basically all night many times in my Nissan back in college days. Car was fine with 160k miles on it, never even used synthetic oil

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Wouldn't worry about it.
Of course don't make a habit of doing it.
The only thing you could possibly do is change your oil if the think the engine got very hot - but that's just guessing.

I need to service the car anyway in about a month.
The inside of the car did get pretty hot, I mean a lot hotter then outside the car.

Deutsche-Broke · 09-23-2017, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerfulF22

That's the weird thing. I locked the car doors with the engine on, I didn't hear the engine because the parking lot was very noisy. Why locking the car while engine is running and key outside the car is possible?

My guess is either Granville or Ikea (Richmond)..

3rdcoast228i · 09-23-2017, 08:44 PM

My dad left his v6 challenger on at work for 10 hours once. (Very loud area, you wouldn't hear it running) It didn't seem to hurt it.

3.0L · 09-23-2017, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerfulF22

I don't have MSA on. I was just distracted. And I didn't hear the horn at all

I think just about everyone is faced with distractions on a daily basis: noise; climate (wind); finances; job; and oh yeah, females (dual carburetors, etc.).

No big deal. Next time, simply glance at the gauges before exiting the vehicle, particularly the tachometer. I'm sure the girl won't notice the extra couple of seconds of preoccupation before the preoccupation. Heh!

PowerfulF22 · 09-23-2017, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3.0L

I think just about everyone is faced with distractions on a daily basis: noise; climate (wind); finances; job; and oh yeah, females (dual carburetors, etc.).

No big deal. Next time, simply glance at the gauges before exiting the vehicle, particularly the tachometer. I'm sure the girl won't notice the extra couple of seconds of preoccupation before the preoccupation. Heh!

Great suggestion! Appreciated

pz619 · 09-24-2017, 12:04 AM

I've left my 3er on all night (14 hrs or so) on accident on account of not noticing the car was in start/stop mode and not off. No ill effects.

Ron Jeffries · 09-24-2017, 08:35 AM

i can definitely imagine the car starting itself in the garage.

hope i can code auto/start entirely off ...

Sportstick · 09-24-2017, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

i can definitely imagine the car starting itself in the garage.

hope i can code auto/start entirely off ...

You don't have to code it off. Just press the button above the ignition to turn it off, and unless you select Eco mode, it will stay off. Mine has been off for 3 years.

pz619 · 09-24-2017, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

i can definitely imagine the car starting itself in the garage.

hope i can code auto/start entirely off ...

You don't have to code it off. Just press the button above the ignition to turn it off, and unless you select Eco mode, it will stay off. Mine has been off for 3 years.

It?s not a problem on the newer cars. On the older ones it would turn it self on every time you started the car. Also wouldn?t shut off if you left the car and locked it. Both of these things were remedied with software updates.

Sportstick · 09-24-2017, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pz619

It?s not a problem on the newer cars. On the older ones it would turn it self on every time you started the car. Also wouldn?t shut off if you left the car and locked it. Both of these things were remedied with software updates.

It's works as described on my 2015MY. There's only one year of 2 Series older than that.

Tpeterson · 09-24-2017, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerfulF22

I somehow forgot the car running in parking lot and went shopping and eating for approximately 3.5 hours, found out the engine was running the entire time when I came back. Inside was pretty hot compares to outside.

Was this bad for the engine? Like maybe carbon buildups?

PS: It wasn't the start/stop, I simply walked out of the car with engine idling. I was distracted

The engine management system on a modern fuel injected engine will always use the correct air/fuel ratio so no carbon build up. You just wasted gasoline.

In the future, keep the remote in your pocket and the engine won't run after you leave.

Kolyan2k · 09-24-2017, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tpeterson

The engine management system on a modern fuel injected engine will always use the correct air/fuel ratio so no carbon build up. You just wasted gasoline.

In the future, keep the remote in your pocket and the engine won't run after you leave.

What do u mean it won't run without the remote, it runs just fine

3.0L · 09-24-2017, 03:40 PM

This thread reminds me of way back when I was a kid and the new
diesel/electric railroad engines arrived to replace the steam engines.
We lived about a mile from a main switch yard and I can still recall
those diesel/electrics sitting there all night, idling. The crews simply
set the parking brakes, locked the doors and went home! I guess it
was easier on those diesels to leave them running.

09-23-2017, 06:38 PM	#1
PowerfulF22 Private 21 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 228i Xdrive Coupé Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia iTrader: (0)	Long idles bad for the engine? I somehow forgot the car running in parking lot and went shopping and eating for approximately 3.5 hours, found out the engine was running the entire time when I came back. Inside was pretty hot compares to outside. Was this bad for the engine? Like maybe carbon buildups? PS: It wasn't the start/stop, I simply walked out of the car with engine idling. I was distracted Last edited by PowerfulF22; 09-24-2017 at 11:24 AM..
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09-23-2017, 06:51 PM	#2
overcoil Major General 3081 Rep 5,580 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	Wouldn't worry about it. Of course don't make a habit of doing it. The only thing you could possibly do is change your oil if the think the engine got very hot - but that's just guessing.
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09-23-2017, 08:09 PM	#9
Kolyan2k Major General 930 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	I used to idle basically all night many times in my Nissan back in college days. Car was fine with 160k miles on it, never even used synthetic oil
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09-23-2017, 08:44 PM	#12
3rdcoast228i Captain 225 Rep 610 Posts Drives: 2016 228i Msport Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	My dad left his v6 challenger on at work for 10 hours once. (Very loud area, you wouldn't hear it running) It didn't seem to hurt it.
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09-24-2017, 12:04 AM	#15
pz619 Brigadier General 3280 Rep 3,257 Posts Drives: F87 M2C 6MT, Tesla 3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	I've left my 3er on all night (14 hrs or so) on accident on account of not noticing the car was in start/stop mode and not off. No ill effects.
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09-24-2017, 08:35 AM	#16
Ron Jeffries Old Member. Old in general, actually. 388 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i xDrive convertible Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	hmm this troubles me i can definitely imagine the car starting itself in the garage. hope i can code auto/start entirely off ...
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09-24-2017, 03:40 PM	#22
3.0L Colonel 8950 Rep 2,010 Posts Drives: M235i, 20k miles Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	This thread reminds me of way back when I was a kid and the new diesel/electric railroad engines arrived to replace the steam engines. We lived about a mile from a main switch yard and I can still recall those diesel/electrics sitting there all night, idling. The crews simply set the parking brakes, locked the doors and went home! I guess it was easier on those diesels to leave them running. __________________ ///M235i \| Mineral Grey Metallic \| Premium Package \| Technology Package \| Driver Assistance Package \| Dakota Coral Red/Black Leather \| Harman/Kardon Premium 360 watt sound system \| 8-speed automatic When writing your life's plan, use a pencil with an eraser
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