Why Are You Leaving Your Car Running?

I went to our daycare to pick up my boys yesterday. It's an in-home daycare and the house has a 3-stall garage. I parked in front of the far left stall as there were two other cars already parked in the driveway. I had to walk by both of them and when I did they were both running. Every time I see this I think "they are setting money on fire."

This wasn't the first time I had picked up kids at daycare and vehicles were running. If there is another car in the driveway when I show up, odds are the engine in it will be running. I even saw it this summer this fall. It seems to have become a year round thing and I think I might be the only one who shuts off their car when they pick up their kids.

I don't mean to pick on my fellow daycare parents because they aren't the only guilty ones. I see this done everywhere by all kinds of people. So why are engines constantly left running for the 5-10 minutes or longer that it takes to get little ones packed up to head home? I have a few guesses.

It's Cold

If it's 5 degrees and the wind chill is -30 I leave my truck running. It will cool down in a hurry when it's that cold. But yesterday it snowed a little and the temperature was below freezing, but barely. I understand wanting to keep the interior of your vehicle warm for when your little kiddos get in, but if it was warm when you got out to go in the house, when you return in 5-10 minutes later it will still be warm inside. The temp won't drop to the exterior temperature just because you opened the door for five seconds. Besides your car's heater will blow hot air right away when you start the engine again since you just drove there from work or wherever.

It's Hot

If the temp is 95 and humidity is sky high I understand wanting to leave the engine and air conditioning running so that it's cool when you and your offspring get in. But while the inside of the car will heat up quick in the boiling sun, I'd rather crack or open the windows to vent the collected heat and keep the temp from getting hotter than it needs to. I'm no mechanic, but leaving an engine running in the heat for 10 minutes can't be good for it. If I am running into a store and my wife and kids are staying in the car on a hot day, I would bet the engine stays running. But when there are no people or pets in the car do you need to leave it running? Probably not.

It's Spring or Fall?

I am being sarcastic with this one. I can't come up a good reason to leave the engine running when the temp is around 60 degrees. It's within the comfort zone for humans with a light jacket or sweatshirt. No need to keep anything warm or cool. But I have seen people with their cars running during moderate weather and I this is the lunacy that makes me want to pull my hair out the most.

What's wrong with leaving your car running all the time? For me the reason to not do it is simple. It costs money. Maybe your dad told you "your car needs to warm up" or "you burn a bunch of fuel starting the car, it's better to leave it running." Unless you're driving something really old, this no longer applies with modern electronic fuel injection. You will burn more gas letting it run for 10 minutes than by just starting it.

There are also environmental reasons for doing it. While the Environmental Defense Fund says you should shut off your engine at a long stop light, I'm not going that far. But when you are going inside for 5 or 10 minutes in non-extreme weather just shut off the car.

Another more obvious reason to not leave your vehicle running; it could get stolen. If you have remote start it can't be stolen since the engine dies when the brake is pressed. But if you leave the keys in the ignition of your unlocked car there is nothing to stop someone from stealing it.

If you are one of these engine runners try not leaving your car on. See if it makes a difference. I bet it won't be a big deal if you shut it off.