Help Opinions on CO poisoning by a vehicle?

[Raskolnikov's Axe]

Hello everyone. I used to be a frequent poster here. Left to focus on recovery. Guess how that turned out. Well, at least I saved up a couple of thousands working a soulless, minimum wage job so I guess the silver lining is that my funeral will be paid for.

I have a car and I am curious about the methodology of CO poisoning. What are the odds of success?

I read a medical report about a guy who pretty much laid below an exhaust outdoors and dispatched himself that way.

My attempt would also take place outdoors, but my line of thinking is that I would attach a plastic (or some other type of bendable material) pipe to the exhaust pipe and lead it to the barely cracked window inside the car, and I would down a couple of sleeping pills.

Is there any way this would succeed or am I just deluding myself? Many thanks for any help provided.

 

[tulero]

not possible anymore, catalytic converter is your problem

 

[bankai]

I've been reading about this stuff and I don't think this particular method is feasible.i think cars in the last few years are coming out with Catalytic converters that greatly reduce the amount of carbon monoxide produced.

Crazy that that guy could take the bus by just lying next to the exhaust

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

Yes, carbon monoxide still kills even with modern cars. Catalytic converters reduce emissions but do not eliminate them, and in a closed environment like a garage, CO levels can still become lethal. There are recent documented cases in the United States: two teenagers died in Arizona in November 2024, an elderly restaurant owner in Maryland in March 2025, three Marines died in North Carolina in July 2023, and two children died in Detroit in February 2025—all confirmed CO poisonings. CDC data is clear: about 2,000 suicides per year from CO, over 500 accidental deaths. So no, this is not a myth. Modern cars still emit enough CO to kill if left running in a closed space for long enough. You don't need a car from the 1980s—you just need the right conditions. The rest is silence.

18-year-old found dead in garage with friend, 17, from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

Two young men in Arizona have been found dead due to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.

www.kktv.com

Kids died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Detroit parking garage incident

The Medical Examiner said carbon monoxide poisoning is what led to the tragic death of two children in a van at a Detroit casino parking garage last month.

www.scrippsnews.com

 

[tulero]

Yes, carbon monoxide still kills even with modern cars. Catalytic converters reduce emissions but do not eliminate them, and in a closed environment like a garage, CO levels can still become lethal. There are recent documented cases in the United States: two teenagers died in Arizona in November 2024, an elderly restaurant owner in Maryland in March 2025, three Marines died in North Carolina in July 2023, and two children died in Detroit in February 2025—all confirmed CO poisonings. CDC data is clear: about 2,000 suicides per year from CO, over 500 accidental deaths. So no, this is not a myth. Modern cars still emit enough CO to kill if left running in a closed space for long enough. You don't need a car from the 1980s—you just need the right conditions. The rest is silence.

18-year-old found dead in garage with friend, 17, from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

Two young men in Arizona have been found dead due to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.

www.kktv.com

Kids died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Detroit parking garage incident

The Medical Examiner said carbon monoxide poisoning is what led to the tragic death of two children in a van at a Detroit casino parking garage last month.

www.scrippsnews.com

maybe buying an old second-hand car is a possibility

a model you know beforehand someone comitted ctb with

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

maybe buying an old second-hand car is a possibility

a model you know beforehand someone comitted ctb with

There is no need to buy an old car.

 

[Raskolnikov's Axe]

Yes, carbon monoxide still kills even with modern cars. Catalytic converters reduce emissions but do not eliminate them, and in a closed environment like a garage, CO levels can still become lethal. There are recent documented cases in the United States: two teenagers died in Arizona in November 2024, an elderly restaurant owner in Maryland in March 2025, three Marines died in North Carolina in July 2023, and two children died in Detroit in February 2025—all confirmed CO poisonings. CDC data is clear: about 2,000 suicides per year from CO, over 500 accidental deaths. So no, this is not a myth. Modern cars still emit enough CO to kill if left running in a closed space for long enough. You don't need a car from the 1980s—you just need the right conditions. The rest is silence.

18-year-old found dead in garage with friend, 17, from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

Two young men in Arizona have been found dead due to apparent carbon monoxide poisoning.

www.kktv.com

Kids died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Detroit parking garage incident

The Medical Examiner said carbon monoxide poisoning is what led to the tragic death of two children in a van at a Detroit casino parking garage last month.

www.scrippsnews.com

So, it has to be in an enclosed space? The garage I have access too is far to small to house a car. You don't suppose I could lead the pipe from the exhaust to the barely cracked window and then cover and tape up any excess space?

