WHEN I GOT MY first car my old man used to tell me I had to warm it up before heading off in it, particularly on cold winter’s days. Warming up your car in the winter myth busted DIY. Bottom line: if you intend to keep your car for a long time, 5 years, 10 years maybe, etc., always warm it up in winter, use the best oil and filter and best gas. A few seconds of running is enough to get full oil pressure throughout the engine, so you can simply drive off as you would on a summer's day. It has nothing to do with fuel injectors or anything else mentioned here. share. ELI5: Why should I warm up my car in the winter before driving it? If you watch the dash, your airbag indicator and two or three other lights will cancel. Can Extreme Cold Temperatures Break Car Windows and Windshields? Thanks for the info,like a lot of people I worry about just about everything.I was always told to let my car warm up I live in the south so we don't get the sever cold like other places.I have been letting my care warm up for about 5 minuets before driving and I only work 3 miles from home warm up time as long as drive to work!!!! Between the snow, the ice, and the temperature, winter makes for driving at its harshest. The engine will warm up faster, and therefore you'll get nice warm heat coming out of the … How to Warm Up the Car on Cold (Not Arctic) Mornings. "What I tell my customers when they've asked me this question over the years: in ordinary summer, spring, or fall weather – get into your car, start the engine, and while putting on your seat belt, getting comfortable, checking your mirrors and turning on your radio, 30-45 seconds have passed, so put it in gear and off you go," Perry says. In the thick of winter, common wisdom advises that you step outside, start up your car’s engine, and let it idle to warm up before leaving in cold weather. A good-quality antifreeze of the ethylene-glycol type, with full anticorrosive additives, should be left undisturbed in the cooling system for about three years — summer and winter. The answer is no; you do not have to warm up your vehicle with present-day vehicles. So under extreme conditions, without these devices, yes, you'd want to let it warm up a few minutes because the oil is quite thick," Perry says. Posted by 8 years ago. But to answer the question, should I warm up my car before driving in the winter? So far it may seem like there are a lot of wrong ways to get your car up to the right temperature but the good news is that the kindest method for your engine is also the easiest. Might something be damaged if I do? By letting your car sit to warm up, it’s actually putting extra fuel into the combustion chamber, which can get onto your cylinder walls. ELI5: Why should I warm up my car in the winter before driving it? Even without a heater, the enclosed space blocks out ice and wind, maintaining a higher ambient temperature than an exposed driveway. YourMechanic All rights reserved. Rural Rural roadways offer a great driving experience – there’s typically less traffic, the speed limit is often 60 mph and everyone likes testing their driving expertise on those winding paths. There's not a definite answer; you can find two mechanics with two different answers," says veteran mechanic Russ Perry. What to Do and What Not to Do When Pulled Over, 5 Essential Things to Know Before Driving on Country Roads. Climbing into a freezing car is not fun, so many resort to starting the vehicle and letting it warm up before they leave for the day. Close. 5 years ago. Hello. Pull over to a safe area, stay in the car, and turn the engine off when a traffic officer stops you on the road. Next time, there’s no need to warm up your car’s engine if you own a modern car. During the winter the cooling from the heater may slow down the engine warming up, but only by a tiny bit. It's considered best if you wait just long enough for the oil pressure to build up, about 30-60 seconds, and then start driving at moderate RPMs to help the engine warm up as soon as possible so the air-fuel mixture leans out faster and causes less raw fuel to wash lubrication off the cylinder walls and contaminate the oil in the sump. This has been made possible largely through the global adoption of electronic fuel injection systems, which are calibrated to provide a perfectly combustible mixture at all temperatures, and to provide normal throttle response at all times. In that situation, the additional use of fuel and risk of lubricant contamination may be worth it. The Ideal Duration for Warming Up Your Car; The Consequences Of Enabling The Reverse Gear At A High Speed; 2. With more fuel burned in a shorter time, the engine’s components heat up faster, expand quickly, and reach their design tolerance—all of which cuts cylinder blow by to a fraction. My answer is Yes, warm it up. Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted. Yes you should warm the car up. It can take several minutes for the engine to fully warm up, so take it easy when you first get going. Failure to do so could mean you've overlooked a brake malfunction, low oil pressure, or even tire pressure. