What Happens When Your Car Window Stays Open

We’ve all heard people say, «Close your car windows, it’s dangerous to leave them open.» And while we agree, we’ll leave it open on a hot day to get a little air in. Climbing into a hot car after a long day is not ideal.

But what happens when you go away for a holiday, attempt to avoid the cost of airport parking by parking your car at home, and leave the windows open for a bit to get some air in? For some people, it can be catastrophic and you’ll understand exactly why you were warned to close the windows and advised to folk out a little extra for safe parking that doesn’t include a nasty surprise inside your car. We thought that this one would be best represented in pictures. Enjoy the shock. and horror!

Snow Inside Your Car

Leaving your car windows open in the middle of winter can be risky, but you definitely don’t expect this. According to reports, the snow in this car is the result of an unusual event. Peter Skylberg was driving in the small town of Umea, Sweden when an enormous amount of snow trapped him in this car. Apparently, he survived for two months by drinking some of the snow. Whether this story is true or not is hard to tell. The evidence below does however show that sharing your car with so much snow won’t be the most comfortable journey.

A Hornet’s Nest

You probably don’t even know what this is. And I don’t blame you for that. To be clear, it’s a wasp nest inside a ’55 Chevy. Henry Coker from Tallahassee in Alabama never expected the yellow-jackets to make a hornet’s nest that could fill the entire interior of his car. It started out as a tire sized nest, but quickly escalated and within six weeks, his open window had welcomed thousands of workers. A normal sized hornet’s nest is the size of a basketball and has about three thousand workers and one queen. As you can see, this nest is slightly bigger than that.

Flooding During Winter

Your car can get flooded just from leaving your windows open overnight during a heavy storm. Repairing the damage and cleaning up the mess can become very costly, and I bet that you’re thanking your lucky stars that you’re not the owner of this car.

Have you had a similar experience before? Drop a comment in the box and let us know!

Caelyn Woolward

Having lived in the same house for 18 years, Caelyn decided it was time to pack her bags and head out an adventure. The trip took her to the tiny place of Grahamstown in South Africa where she majored in Journalism and English at Rhodes University. Fresh out of university and having lived the student life for the last four years, she is slowly adapting to working at Essential Travel under the guidance of senior writers. She finds comfort in the smaller cities of the world nestled away in Europe, Africa and South America.

11 Tips to Prevent Your Car From Overheating [Slideshow]

You may love the heat of summer, but you need to help your car keep its cool when temperatures rise. An engine that runs too hot can damage the vehicle and threaten your safety. Here are some tips we’ve compiled to help prevent your car from overheating:

How to prevent your car from overheating

1. Park your car in the shade

You can feel the temperature difference between the shade and the sun – and so can your car. Parking in the shade not only keeps you cool, but can prolong the life of your car. No shady spot? Use a sunshade to reduce heat inside the car.

2. Use car window shades

Keeping window shades in the car is helpful because you can’t always guarantee that you’ll find a shaded or covered area to park in. These UV heat shields will keep the interior from getting super-hot, plus it protects your interior from the damaging effects of the sun. You might even consider getting custom-made window shades that are designed to fit your make and model of car. These sun shades can be more effective at keeping all of the rays out.

3. Tint your windows

A local dealership or auto body shop can apply window tinting or window film to help keep your car cooler, and provide UV ray protection against sun damage.

4. Leave car windows open slightly

Closed windows trap hot air, and the glass serves as a conductor that helps heat up the enclosed space. Leave your windows open slightly so the air can escape – and if you have a sunroof, crack that open too. Make sure the opening is not large enough for someone to reach through. If you leave your windows cracked, remember to keep an eye on the weather – one sudden summer storm could lead to a soggy interior.

5. Turn the floor air vents on

Most people get in the car and turn the dash board are vents on “high” to get the air flowing. But you’re actually better off directing the air through the floor vents. Hot air rises, so switch to the bottom vents and put your blower on the maximum setting to push that air out. Then, once the car begins cooling, you can open the upper vents again.