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[tulero]

There is no need to buy an old car.

but if you dont have a car beforehand and want to do the CO method, if you are considering to buy the device that counts up to 10000ppm when burning the charcoal, that device is not cheap and maybe for a similar price you can buy a very old car and do it with it instead burning charcoal and would be easier

im just guessing

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

So, it has to be in an enclosed space? The garage I have access too is far to small to house a car. You don't suppose I could lead the pipe from the exhaust to the barely cracked window and then cover and tape up any excess space?

Thank you so much for your help.

If your idea is to run the tube through the car window, it's still considered a closed environment, so that's perfectly fine. Just leave the engine running for about an hour — that's more than enough. In the meantime, you can stay outside, and then enter after the time has passed. If you have a ppm detector, that makes it even more reliable. Also, carbon monoxide accumulates in the tissues and saturates the environment — opening the door for a few seconds doesn't suddenly refresh all the air inside. Thinking that the CO just vanishes in that short moment is pure science fiction.

 

[finalgoodbye:(]

I think @Praestat_Mori knows a thing or two about CO poisoning

 

[LeavingEarly]

Why not use charcoal?

 

[Praestat_Mori]

Charcoal metthod advice (CO)

ttps://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/charcoal-method-advice.94265/post-1655792

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

but if you dont have a car beforehand and want to do the CO method, if you are considering to buy the device that counts up to 10000ppm when burning the charcoal, that device is not cheap and maybe for a similar price you can buy a very old car and do it with it instead burning charcoal and would be easier

im just guessing

There's really no need to buy an old car just for that purpose. If someone wants a more convenient approach, using their current vehicle is perfectly fine. Otherwise, if a faster result is desired, there are much more efficient devices:

Portable generator: ~0.7 minutes

Gasoline chainsaw: ~2 minutes

Gas-powered lawn mower: ~3 minutes

Gasoline leaf blower: ~4 minutes

Gas-powered pressure washer: ~2.4 minutes


With these tools, you can reach 10,000 PPM of carbon monoxide inside a closed car cabin within just a few minutes, without complications.
No need to buy an old car or debate the cost of a ppm detector.

 

[tulero]

There's really no need to buy an old car just for that purpose. If someone wants a more convenient approach, using their current vehicle is perfectly fine. Otherwise, if a faster result is desired, there are much more efficient devices:

Portable generator: ~0.7 minutes

Gasoline chainsaw: ~2 minutes

Gas-powered lawn mower: ~3 minutes

Gasoline leaf blower: ~4 minutes

Gas-powered pressure washer: ~2.4 minutes


With these tools, you can reach 10,000 PPM of carbon monoxide inside a closed car cabin within just a few minutes, without complications.
No need to buy an old car or debate the cost of a ppm detector.

i dont know if im getting what you say

you mean if i put a gasoline chainsaw inside a closed car cabin and I turn it on, in roughly 2 minutes there will be 10000ppm of CO inside the car ?

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

i dont know if im getting what you say

you mean if i put a gasoline chainsaw inside a closed car cabin and I turn it on, in roughly 2 minutes there will be 10000ppm of CO inside the car ?

Yes, at a concentration of around 10,000 ppm of carbon monoxide in a closed space like a car, loss of consciousness can occur very quickly. CO binds strongly to hemoglobin in the blood, blocking the transport of oxygen to vital tissues, especially the brain. In a saturated and unventilated environment, exposure causes a hypoxic effect that rapidly impairs neurological functions. These dynamics are well documented by organizations such as the CDC and NIOSH.

 

[tulero]

Yes, at a concentration of around 10,000 ppm of carbon monoxide in a closed space like a car, loss of consciousness can occur very quickly. CO binds strongly to hemoglobin in the blood, blocking the transport of oxygen to vital tissues, especially the brain. In a saturated and unventilated environment, exposure causes a hypoxic effect that rapidly impairs neurological functions. These dynamics are well documented by organizations such as the CDC and NIOSH.

yeah, what i didnt know is that the kind of machines you wrote in the previous post produce that high concentration of CO

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

yeah, what i didnt know is that the kind of machines you wrote in the previous post produce that high concentration of CO

A gasoline chainsaw produces large amounts of carbon monoxide because it uses an internal combustion engine, often a two-stroke one, which burns the air-fuel mixture inefficiently. Unlike modern cars with catalytic converters, these engines don't filter anything and release CO directly through the exhaust. For this reason, in an enclosed space like the inside of a car, it only takes a few minutes to reach concentrations above 10,000 ppm.