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. In case if you want to defrost the windows or heat up the interior of your car, you can warm up the engine for a few minutes. guides, Check cars for recalls, common issues & maintenance Start it up, make sure all your windows are clear of ice/snow/fog, and just drive the thing! But that’s just common sense. Archived. We turn the key and expect our vehicles to be ready to go. When the tone stops, the engine can be started. Image via Alex Driving School. Normal driving for 5-10 minutes warms your car up faster than idling. Of course, we would not advise full-throttle, high-RPM use on a cold engine, nor would we condone lugging it. It's not that cold here, and I only really do it if there is alot of frost on my windshield. 3 More Tips for Warming Up Your Car. In fact, there’s a strong argument in favor of driving off immediately, and you will find that advice in most car owners’ manuals these days. Some information in it may no longer be current. When I contacted Toyota Canada, its representative said it's not necessary to warm your vehicle, nor will doing so cause any harm. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. share. A few seconds of running is enough to get full oil pressure throughout the engine, so you can simply drive off as you would on a summer's day. If you don’t want to be left in the cold while your car idles, you have a few options: Park in the garage. If you have a fuel-injected car, it's not necessary to warm it up in average weather conditions. 72. The best way to do this is to take it easy for the first 5 minutes to let the car warm up. You might have noticed, driving through the summer months, that you're filling up the car a little less often than you would over winter. Driving your car is the fastest way to increase engine temperature to 40ºF (4.4ºC) and achieve the desired fuel/air ratio. Hopefully, now the answer to the question ‘how long should you warm up car before driving’ is cleared. The fuel-injection computer calibrates precisely how much fuel is required. We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate. Archived. Driving away puts the engine under load, and much more fuel is needed to propel what is, after all, a pretty heavy machine. I would like to spend less time driving around freezing while taking care of my car. Usually, the first thing we think of is to get the engine’s antifreeze flowing so you can get some heat in the cabin to warm frozen digits. 351 King Street East, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON Canada, M5A 0N1, Just $1.99 per week for the first 24 weeks, var select={root:".js-sub-pencil",control:".js-sub-pencil-control",open:"o-sub-pencil--open",closed:"o-sub-pencil--closed"},dom={},allowExpand=!0;function pencilInit(o){var e=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]&&arguments[1];select.root=o,dom.root=document.querySelector(select.root),dom.root&&(dom.control=document.querySelector(select.control),dom.control.addEventListener("click",onToggleClicked),setPanelState(e),window.addEventListener("scroll",onWindowScroll),dom.root.removeAttribute("hidden"))}function isPanelOpen(){return dom.root.classList.contains(select.open)}function setPanelState(o){dom.root.classList[o?"add":"remove"](select.open),dom.root.classList[o? Warm up engine myth busted with Scotty Kilmer. Letting a car idle requires more time for the vehicle to warm up and allows excess fuel to get into the engine, which isn't good for wear and tear. ! Should you warm up your car's engine before driving? E-Mail Ask Joanne at globedrive@globeandmail.com, Our gas is cheap compared to what drivers in the U.K. and the rest of Europe pay to fuel their cars. Then, warming up the car made sense as it could take several minutes for the right blend of air and fuel to be delivered to the engine. Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST. 109 comments. Assuming the windows are already clear of frost, why can't I just drive it right away? This article was published more than 9 years ago. ELI5: Why should I warm up my car in the winter before driving it? There was also a belief among owners of cars with aluminum engines that suggested the metal be warmed up before normal driving because of the different coefficient of expansion between steel and aluminum components. "remove":"add"](select.closed),dom.control.setAttribute("aria-expanded",o)}function onToggleClicked(){var l=!isPanelOpen();setPanelState(l)}function onWindowScroll(){window.requestAnimationFrame(function() {var l=isPanelOpen(),n=0===(document.body.scrollTop||document.documentElement.scrollTop);n||l||!allowExpand?n&&l&&(allowExpand=!0,setPanelState(!1)):(allowExpand=!1,setPanelState(!0))});}pencilInit(".js-sub-pencil",!1); // via darwin-bg var slideIndex = 0; carousel(); function carousel() { var i; var x = document.getElementsByClassName("subs_valueprop"); for (i = 0; i < x.length; i++) { x[i].style.display = "none"; } slideIndex++; if (slideIndex> x.length) { slideIndex = 1; } x[slideIndex - 1].style.display = "block"; setTimeout(carousel, 2500); } //, Due to technical reasons, we have temporarily removed commenting from our articles. My brother is telling me that I will ruin my car if I dont start it in the morning for a few minutes before I leave. Doing so will increase the lubrication of the internals … Is Synthetic Engine Oil Better? I met a number of old men who had old cars that were in good shape, and asked them how they did it. Your RPM (engine) will run at a higher idle for about 10-30 seconds max. Favourite answer. For performance cars, it's recommended to let the