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Original poster

Is this normal for a stationary car? Help!

59 replies

worries101 · 01/12/2023 09:47

This week I’ve been running the car for 5 mins before taking the baby out to nursery in it, so that the windscreen defrosts and car warms up for her. I’ve noticed that when I go back out to it, the area around the car smells strong of exhaust fumes. Is this normal or something wrong with the car? I’ve never let it run like that before having DD and only do it for a few mins to warm up before we get in. Worried!

OP posts:
Fieldofbrokenpromises · 01/12/2023 09:51

Hard to say for certain but it sounds fairly normal to me.

SoupDragon · 01/12/2023 09:52

Why do you think it odd that the air around a car pumping out exhaust fumes smells of exhaust fumes...?

EBearhug · 01/12/2023 09:53

Normal. The car sucks in air around the car, which, in a stationary car, includes the exhaust fumes.

LubaLuca · 01/12/2023 09:53

Yes, especially on a still day you'll notice the smell.

LakieLady · 01/12/2023 09:54

Perfectly normal, OP. That's why the air stinks when you walk past a load of stationary cars at a queue of lights or similar.

titchy · 01/12/2023 10:04

Where did you expect the exhaust fumes to go?

CharityShopChic · 01/12/2023 10:07

Friend of a friend had their car stolen doing this. Left it running, popped back into the house to grab a coffee, car nicked.

And you're not insured if you are daft enough to leave it unattended and engine running with keys in.

Original poster
worries101 · 01/12/2023 10:08

Thank you!!

OP posts:
PGmicstand · 01/12/2023 10:11

Normal. At school pickup we used to advise waiting parents not to run their engines, because of the fumes inside.

pinkyredrose · 01/12/2023 10:13

It's actually illegal to keep your engine running while the car is stationary.

CasperGutman · 01/12/2023 10:19

pinkyredrose · 01/12/2023 10:13

It's actually illegal to keep your engine running while the car is stationary.

Presumably, it's illegal to keep your engine running while the car is stationary on the highway. The OP may be keeping the car running on private property.

It's difficult for parents to know what to do for the best at this time of year, given that we're admonished not to leave children's coats on in the car as they could die or be seriously injured in a crash, and also slated for switching the ignition on for a few minutes before using the car.

Frabbits · 01/12/2023 10:24

It's happening as others have said because you are running the car completely unnecessarily causing exhaust fumes to build up.

It's bad pollution-wise and it doesn't do your car any good. Just get in and drive, it'll warm up soon enough.

Janinejones · 01/12/2023 10:27

I noticed a strong smell different to general exhaust smell. It can be from the catalytic converter, goes off when it is warmed up as when driving.
(I was told)

chocolatefiends · 01/12/2023 10:28

It's illegal on the road. It's not illegal on your own drive way (private property). This is so that people can run it on their driveway if they have a genuine reason to do so (like, while doing repairs to the car or just to clear the windscreen in winter so that it's safe to drive).

Unfortunately, lots of people run it on their driveway (and on the road because there's virtually no enforcement of the law) for far longer than it takes to simply clear the windscreen because they want a nice, warm car. This creates local air pollution, which exacerbates asthma and other respiratory health conditions, often in young children.

Absolutely you shouldn't put a child in a car seat in a cost for safety reasons but you can just put a blanket on top of the child once they're strapped into the car seat instead.

Dotjones · 01/12/2023 10:29

pinkyredrose · 01/12/2023 10:13

It's actually illegal to keep your engine running while the car is stationary.

No it's not. That only applies on the public road and the rule is you can't leave the engine running "unnecessarily" whilst not moving. Presumably the OP considered it "necessary" to warm the car slightly for her baby and to have a clear windscreen before moving.

Original poster
worries101 · 01/12/2023 10:31

Janinejones · 01/12/2023 10:27

I noticed a strong smell different to general exhaust smell. It can be from the catalytic converter, goes off when it is warmed up as when driving.
(I was told)

@Janinejones is that still normal or does it mean something is wrong?

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 01/12/2023 10:32

Are you using your own driveway?

Original poster
worries101 · 01/12/2023 10:32

The primary reason is to clear the windscreen. Obviously there’s no point me and DD sitting in it while it defrosts. So it happens on the drive and we wait inside.

OP posts:
Original poster
worries101 · 01/12/2023 10:32

@pinkyredrose of course!!!

OP posts:
Janinejones · 01/12/2023 10:35

@worries101 , perfectly normal, usually it is start-up and drive away. so it all warms up and any fumes are dispersed along the road.

ohtowinthelottery · 01/12/2023 10:47

Frabbits · 01/12/2023 10:24

It's happening as others have said because you are running the car completely unnecessarily causing exhaust fumes to build up.

It's bad pollution-wise and it doesn't do your car any good. Just get in and drive, it'll warm up soon enough.

@Frabbits I'm intrigued at how you could do that. It's -5°C here this morning. Everyone ran their engines whilst scraping the ice off their cars and letting their windscreens clear. If they'd all "got in and driven off " there'd have been carnage.
And I'm in the Midlands not the North of Scotland.

HollowEgg · 01/12/2023 10:48

If it’s an electric car you have a problem.

StillWantingADog · 01/12/2023 10:51

This is why idling is technically illegal on public roads.
it’s terrible for your health!

StillWantingADog · 01/12/2023 10:52

Btw chucking warm (not hot) water on the windscreen is a much quicker way of thawing out your car IME

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 01/12/2023 11:02

Just chiming in.
Please do not leave your car engine running and the vehicle unattended. That means you must be in the car, or able to touch it.
Every year I go into work when the weather gets to zero and have to tell people that their insurance claim for their stolen car is not covered. If keys are left in or on the vehicle theft is excluded.
And yes there absolutely are opportunist theives that wander around just waiting for this to happen.

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