 

[Raskolnikov's Axe]

If your idea is to run the tube through the car window, it's still considered a closed environment, so that's perfectly fine. Just leave the engine running for about an hour — that's more than enough. In the meantime, you can stay outside, and then enter after the time has passed. If you have a ppm detector, that makes it even more reliable. Also, carbon monoxide accumulates in the tissues and saturates the environment — opening the door for a few seconds doesn't suddenly refresh all the air inside. Thinking that the CO just vanishes in that short moment is pure science fiction.

Interesting. Thank you for your help. The only thing I wonder about now is SI. I had a bad experience with partial hanging a few years ago and I hope not to ruin my chances by panicking or something.

 

[J&L383]

not possible anymore, catalytic converter is your problem

Take the catalytic converter off the car and maybe you have a chance. But you'd have to somehow tune the car rich so that it's getting too much gas, better find yourself a 60s vehicle and that would do the job.

 

[wham311]

If your idea is to run the tube through the car window, it's still considered a closed environment, so that's perfectly fine. Just leave the engine running for about an hour — that's more than enough. In the meantime, you can stay outside, and then enter after the time has passed. If you have a ppm detector, that makes it even more reliable. Also, carbon monoxide accumulates in the tissues and saturates the environment — opening the door for a few seconds doesn't suddenly refresh all the air inside. Thinking that the CO just vanishes in that short moment is pure science fiction.

So what exactly do you do? Connect a tube from exhaust pipe and a hose of some sort to the driver's window and put it in?

Also from wiki

Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning may be attempted by running the engine in an enclosed garage, or by piping the exhaust gas into the driver's compartment with a hose, but catalytic converters required for air quality regulations eliminate over 99% of carbon monoxide produced.[1

From lost all hope

Whilst it is possible to achieve death using this method, it does generally require older cars. The method is susceptible to a number of things that can go wrong, and for this reason it is no longer cited as an effective method of committing suicide, and certainly not in places like the US, UK and Australia where car emissions are more tightly controlled.

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

So what exactly do you do? Connect a tube from exhaust pipe and a hose of some sort to the driver's window and put it in?

Also from wiki

Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning may be attempted by running the engine in an enclosed garage, or by piping the exhaust gas into the driver's compartment with a hose, but catalytic converters required for air quality regulations eliminate over 99% of carbon monoxide produced.[1

From lost all hope

Whilst it is possible to achieve death using this method, it does generally require older cars. The method is susceptible to a number of things that can go wrong, and for this reason it is no longer cited as an effective method of committing suicide, and certainly not in places like the US, UK and Australia where car emissions are more tightly controlled.

It is technically false to claim that modern cars in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia cannot reach lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). Three-way catalytic converters, although highly efficient, only function properly after reaching operating temperatures above 300°C, which does not occur during the first few minutes after ignition. In that time frame, even a brand-new, fully compliant vehicle can emit exhaust gases containing more than 2% CO by volume (equivalent to 20,000 ppm). Channeling these gases into a sealed cabin of 2.5–3 cubic meters can lead to concentrations exceeding 10,000 ppm in under an hour—levels that can cause loss of consciousness within minutes and death within 10–15 minutes. Forensic studies confirm CO-related deaths in post-2010 vehicles even in countries with strict emissions standards. The statement that "modern cars no longer allow this" is an ideological oversimplification, not a technical fact. Wikipedia is often cited to support generic claims, but it is a secondary source, written by anonymous contributors—not by forensic experts or automotive engineers. Its content is subject to editorial bias, ideological revisions, and public health-driven censorship. Anyone who merely quotes Wikipedia without understanding the thermodynamic behavior of catalytic systems and the physiology of gas accumulation in enclosed spaces is not providing evidence, but merely an opinion disguised as authority. And in any case, no medical examiner or automotive expert would ever sign a written statement declaring that sitting in a closed garage with a modern catalytic car running poses "no risk whatsoever"—because that would be a technical falsehood and a legally indefensible claim.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the voluntary removal of catalytic converters is far more widespread than commonly assumed. In many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, it is not uncommon for unofficial workshops or complicit mechanics to remove or bypass the catalytic converter to boost vehicle performance or resolve clogging issues, often without fully informing the client. There is also a large community of enthusiasts and private individuals who carry out such modifications themselves, removing the catalyst and remapping the ECU to disable the monitoring systems. In these cases, carbon monoxide emissions can increase drastically, with tailpipe concentrations exceeding normal values by 10 or even 20 times. This makes it even more evident how flawed the claim is that "modern cars no longer allow it," because many of these cars are no longer configured as they left the factory.

