2003 Buick Park Avenue Running a car while Idleing

2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE
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PATRICKPETSCHE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Engine Performance problem
2003 Buick Park Avenue 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Does it harm a car any car to leave the car running in park with the air or heat on? Again the car is idle running with the air or heat running. My step dad will not run the car in park for any length of time not even a minute with it in park and it does not even have to have the air or heat running. My deceased husband was a police officer and they always left the cars running please help with this big controversey.
Sep 25, 2010 at 4:03 AM
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ERNEST CLARK
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,730 POSTS
As long as everything is in good working order, there's no harm in idling the car with the air/heat on for extended periods of time.

The only worry would be if the engine started overheating with the a/c on. Running with the heat on would actually make the engine run cooler.

Also, there's much less stress and wear on the engine at idle while in "Park" than there is while driving.
Sep 26, 2010 at 4:37 AM
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