6. Use the fresh air setting instead of recirculation on your A/C

Set your air conditioning on fresh air for about 10 minutes. Using the recirculation setting means you’re just moving that hot, trapped air around your vehicle, so that’s something you want to use after your car has had the chance to cool down.

7. Keep your eye on the car temperature gauge

Located on the dashboard, the device has a needle that should always be pointing toward the center. If it points toward hot, pull over, turn off the engine and let the car cool down.

8. Turn on the heat to cool the engine

Turning on the heat may be the last thing you want to do on a hot summer day, but it can pull hot air from the engine compartment and cool the engine. It won’t fix the underlying problem, but it’s a good measure for long drives.

9. Add engine coolant

This is especially important in hot months. To check the coolant level, open the hood and locate the coolant reservoir. The coolant level is shown by indicator lines on the reservoir. If too low, simply add the appropriate amount of coolant and reattach the cap. Engine coolant is often sold as a 50/50 mix of water and coolant. You can also buy concentrated coolant and mix it yourself.

Safety tip: Never add coolant to a hot engine. Wait for the engine to cool before removing the cap or pouring in coolant.

10. Have your radiator flushed by a mechanic

Even if you keep engine coolant at the right levels, it will eventually get dirty and need to be replaced. A radiator flush, also known as coolant flush, involves draining old coolant from the radiator, cleaning it with flush fluid and adding new coolant. Mechanics recommend a flush every 40,000 miles, but check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation.

11. Consider replacing your car battery

If your car battery is older than three years, it may not be providing the power it once did, so your car has to work harder and can overheat. Your mechanic can help you determine whether you may need a new battery.

What to do if your car overheats

If you find yourself in a situation where your car overheats, follow these steps to ensure you and your vehicle remain safe:

• Pull over to the side of the road, park your car and turn off the engine as soon as possible. Let your car cool for a minimum of 10 minutes.
• Open the hood of your car to allow the heat to clear out quickly.
• Once your car has cooled off, turn the ignition to its first position (don’t start the engine). If you see that the temperature gauge is within a normal range and engine fluid levels are sufficient, try to start the engine.
• If the engine makes unusual sounds or it does not start at all, it’s best to stay on the safe side and call for roadside assistance to have your car towed. This will allow for a mechanic to inspect it and make the necessary repairs.

What causes a car to overheat

Why is my car overheating? You might ask. There are a few engine problems that can cause that. Hot temperatures alone might not be causing your vehicle to overheat. If your car’s cooling systems aren’t functioning correctly, it can lead to serious damage to your engine and expensive repairs. Here are a few common engine problems that can cause your car to run hot that you should know about:

Coolant

Every car has a cooling system to help keep the temperature of the engine down. If your cooling system has a leak, blockage or pump malfunction, the coolant might not be able to circulate properly. Cooling system malfunctions aren’t just problematic when it’s hot out; very cold temperatures can cause coolant to freeze and prevent circulation.

Car Thermostat

Another possible issue could be a problem with the thermostat. A vehicle’s thermostat is responsible for regulating the amount of coolant flowing through the engine. A broken or malfunctioning one can easily cause your car to overheat.

Low motor oil

A car’s oil does more than just lubricate moving parts. It also helps to remove excess heat from the engine. If your vehicle has low oil, it might be causing your car to run hot.

Radiator cooling fan

If your cooling fan isn’t turning on or running at the right level, it can case your car to overheat. Radiator fans usually run on electric motors, so any motor mechanical problems can lead to your fan not providing enough cool air flow.

Of course these aren’t the only possible problems that can cause a car to overheat. It’s a good idea to find a reliable mechanic who can diagnose and service your car, and get protection in case your car overheats while you’re on the road. Learn how Nationwide’s 24-hour emergency roadside assistance will protect you in the event something goes wrong.

Opening your car windows could reduce your COVID-19 risk

Which windows should you open, and how much?