 

[Dejected 55]

A gasoline chainsaw produces large amounts of carbon monoxide because it uses an internal combustion engine, often a two-stroke one, which burns the air-fuel mixture inefficiently. Unlike modern cars with catalytic converters, these engines don't filter anything and release CO directly through the exhaust. For this reason, in an enclosed space like the inside of a car, it only takes a few minutes to reach concentrations above 10,000 ppm.

Hey, this is news to me. Good news actually. Does it matter the kind/size of chainsaw? I had to buy one last year to help clear debris after a hurricane until I got so disappointed with life that I said screw taking care of the yard. But I still have the chainsaw and plenty of gas. The chainsaw I bought runs about 30 minutes give or take in actual use, so I presume it would run a bit longer in idle mode just sitting in the floorboard of the car.

Is it "safe" to assume you can leave the blade locked so it doesn't accidentally start cutting anything and risk the engine binding and stopping? Just idling will generate enough CO? That would be kind of awesome for me because I live alone in a house a good distance away from other neighbors, so my car in the garage would be double isolated from the environment and I could leave a note on the car that would warn of potential CO exposure for whomever might find me.

This is kind of awesome news if it works, because it means I have everything I need for something quick and painless when I'm ready to go.

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

Hey, this is news to me. Good news actually. Does it matter the kind/size of chainsaw? I had to buy one last year to help clear debris after a hurricane until I got so disappointed with life that I said screw taking care of the yard. But I still have the chainsaw and plenty of gas. The chainsaw I bought runs about 30 minutes give or take in actual use, so I presume it would run a bit longer in idle mode just sitting in the floorboard of the car.

Is it "safe" to assume you can leave the blade locked so it doesn't accidentally start cutting anything and risk the engine binding and stopping? Just idling will generate enough CO? That would be kind of awesome for me because I live alone in a house a good distance away from other neighbors, so my car in the garage would be double isolated from the environment and I could leave a note on the car that would warn of potential CO exposure for whomever might find me.

This is kind of awesome news if it works, because it means I have everything I need for something quick and painless when I'm ready to go.

Yes, even at idle, a gasoline-powered chainsaw produces a massive amount of carbon monoxide (CO), vastly higher than that of a modern car equipped with a catalytic converter. Most chainsaws use two-stroke engines with no emission control systems and highly inefficient combustion. These engines do not meet strict EPA regulations for small engines unless specifically certified, which is very rare. Independent tests have shown that a chainsaw can emit between 30,000 and 100,000 ppm of CO directly from the exhaust—enough to cause loss of consciousness in under a minute in a sealed space, and death shortly after. Even while idling on the bed of a car, it continuously emits CO, which accumulates rapidly inside the vehicle cabin. The only difference compared to full throttle is how fast the lethal threshold is reached—not whether it is dangerous. It is essential to secure the throttle and ensure the chain is immobilized to prevent accidental rotation or engine shutdown. But technically speaking, yes—even a chainsaw running at idle in a closed space produces enough CO to be deadly within minutes, regardless of brand, engine size, or model. There is no filter. No reduction. No protection. Just raw, lethal gas.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

Portable generator: ~0.7 minutes

Gasoline chainsaw: ~2 minutes

Gas-powered lawn mower: ~3 minutes

Gasoline leaf blower: ~4 minutes

Gas-powered pressure washer: ~2.4 minutes

I don't doubt that enough CO can be produced but using such engines also includes a lot of noise.

Personally, I'd prefer it to be quiet in my last moments.

 

[Dejected 55]

Yes, even at idle, a gasoline-powered chainsaw produces a massive amount of carbon monoxide (CO), vastly higher than that of a modern car equipped with a catalytic converter. Most chainsaws use two-stroke engines with no emission control systems and highly inefficient combustion. These engines do not meet strict EPA regulations for small engines unless specifically certified, which is very rare. Independent tests have shown that a chainsaw can emit between 30,000 and 100,000 ppm of CO directly from the exhaust—enough to cause loss of consciousness in under a minute in a sealed space, and death shortly after. Even while idling on the bed of a car, it continuously emits CO, which accumulates rapidly inside the vehicle cabin. The only difference compared to full throttle is how fast the lethal threshold is reached—not whether it is dangerous. It is essential to secure the throttle and ensure the chain is immobilized to prevent accidental rotation or engine shutdown. But technically speaking, yes—even a chainsaw running at idle in a closed space produces enough CO to be deadly within minutes, regardless of brand, engine size, or model. There is no filter. No reduction. No protection. Just raw, lethal gas.

