Idling - How Long Is Too Long?

[Paddles]

Let's say you find yourself stranded in non moving traffic for six hours on a 100 degree South Texas day with zero clouds. How long can the stock Gen 3 GTs idle safely to run the AC? Not moving at all, in park the whole time. Fuel not a factor.

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[Oakley]

generators idle for days on end. think about it.

 

[ORRadtech]

Unless it overheats until it runs out of fuel.
You will have to keep telling the car you want it to keep running otherwise it will time out and auto shutdown. That's for emissions, not the car.

 

[NTXChris]

Ford tests for this exact scenario when the cars go through engineering validation. They park the car in a 4 walled enclosure, start the engine and idle it for hours on end. Any overheating is considered a failure and the failed part goes back to the drawing board.

If your car overheats sitting in traffic, something has failed and needs to be repaired/replaced. A well maintained stock car should idle all day in 100 degree heat, AC blasting with no problem.

 

[WildHorse]

Till yer tank runs dry.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

Let's say you find yourself stranded in non moving traffic for six hours on a 100 degree South Texas day with zero clouds. How long can the stock Gen 3 GTs idle safely to run the AC? Not moving at all, in park the whole time. Fuel not a factor.

I wouldn't worry about it, with a new car.

I've seen Fords tested at Eglin Air Force Base, because Ford rented time at the Climatic Lab. They can freeze the vehicles one day, then the next day drive them at parking lot speeds, in Middle East temperatures of 110+.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Define "run safely".

Will the car overheat? No. Is it good for your engine. Hell no. Excessive idling is terrible for your engine. Shut it off if you're going to sit for long periods.

 

[Crew4991]

Hot damn, I wanna know how bad traffic has to be in order to ask that type of question.
Did your entire city shut down or something? lol
I'm sure it is fine to use AC for that long. Probably puts a little extra stress on the system but I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[Paddles]

Thanks for the replies guys, just a hypothetical question in case it comes up. Thankfully haven't experienced it yet.

I'm slightly reassured lol
If you had to idle for hours would you guys change your oil or perform other maintenance afterwards?

 

[Skye]

If you had to idle for hours would you guys change your oil or perform other maintenance afterwards?

I googled through the '22 Owners Manual for any specifics. Attached are two excerpts of interest.

 

[ShadesOfBloo]

^ That's still vague as to what they mean by "extended idling".

 

[Slow Yote]

generators idle for days on end. think about it.

Never seen a coyote powered generator.

 

[Skye]

^ That's still vague as to what they mean by "extended idling".

Re-reading other sections, 30 minutes.

The auto-shutdown feature cannot be disabled, but it can be delayed or interrupted.

 

[JOKER M1]

Never seen a coyote powered generator.

Hold my beer

 

[Hack]

Generators typically don't idle. They run in a peak torque RPM range that allows them to be efficient. Idle is not a power generating RPM. I don't know anything specific about Coyotes, but a lot of engines have splash oiling that prefers when the engine isn't only idling. Engines like varying RPM.

But even if you are in a bad traffic jam, you're going to be moving a little, stepping on the gas slightly, etc. So I agree with everyone that said not to worry.

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