Is air that comes from a car bonnet harmful? It must contain oil.....?

Question

The inside of a car windscreen is often covered in a black film (wipe with a tissue to see) - but this doesn't happen if you recycle the internal air instead of letting it come in from outside via the bonnet. Presumably the black stuff is engine oil and presumably we breathe a fair bit. And... presumably that would be carcinogenic, wouldn't it? For this reason I always recycle the internal air and then open a window to change the air. Am I being paranoid? Does anyone know anything about it?

Answer 1

YOu are bing paranoid.

In some cars (like my Audi) there's an air filter for the cabin.  As for the air from the outside, it is the same air inside the car.  It is true sometime the CAR in FRONT of you are shooting out dirty gas.  But just recirculating air won't help.

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It is true that people who live in the big cities often suffer from health problems (and lung problems).  But that's not going to change whether you are on the road or just recirculating the cabin air.  If you are worried you need to move to Denver or Nebraska.

Sorry to deliver the bad news.

Good Luck

P.S.  Do you worry about microwaved food?

Answer 2

You're paranoid. You probably use paper towels when touching doors and fixtures in a restroom too, don't you? And you carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag. And a can of Lysol spray to clean the toilet seat too right? (well, I don't BLAME you for THAT one) but the point is, I think you are worrying too much.

The air coming in from outside enters those little louvers at the base of your windshield, and that air is (relatively) clean unless your car has some MAJOR problems.

Answer 3

you might have engine problems