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I peaked back into this thread. When I bought the chainsaw last year it was purely for tree clearing purposes. I just got tired of the work realizing that when I was done I just would have a nice yard that I didn't care about really so I set it aside in the garage. At that time I wasn't thinking about suicide as seriously. That was back in early October I guess when I bought it.

I did give passing thought to it recently, but I guess I dismissed it because the engine is so small and it doesn't run very long so I thought even though I was sure (as you describe) it didn't do jack to reduce its own emissions, I figured it wouldn't generate very much. Plus, I was using it in wide open air outside and never gave a thought to danger since I wasn't in an environment where I was getting a good whiff even by accident.

This changes a lot of things for me. The blade lock is reliable on the one I bought and I can also put the chain "sheath" on it too, and the throttle is a trigger that isn't easily triggered accidentally, so it sounds like I just need to verify it physically fits in the floorboard comfortably.

The process should be pretty simple... fill it with fuel, crank it outside the car and then put it inside the car. I could let it run in there for a few minutes before I get in just to be sure, and it sounds like it should be fast action from there. Awesome.

As an aside... would this work for two people? I'm just me, but I have considered and made some communications potentially for a partner to go with me... so wondering if this could be a 2-for-the-price-of-1 situation if I found a compatible partner.

I don't doubt that enough CO can be produced but using such engines also includes a lot of noise.

Personally, I'd prefer it to be quiet in my last moments.

Before I had previously ruled out suicide in the car, I always imagined being in there with my iPhone and playing music. I could crank it up loud or wear earphones and counteract a lot of the noise, maybe. Or I could just live with it. I don't think noise would keep you from passing out since it isn't "sleep" in the traditional sense, and if it happens within minutes, I could handle that.

 

[TheVanishingPoint]

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I peaked back into this thread. When I bought the chainsaw last year it was purely for tree clearing purposes. I just got tired of the work realizing that when I was done I just would have a nice yard that I didn't care about really so I set it aside in the garage. At that time I wasn't thinking about suicide as seriously. That was back in early October I guess when I bought it.

I did give passing thought to it recently, but I guess I dismissed it because the engine is so small and it doesn't run very long so I thought even though I was sure (as you describe) it didn't do jack to reduce its own emissions, I figured it wouldn't generate very much. Plus, I was using it in wide open air outside and never gave a thought to danger since I wasn't in an environment where I was getting a good whiff even by accident.

This changes a lot of things for me. The blade lock is reliable on the one I bought and I can also put the chain "sheath" on it too, and the throttle is a trigger that isn't easily triggered accidentally, so it sounds like I just need to verify it physically fits in the floorboard comfortably.

The process should be pretty simple... fill it with fuel, crank it outside the car and then put it inside the car. I could let it run in there for a few minutes before I get in just to be sure, and it sounds like it should be fast action from there. Awesome.

As an aside... would this work for two people? I'm just me, but I have considered and made some communications potentially for a partner to go with me... so wondering if this could be a 2-for-the-price-of-1 situation if I found a compatible partner.

Before I had previously ruled out suicide in the car, I always imagined being in there with my iPhone and playing music. I could crank it up loud or wear earphones and counteract a lot of the noise, maybe. Or I could just live with it. I don't think noise would keep you from passing out since it isn't "sleep" in the traditional sense, and if it happens within minutes, I could handle that.

To drastically reduce the noise of a running chainsaw and create an acoustically isolated environment, a simple but effective combination can be used: first, insert standard earphones—preferably in-ear—connected to a music source or app, ensuring they fit well into the ear canal to provide an initial sound barrier; then, over the earphones, wear industrial noise-reduction earmuffs, like those used on construction sites or at shooting ranges, with a Single Number Rating (SNR) of at least 30 dB, capable of dampening the low, continuous frequencies produced by the chainsaw engine; alternatively, electronic active noise-cancelling (ANC) earmuffs designed for industrial environments can be used, combining passive insulation with electronic filtering of intrusive sound vibrations; this double-layer setup—inner earphones for audio and outer earmuffs for isolation—allows you to listen to music or any other content without being disturbed by engine noise, effectively creating a personal sound bubble even in the presence of very loud equipment.