By now, we all know the basic coronavirus rules. Wear a mask, limit your exposure to other people and when you can’t, keep your distance, and . keep wearing your mask. We also learned at the outset of the pandemic how to properly keep surfaces clean, including in your car. But what we haven’t known is whether we should keep the windows up or down.

A new study from Brown University seeks to answer that question. Using complex computational fluid dynamic simulations, Varghese Mathai, Asimanshu Das, Jeffrey Bailey and Kenneth Breuer studied how the aerosols that we breathe (some of which do escape even properly worn masks) move about a car’s cabin and how those flows change with various windows up and down. The results are very interesting, but in short, you’re probably going to want the windows rolled down when possible.

The details of the study are worth noting. The vehicle used in the simulations was loosely based on a Toyota Prius, and likely apply to vehicles of similar shape and size but may not be applicable to larger or smaller cars, trucks or vans. The occupants sat diagonally from one another, which is a common arrangement in taxis and rideshares. The team of researchers found that opening the windows opposite of each occupant can create a flow that drastically reduces the collection of aerosols in a car’s cabin. According to the New York Times, they also found that opening the windows even halfway can be very helpful but that just cracking them a bit doesn’t generate enough airflow.

There’s a lot more information in the study that you can read here. There’s also some additional information from the Times that’s worth checking out.

to leave the door open

1 leave the door open

2 open

The shop is open from one till (to) six. — Магазин открыт с часу до шести.

He left the door open. — Он оствил дверь открытой. /Он не закрыл дверь.

Is the park open to public? — Парк открыт для публики? /Вход в парк свободный?

The book was open at page five. — Книга была открыта на пятой странице.

My house is always open to you. — Мой дом всегда для вас открыт.

The choice is open to him. — Он свободен в своем выборе.

I shall be perfectly open with you about the matter. — Я буду с вами совершенно откровенен относительно этого вопроса.

She was quite open about her dislike of him. — Она совершенно не скрывала свою неприязнь к нему.

He is very open in his opinions. — Он очень откровенно высказывает свои мнения.

Keep your mouth shut and your ears open. — ◊ Поменьше говори, побольше слушай.

The road was open to traffic. — Дорогу открыли для движения транспорта.

Give me a few not too opened roses. — Дайте мне несколько не слишком распустившихся роз.

3 open

Leave the door open — Оставь дверь открытой.

Keep the window open — Держи окна открытыми.

to sit straight — сидеть прямо;

to hang loose — висеть свободно.

II v 1. открывать: to open smth — открывать что-либо; 2. открываться (1). При одушевленном подлежащем глагол to open 1. употребляется с обязательным прямым дополнением:

I went to the door and opened it — Я пошел и открыл дверь.

4 open

he likes to sleep in open — он любит спать на открытом воздухе /на дворе/

the scandal is now out in the open — эта скандальная история стала всеобщим достоянием

♢ to come (out) into the open — открыться, разоткровенничаться

he came (out) into the open about what had happened — он выложил всё о том, что произошло

why don’t you come into the open about it? — почему бы тебе не рассказать об этом откровенно?

open window [box, door] — открытое окно [-ый ящик, -ая дверь]

with open eyes [mouth] — с открытыми глазами [-ым ртом] [ см. тж. ♢ ]

to throw /to push/ the door open — распахнуть дверь

open country [field] — открытая /непересечённая/ местность [-ое поле]

open motor car [carriage] — открытая машина [карета]

open drain /sewer/ — открытая (водо)сточная труба

open skirt — расстёгнутая /распахнутая/ рубашка

open wound /sore/ — незаживающая /открытая/ рана [ см. тж. ♢ ]

the shop [the exhibition] is now open — магазин [выставка] открыт [открыта]

open port [harbour] — открытый порт [-ая гавань]

open wood — а) лес, открытый для въезда; б) изреженный лес

open to the public — вход свободный /без ограничений/; открыто для всех

career open to talent — сфера, где есть применение таланту

the race is open to boys under 15 — в состязании могут принять участие мальчики в возрасте до 15 лет

keep your mind open! — старайся относиться (ко всему) непредвзято /без предубеждения/!

