Is this normal for a stationary car? Help!

[worries101]

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!

The Dangers of Winter Coats and Car Seats - Consumer Reports

I last saw someone do this in 1980.

Just get in the car and in a few minutes the frost will have cleared. Hardly worth sitting indoors for.

I have an old tea towel in the car for precisely this problem. It’s amazing!

Casper, so a blanket then

In 30 years of driving I’ve never needed the engine running to clear a car windscreen. I live halfway up a mountain and even thick ice can be cleared with a decent scraper and some de icer.

That only covers ice on the outside. I still have to wait for the windscreen to demist.

However, OP don't do this as it completely invalidates your insurance when someone comes along an pinches your car.
If you think the little one will be cold, chuck a blanket over them until the heat comes through, but I'm not sure how you think babies have managed for the rest of history.

I run my engine on my driveway early morning before work, if its icy. I use my spare key to lock the car door.

What kind of car do you have? Last winter (and many before) I could spend up to 15 minutes sat there waiting for the mist on the inside to clear after scraping. For a good 5 minutes my car was blowing out cold air which made it feel even colder in there. Luckily I have an electric car now and can set it to warm up before I leave the house but not everyone has that option.

I once managed to lock the car with the engine running and the keys inside doing this one morning. I have no idea how it was even possible but ended up having to wait an hour for the AA to come and break in. I haven't done it since!

Aside from this not being very effective, likely invalidating your insurance if your car is stolen, costing you loads of money in fuel and being terrible for your engine, for the love of all that is holy and unholy, don't do this people. Anywhere. Bedtime reading in links below.

Increased exposure to air pollution and particulates from cars is not only linked to increased risk of respiratory disease but also cancers, heart conditions, neurological disease, strokes. It's particularly bad for children.

I wish that exhaust was bright pink or something so that people could see it.

Knowing how bad it is for the occupants of a car and the people around them makes it really frustrating walking down any street in the UK, there is always someone sat running their engine. We need some sort of public information campaign.

Do everything you can to limit your own and your children's exposure, even walking one metre further back from the edge of the pavement is significant so another reason for them to always walk on the inside.

Every time I see reports that this or that disease has seen significant increase in yhe past fifty years I always wonder.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/06/air-pollution-particles-in-young-brains-linked-to-alzheimers-damage

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/air-pollution-linked-with-increased-risk-of-autism-in-children/

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30877-5

https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research-london-links-air-pollution-dementia-risk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzvOypu_T3gIVwpTVCh3UwQ3LEAAYAiAAEgJ8HPD_BwE

http://www.escapeproject.eu/publications.php

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-air-pollution-evidence-review

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a19086/warming-up-your-car-in-the-cold-just-harms-engine/

https://www.businessinsider.com/should-i-charge-my-phone-in-my-car-2017-10?r=US&IR=T

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.sparetheair.org/understanding-air-quality/air-pollutants-and-health-effects/particulate-matter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.sparetheair.org/understanding-air-quality/air-pollutants-and-health-effects/particulate-matter

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/08/air-pollution-could-shorten-childs-life-seven-months/

https://www.citymetric.com/horizons/air-pollution-london-now-so-bad-it-s-affecting-lung-development-4367

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/air-pollution

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00145-5/fulltext#:~:text=The%20risk%20for%20ischaemic%20stroke,disease%20or%20small%20vessel%20disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4448375/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/sep/10/cancer-breakthrough-is-a-wake-up-call-on-danger-of-air-pollution