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My car is a popsicle. Will letting it idle for a long time hurt it?

amdhunter

amdhunter

Lifer
My cars been iced from top to bottom from the last snowfall in NYC. I cannot open the drivers door without risking damage to it. I can get into the passenger door, but the hood to the roof has a 1½" thick block of solid ice.

Will turning on the car and letting it idle for 30mins or so hurt the car? All I want to do is get the hood warm enough to get the ice melting. I have a wake + funeral to get to tomorrow and Wednesday and I really need this ice off of my car.

I wish I were around when it was snowing. Usually the snow never gets the chance to harden on my car. 🙁
 
That's fine. Ensure the compartment and grill are not covered so that it can cool itself and that the exhaust is clear. I don't know how much 30 min will help it if it's in that bad a state, though!
 
Should be fine as others have said. Getting the interior heated up real good might defrost that ice block on top enough that you can push it off. Before you drive see if the ice has loosened. You don't want a 100 pound block of ice sliding off the roof and slamming into your hood the first time you brake hard.
 
You can pick up a can or bottle of de-icing spray from your local auto parts store (walk there? haha). My gf says it works really well.

As others said, make sure to clear it all off. Flying snow/ice debris is not a good thing!
 
Let it run as long as you want. It won't hurt it. 30 minutes may not be long enough. Be sure to turn the heat on and the blower to high. You'll want the interior warmed up fully to help with the ice.

You could run it until it runs out of gas if you wanted. Won't hurt a thing.
 
Thanks for the advice. The grille is definitely blocked off, but the wheel wells aren't. I am going to turn it on, run upstairs and eat, then check on it.

I won't ever drive with any ice on top, I don't want the paint to get chipped, or the car dented. I am insane with keeping my paint in good shape. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Thanks for the advice. The grille is definitely blocked off, but the wheel wells aren't. I am going to turn it on, run upstairs and eat, then check on it.

I won't ever drive with any ice on top, I don't want the paint to get chipped, or the car dented. I am insane with keeping my paint in good shape. 🙂
Click to expand...

Then get out of nyc

 
Mine idled for an hour as I worked to get all the ice off a few weeks ago.
Predictably, I got utter crap for MPG on that tank.
 
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Mine idled for an hour as I worked to get all the ice off a few weeks ago.
Predictably, I got utter crap for MPG on that tank.
Click to expand...

0 miles per gallon lulz
 
Modern engines are fairly efficient when it comes to idling now. An idling car won't burn much more than .5 gal/h, and that is at the very high end.
 
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: Howard
Pour hot water over it
Click to expand...

Please tell me you're joking...

(OP, DO NOT do this)

Hot water + frozen windows = broken windows.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? I boiled two quarts of water and poured it on my car to de-ice it in a very similar situation, worked like a charm, outside and all. Do make sure to dry the door seals though, and you'll want to scrape off the thin layer of ice which will form.
 
Originally posted by: alkalinetaupehat
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: Howard
Pour hot water over it
Click to expand...

Please tell me you're joking...

(OP, DO NOT do this)

Hot water + frozen windows = broken windows.
Click to expand...

What are you talking about? I boiled two quarts of water and poured it on my car to de-ice it in a very similar situation, worked like a charm, outside and all. Do make sure to dry the door seals though, and you'll want to scrape off the thin layer of ice which will form.
Click to expand...

Thermal Shock

I'd suggest finding a new method of de-icing. You're lucky you didn't break your glass, IMO. I suppose it would be OK if you could make sure that no hot water hit the glass, and attacked ice ONLY, but I certainly wouldn't chance it. Glass is expensive.
 
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: amdhunter
Thanks for the advice. The grille is definitely blocked off, but the wheel wells aren't. I am going to turn it on, run upstairs and eat, then check on it.

I won't ever drive with any ice on top, I don't want the paint to get chipped, or the car dented. I am insane with keeping my paint in good shape. 🙂
Click to expand...

Then get out of nyc
Click to expand...

And stop letting inches of ice accumulate on your car! 😛
 
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