open to persuasion /conviction/ — поддающийся убеждению

open verdict — установление факта совершения преступления в ходе предварительного слушания дела

to be open to an offer — а) быть согласным рассмотреть предложение; б) не отвергать предложение

open ground — открытый /незащищённый/ грунт

to lay oneself open to attack — ставить себя под удар; быть в опасности

the enemy has left this line of advance open — враг оставил открытой эту линию наступления

a very open manner — естественная /свободная/ манера

to be open with smb. — быть откровенным с кем-л.

to be frank and open about smth. — откровенно говорить о чём-л.

open quarrel [scandal] — публичная ссора [-ый скандал]

open disregard of rules — открытое несоблюдение правил /пренебрежение правилами/

it’s an open fact — это известно всем /общеизвестно/

harbour [river] is now open — гавань [река] теперь свободна для навигации

open syllable [vowel] — открытый слог [гласный]

open circuit — незамкнутый контур; разомкнутая линия

open formation /order/ — разомкнутый строй

open string — открытая /пустая/ струна

♢ open sore — злоупотребление; общественное зло [ см. тж. 6]

open time — воен. а) время, предназначенное для внепрограммных занятий; б) резерв времени

with open eyes, with (one’s) eyes open — сознательно, понимая все последствия, отдавая себе полный отчёт [ см. тж. 1]

to keep one’s eyes /ears/ open — быть настороже, быть внимательным

the floor is open — кто ещё хочет выступить?

(to welcome) with open arms — (встречать) тепло, радушно, с распростёртыми объятиями

open as the day — искренний, откровенный, открытый

to open a door [a gate, a window] — открывать дверь [калитку, окно]

to open a book [a newspaper] — раскрывать книгу [газету]

to open a parcel — разворачивать свёрток; вскрывать посылку

to open the range — увеличить прицел /дальность/

the mind of youth opens with each new experience — молодой ум развивается с накоплением опыта

the buds are opening in the sun — почки лопаются /распускаются/ на солнце

I’d like some roses that are not too far opened — дайте мне несколько полураспустившихся роз

to open ground — вспахивать /вскапывать/ землю [ см. тж. ♢ ]

how many times did your bowels open? — сколько раз у вас действовал желудок?

to open a mine [a well] — заложить шахту [колодец]

to open the debate [a public meeting] — открывать прения [собрание]

to open (up) a campaign for smth. — развернуть кампанию за что-л.

the producer wanted to open with a new play early in September — режиссёр хотел открыть сезон премьерой в первых числах сентября

the shop doesn’t open until eleven — магазин открывается только в 11 часов

when does the school open again? — когда возобновляются занятия в школе?

J. G. recently opened in ❝King Lear❞ — Дж. Г. начал новый сезон в «Короле Лире»

to open a new park [museum] — открывать новый парк [музей]

what do the windows open onto? — куда выходят окна?

♢ to open one’s eyes — удивляться, изумляться

to open the eyes of smb. to smth. — открыть кому-л. глаза на что-л.; разуверить кого-л. в чём-л.

to open ground — подготавливать почву, начинать действовать [ см. тж. 3, 1)]

to open (up) one’s heart /mind/ (to smb.) — раскрывать /изливать/ душу (кому-л.); разоткровенничаться

to open the ball — начинать действовать, брать на себя инициативу

to open the door to smth. — открыть путь чему-л., сделать возможным что-л.

