Is it ok to leave truck running?

[swapmeet]

I'm probably going to be sleeping in my truck tonight and tomorrow night, at the beach. Is it ok to leave it running for AC?

I remember reading that leaving some cars running clogs up the cats... Was t sure if it applies.


Thanks!

 

[philskeeter]

If everything is great (radiator etc...) maybe. Would I ever do it? not a chance! That sounds like a terrible idea. But hopefully someone can give you some more technical advice.

edit: I should've asked if you meant all night long like at a truckstop or just small intervals during the night.

 

[swapmeet]

All night long. It might be cool enough that I won't need it. But it's hard for me to sleep when it's hot out.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Sometimes Toyota will set an erroneous DTC for too Lean or something like that if you just idle them for more than a couple hours, has something to do with the way the computer tries to adjust fuel at idle for so long I think? We see it every now and then when the Detail guys at the dealership leave a vehicle running all day long after doing a detail service on it.

But it shouldn't hurt anything really, it may carbon up the engine a bit more than say highway driving. But, nothing too serious.

 

[scw1991]

if it were a 2014 GM pickup, not a chance because, well you know, they are prone to catching fire......bwahaha! Gotta love General Worthless Motors.

 

[ebg18t]

Just put a battery powered fan in the truck and leave the windows down slightly.

 

[RedSled]

You always run the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning by letting it run like that.

 

[gm350reratliff]

You always run the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning by letting it run like that.

I would be more worried about that^^, than anything else. The 4runner will be fine. If it were an older carbureted vehicle, there was chance to clog the cat. I've actually slept in a few of my trucks over the years and let them run all night (riding out blizzards) they were all fine.

Is it really that hot at the beach? All night? I think I would roll the windows down and listen to the waves.

 

[EHNWI]

If you are doing it for AC, I would look for different options. You could always make a small fan powered AC bucket run it into the vehicle. For heat, I have let the vehicle idle until it gets decently warm, then shut it off. If it gets cold again, run it again for a bit.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

You always run the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning by letting it run like that.

Really? aren't modern cars better designed against that?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

There was a person at a place I used to work at 5-10 years ago that started her car to go away for a day or so but then a friend stopped by that was going to drive along also. They decided to drive one vehicle instead and the woman got in the other car and never shut her car off before leaving. The car set there and idled till it ran out of gas. I do not think it was a Toyota but it did not hurt a thing. I think she was a blond.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

I'd also be concerned about heat build up in general on the engine & exhaust. It would get really hot under it with no air moving like there is when you're driving. I'd just get a battery powered fan & leave the windows cracked.

 

[dan0317]

Just before you go to bed just turn the recirculation on and crank the ac till it gets nice and chilly then just don't open any doors and it should stay cold enough for the night.

 

[JB40]

Bad idea as far as I am concerned.
If the cooling system is not in perfect working order, it could start overheating. If you're asleep and can't shut the engine, you'll have much worse problems than sweating in your sleep.

 

[Lineman]

Put your man pants on. Horrible idea to leave your vehicle running all night.

Since you're at the Beach. Grab a blanket, go sleep on it. Much cooler.

I'm probably going to be sleeping in my truck tonight and tomorrow night, at the beach. Is it ok to leave it running for AC?

I remember reading that leaving some cars running clogs up the cats... Was t sure if it applies.


Thanks!

 

[nicolachel]

Did that on a mitsubishi montero before, was a warm afternoon (95+) and wanted to take a nap in parking lot.

After 2 hours or so, it overheated or something and started pumping out hot air through all the AC outlets.

Hopefully the same won't happen to you

 

[luv_mi_limit'd]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10152454072558804&id=663738803
Just get a battery powered fan ..

 

[swapmeet]

Thanks ya'll...

My trip was a success. After driving all night I ended up arriving at the beach around 5:30am Sat. I cracked the windows, shut the car off and slept for about an hour before the seagulls woke me up.

Saturday night I was exhausted and just got a hotel lol. Since I only had about 1.5 hours sleep total the night before, sleeping in the car didn't sound fun.

A few notes about the beach, and beaches here. It windy... so, as long as you're nose into the wind, it eliminates the concern about carbon monoxide. The down side is the beach smelled quite nasty. I dunno if it was the rotting seaweed or what. As mentioned the temps weren't as bad as I thought they might be.

Anyhow. I appreciate everyone's feedback. And I LOL'd about the man pants hahaha.

 

[DC runner]

I want to agree to the man pants comment. Take your sleeping bag and cash on the ground of it is too hot inside. Running your truck all night, lord....careful....you might lose your man card. B-)