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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you shouldn't leave your car engines running?

254 replies

TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 09:51

First thing in the morning all I can hear from around 6am through until 9am is the sound of car engines runnings.
It provides a constant hum in the background and pollutes the air.

Can I ask why people don't cover their car windows with sheets? Or invest in de-icer?
My dh gets up at 5.15am to leave for work at 6am but he wouldn't dream of letting his car engine run, thus disturbing our neighbours. He throws the kettle over the car and sprays it with de-icer. Yes ok it's a trifle cold when he gets in the car, but it soon warms up.

So what is it with these selfish people who come out of their houses, start up their cars and then leave the engines running for half an hour whilst they have a cup of tea? How can they afford the petrol?

If you do this, please stop. It pollutes the air and I can guarantee that your neighbours are thoroughly pissed off with it.

OP posts:
aldiwhore · 06/02/2012 09:53

Tough.

Cars pollute the air, or are the only dirty when stationary?
De-icer is horrible stuff.
Sheets get nicked.

Wind yer neck in! Wink

YANBU to find it annoying. YABU to expect me to stop.

GypsyMoth · 06/02/2012 09:53

It's not using much in the way of petrol though? It's just the engine ticking over Confused

And de icer? It's chemicals too and isn't very good for the car

WorraLiberty · 06/02/2012 09:54

If he throws a kettle over the car, I seriously hope he does it on the driveway and not where the Postman is likely to go arse over tit.

I think people who do it are warming the engine though aren't they?

I don't drive so I stand to be corrected.

aldiwhore · 06/02/2012 09:55

Yes Worra... DH just nodded from his sick bed, its primarily to warm the engine. Ragging a cold engine isn't kind to the car at all.

Finallyfinally · 06/02/2012 09:56

He throws water from the kettle over it? You're lucky it hasn't cracked. The glass may be toughened, but it's not magic!

And the blower also needs to be on to clear condensation on the inside. Do you drive?

southeastastra · 06/02/2012 09:56

whenever i've covered my windscreen the cover gets stuck to it Grin

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 06/02/2012 09:58

I'm happy to spend the few pence in petrol that it costs to have a car running for five minutes. Its cheaper than de icer. Sheets do not warm my freezing steering wheel up.

WorraLiberty · 06/02/2012 10:00
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:00

Yeah alright, he doesn't literally throw the kettle over it! Grin

So you really think it's ok to start the engine and then walk away? Really?
Yes I do drive although I prefer to walk. On the occasions when I have to take the car out I throw warm (not hot) water over the windscreen with the wipers on and the other windows.
Then I get in and make sure the blowers are on, then I wipe the windscreen from the inside and I'm good to go.
It takes a little effort but I could never just turn on the engine and leave it running. I would feel too guilty.

It IS a nuisance to just hear car engines throbbing away. It's not a pleasant noise to wake up to and it irritates the hell out of me.

OP posts:
StuckUpTheFarawayTree · 06/02/2012 10:00

This really pisses me off. Water from the kettle, not engines running, that is.

Hot, or even warm water can crack your windscreen. It can also refreeze, thus bring a waste of time having done it in the first place. Lastly, it is downright dangerous, as the water that drips onto the path from the car is almost guaranteed to freeze making it treacherous.

Tequilamockinbird · 06/02/2012 10:00

De-icer is ok for the outside but the condensation on the inside is a nightmare. It's a case of leave engine running for 10 mins before getting in, or sit in car on drive for 10 mins before driving away.

Either way, car will be stationary with engine running though.

YABU

YonSeaCow · 06/02/2012 10:01

Tough titty! I can't drive away with a steamed up car so I'd sit there running it until it warmed up so wasn't steamy! I usually manually scrape ice off as de-icer is nasty.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:04

And these cars are not left running for a few minutes, the owners turn the engine over then go back inside for up to half an hour.

A neighbour parked his car outside our house one day last SUMMER, then got up at 5.30am, turned the engine on and went back inside his house for half an hour. On the third day of him doing this, my dh went out, opened his car door and turned the engine off for him.
The guy came out, had words and apologised once he realised what a knob he was being. This was outside OUR house not his and it was in SUMMER.

Now that it's winter we have cars out the front of our house and at the side, plus the ones just across the road and they all leave their engines running.

I think it's lazy. Our engines have never suffered from starting up cold.

OP posts:
Ladygahgah · 06/02/2012 10:04

I turn my engine on then leave it on whilst I scrape the windows. De icer IMO is far worse than warming my car for two minutes. You are lucky the hot water has not cracked the screen. Also if I scraped my windows then got in the car i would still have to warm it up before I drove off as I would need to de-mist the interior windows anyway! YABU in shortGrin

GypsyMoth · 06/02/2012 10:05

The distant hum of a running engine is annoying? Seriously? It's not like it's being revved up is it? Can think of far worse noises to wake up to

StrandedBear · 06/02/2012 10:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:05

YonSeaCow - you sit there at least and wait until the steam has gone.
Most people just walk back inside and have their breakfast whilst the engine is running.

Sorry but the windscreens don't crack if you pour warm water on them and they don't freeze over if the wipers are going.

OP posts:
SetFiretotheRain · 06/02/2012 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whatmeworry · 06/02/2012 10:06

Hot water from a kettle will freeze in seconds. De icer is a nasty cocktail of chemicals and doesn't stop window comdensation, which is far more dangerous when driving.

Running the engine warms up the interior which stops condensation. It also keeps me warm.

So, YABU.

marialuisa · 06/02/2012 10:07

As others have said, I leave it running to clear the windscreen on the inside (Takes about 2 mins). On the one occasion i did as you suggest (wiped a space and drove straight off) it fogged back up within 10m so I had to pull over (I live on a main road) as it was dnagerous to drive.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:07

TIFFANY - it is not distant if the cars are all parked within half a metre of your house.

And diesel engines are worse.

Are you not afraid of someone just driving off with your cars?

OP posts:
YonSeaCow · 06/02/2012 10:08

I wouldn't be putting my car on and nobbing off for half an hour! That seems a bit loony to me! I might pop it on to heat and stand around it having a fag til it warms up if I don't get in. I'd then turn it off again and go brush my teeth before coming back and setting off to work.

LtEveDallas · 06/02/2012 10:08

You shouldn't wipe condensation from your windscreen - it leaves smears that will show up when you least expect
it and make your visibility poorer.

It takes a good 10 mins with heaters on full to clear the windscreen - whether you are in the car or not

You shouldn't clear the outside of the windscreen with warm water as it can re-freeze and make the road/path dangerous for other car users / pedestrians.

sorry, YABU.

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 06/02/2012 10:10

Why should people sit there freezing when the solution is so simple?

I agree they shouldn't leave the engine running for half an hour, but that's up to them. If anyone dared to turn my engine off when I had turned it on they owud get a mouthful, your dh was very rude doing that when he could have just spoken to the man if he had a problem.

We all have to deal with the things that other people do. If you don't want to hear other people's engines, buy a detached house with an acre of land on all sides.

HairyBeaver · 06/02/2012 10:10

Well I have to leave my car running for 5-10 mins to warm up as otherwise it stalls/cuts out when slowing down and the end of my road Hmm