5 open

countenance открытое лицо;
to be open (with smb.) быть откровенным (с кем-л.) an

house открытый дом;
an open hand щедрая рука an

house открытый дом;
an open hand щедрая рука

открытый, доступный;
незанятый;
an open port открытый порт an

countenance открытое лицо;
to be open (with smb.) быть откровенным (с кем-л.) to be

(to smth.) поддаваться( чему-л.), быть восприимчивым (к чему-л.) ;
open season сезон охоты to come out into the

быть откровенным, не скрывать (своих взглядов и т. п.) to force an

door ломиться в открытую дверь

фон. открытый (о слоге, звуке) ;
he is an open book его легко понять

) открытое пространство или перспектива;
открытое море;
in the open на открытом воздухе

открытый;
open sore открытая рана;
язва;
in the open air на открытом воздухе

a prospect открывать перспективу (или будущее) ;
to open the door (to smth.) перен. открыть путь (чему-л.) ;
сделать (что-л.) возможным

открывать(ся) ;
раскрывать(ся) ;
to open an abscess вскрывать нарыв;
to open the bowels очистить кишечник with

eyes с открытыми глазами;
перен. сознательно, учитывая все последствия;
open boat беспалубное судно

champion победитель в открытом состязании;
open ice лед, не мешающий навигации

открытый, непересеченный (о местности) ;
open field открытое поле;
open space незагороженное место to

ground вспахивать или вскапывать землю to

ground подготавливать почву;
начинать действовать

champion победитель в открытом состязании;
open ice лед, не мешающий навигации

into сообщаться с (о комнатах) ;
вести в (о двери) ;
open on выходить, открываться на;
open out развертывать(ся) ;
раскрывать(ся)

into сообщаться с (о комнатах) ;
вести в (о двери) ;
open on выходить, открываться на;
open out развертывать(ся) ;
раскрывать(ся) to

the mind расширить кругозор;
to open one’s mind (или heart) (to smb.) поделиться своими мыслями (с кем-л.)

into сообщаться с (о комнатах) ;
вести в (о двери) ;
open on выходить, открываться на;
open out развертывать(ся) ;
раскрывать(ся) to

out one’s arms открывать объятия;
to open out the wings расправлять крылья to

out one’s arms открывать объятия;
to open out the wings расправлять крылья

нерешенный, незавершенный;
open question открытый вопрос to be

(to smth.) поддаваться (чему-л.), быть восприимчивым (к чему-л.) ;
open season сезон охоты

открытый;
open sore открытая рана;
язва;
in the open air на открытом воздухе

открытый, непересеченный (о местности) ;
open field открытое поле;
open space незагороженное место space: open

открытое пространство open

открывать(ся) ;
раскрывать(ся) ;
to open an abscess вскрывать нарыв;
to open the bowels очистить кишечник to

the debate открыть прения;
the story opens with a wedding рассказ начинается с описания свадьбы to

a prospect открывать перспективу (или будущее) ;
to open the door (to smth.) перен. открыть путь (чему-л.) ;
сделать (что-л.) возможным to

the mind расширить кругозор;
to open one’s mind (или heart) (to smb.) поделиться своими мыслями (с кем-л.)

to inspection by public открытый для общественного контроля

to public inspection открытый для общественного контроля the Open University заочный университет (основанный в Лондоне в 1971 г., в котором обучение проводится с помощью специальных радио и телевизионных программ) university: open

up сделать(ся) доступным;
раскрывать(ся) ;
обнаруживаться;
to open up relations устанавливать отношения;
to open up opportunities предоставлять возможности

up сделать(ся) доступным;
раскрывать(ся) ;
обнаруживаться;
to open up relations устанавливать отношения;
to open up opportunities предоставлять возможности

verdict юр. признание наличия преступления без установления преступника

свободный (о пути) ;
open water вода, очистившаяся от льда

weather (winter) мягкая погода( зима) ;
the open door эк. политика открытых дверей

market вольный рынок;
the post is still open место еще не занято remain

вчт. оставаться в открытом виде to

the debate открыть прения;
the story opens with a wedding рассказ начинается с описания свадьбы to break( или to throw)

распахнуть (дверь, окно) ;
to tear open распечатывать( письмо, пакет) trial in

court открытый судебный процесс;
open letter открытое письмо (в газете и т. п.)

щедрый;
гостеприимный;
to welcome with open arms встречать с распростертыми объятиями with

eyes с открытыми глазами;
перен. сознательно, учитывая все последствия;
open boat беспалубное судно

6 open

under the open sky — на открытом воздухе; под открытым небом