I was watching this movie where some guy killed himself by taping a sock over his exhaust pipe and sitting in his running car. The Carbon monoxide built up in his car and poisoned him. Is this true? Does this actually work? Any info would be appreciated.
11 comments
I am NOT an expert on this…. But, I would think the car would klonk out if the exhaust is blocked. Maybe not immediately, but long before you could do any damage to yourself.
I *believe* (for whatever that is worth) that the danger would be greater if you just ran the car normal in a closed garage.
Speaking strictly in theory of course… 😉
I don’t want the CM getting into my house
Uselessme is correct … blocking the exhaust only backs up the gas emissions into the engine causing it to starve for oxygen – the car, not the person – and neither can continue without oxygen… the exhaust system is a closed system designed specifically to direct these gasses – without leakage – away from the vehicle so they don’t collect in the passenger compartment.
A more realistic movie anecdote of the effects of a blocked tail pipe can be found in Beverly Hills Cop where Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) puts a banana in the tail pipe of the police who are charged with maintaining surveillance and to follow the character … as useless me states … the vehicle stalls after running for just a short bit and the character is able to go and cause his desired investigation without being observed by the local police
It’s a good and funny movie that everyone should see before considering leaving this world 🙂
FYI newer vehicles are equipped with emissions control features that minimize or eliminate dangerous gas emissions – this can be researched on the web -it’s not as simple as it once was with older cars with older, leaded gasoline being burned
chemist dawg
I heard someone saying that same thing about “newer cars”.
I am NO chemist (pretty much ignorant about such stuff).
But – using the car running in a closed garage scenario – doesn’t common sense say SOMETHING is replacing the oxygen?? And whatever that replacement is, would do what is necessary for your brain to ultimately be starved of oxygen. Thereby accomplishing said goal.?.?
In theory of course.
Its called a catalytic converter…the only way if would work is to get a car…..and old one….probably early 1970’s and use a hose to funnel the emissions into the car or sit in the car in an enclosed space like a garage or something….at least that’s what I found out when I was researching CO poisoning
I’m no chemist either … but a garage – which is not air tight – contains a large volume of air so it would take an exceptional amount if impurities to lower the oxygen levels to a point that could no longer support life … and it depends on the chemical make up of those impurities. That is not to say it is impossible or even necessarily unlikely, but if i recall, the carbon monoxide emissions are greatly reduced in vehicles equipped with the catalytic converter – which is most of them. And since carbon monoxide is the desired gas, it becomes more difficult and less likely to rise to a lethal level … other gasses might “do the trick” but they are as likely to make you sick or do the trick without the desired peacefulness and speed.
I remember reading something about charcoal grills in tents by folks in japan … but i have no idea of its effectiveness
grillmaster dawg
Well once again – Dawg shows me that I am a moron.
I live in the northern regions of USA. EVERY year, without fail – we will have at least one family wiped out by the people trying to heat their home with a charcoal grill.
I *should* have known this one. But I was too much of a moron to remember this.
You’re not a moron by any stretch … and it that’s how we measure moronability … then i am a moron times 10 since half of the stuff i write here is an eloquent response that i thought of only to forget half or the words, subjects and concepts as i type it out
dementia dawg
FYI – here in the southeast USA we have at least one or two families die from running a gas generator in doors during a power outage per year … now those do not have catalytic converters
electric dawg
well dawg, you are using moron in a technical sense. I may have (or HAD) a high IQ. But there are a plethora of reasons why I am a Ftard / moron.
I thought you knew that?? Or at least knew of some of my issues that made me the useless piece of crap that I am.
Being the uber-moron that i am … i have probably forgot … or it never registered in the first place 😛
tard dawg