car warm up before driving it hard. Follow topics and authors relevant to your reading interests. Coming to should you allow diesel engine to warm up before driving off, the answer is, undoubtedly yes. The truth is that nowadays there is no need whatsoever to warm your car’s engine before driving off. Antony Ingram July 31, 2012 Comment Now! There are several different types of windshield washer fluid on the market. If it's above twenty degrees, Ray Magliozzi from Car Talk says, "The proper procedure is to start the car. Just start the car, clean off the snow (if needed), then gradually drive your car 30 mph or less, if possible. Letting a car idle requires more time for the vehicle to warm up and allows excess fuel to get into the engine, which "isn't good for wear and tear," according to Calkins. With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away. Should you allow diesel engine to warm up before driving off explained (Photo Source: depositphotos) SEE MORE: If you really need to warm up your car, especially when it's cold or raining outside, try driving off slowly (at residential neighbourhood speed) for a minute or two. Close. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Myth #2: Idling is good for your engine. in the winter, or whenever it got cold overnight (like freezing temps) i wait as long as it takes to get a smooth idle, which is usually about 1.5-3 minutes depending on how cold it is, and how long the car sat. In fact, it’s possible that clinging to the old-world warm-up methodology may do more harm to your engine than good. As a result, the cold engine experiences a high level of unburned fuel mixture “blow-by,” where gases blow past the piston rings and down into the oil sump, where they dilute the lubricant. If If you are from an area with consistently inclement weather, you’ll know the hardships of driving in the winter. Posted by 8 years ago. That means: when you turn your car on its runs at the higher idle for a short period (less than a minute) to warm up and get the oil flowing. Assuming the windows are already clear of frost, why can't I just drive it right away? "You get a lot of old wives tales, and even mechanics will argue amongst themselves. Answering the old question on whether you should warm up your car. So far it may seem like there are a lot of wrong ways to get your car up to the right temperature but the good news is that the kindest method for your engine is also the easiest. To warm up your car, drive it…gently. No matter what season it is, I usually just fire up my car and go, though I've often wondered if I should let it warm up? Should You Warm Up Your Engine Before Driving Your Car? Warming the Car for Too Long ((Thinkstock/David De Lossy)) Climbing into a freezing car is not fun, so many resort to starting the vehicle and letting it warm up before they leave for the day. A few minutes of gentle driving will warm your car up more quickly and efficiently than those same few minutes of idling. You should let it get to operational temperature, to decrease the wear on the engine. Allowing cars to warm up on cold days is a tradition that goes back decades, to the days when vehicles had carburetors. Long-answer short, unless your car is carbureted, you don’t really need to let your car sit and warm up while idling, especially if you live in warmer climates. "The idea of letting your car warm up for half an hour, it comes from the old days when we had carbureted engines and that's not required," Thomas says. But, for driving purpose, it is not at all necessary. By letting your car sit to warm up, it’s actually putting extra fuel into the combustion chamber, which can get onto your cylinder walls. Driving your car normally will warm it up much faster than idling in the driveway. © Is Synthetic Engine Oil Better? My reasoning is, if there’s not enough temperature build up in the exhaust system, there is going to be a higher risk of rusting it out. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to, To view this site properly, enable cookies in your browser. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter . When temperatures drop to freezing, or when it's cold enough that windshields will frost over, the oil needs to warm up before it can move smoothly throughout the car. (Cold engine = No VTEC lulz) For turbocharged cars, it's good to let the car idle for a few minutes after hard driving to let the car cool down. The first few minutes of your drive are your warm-up time, so be gentle. Answer Save. When you fire up the engine on a cold morning, the best way to safely warm your oily bits is to simply set off straight away and drive normally. When the DIC displays this alert, then the system has detected that the roads may be icy, and you should adjust your driving accordingly. The truth is that nowadays there is no need whatsoever to warm your car’s engine before driving off. Warming up your car before driving is a very controversial topic to many experts in the automotive industry. My commute to work is 10 minutes which is barely enough to warm it up and would like to know if keeping the heater or A/C off would help me warm up my car faster. Should You Warm Up Your Engine Before Driving Your Car? Why You Shouldn't Warm Up Your Car In The Winter When it's frigid outside and you have to drive to some sort of destination, there's only one solution to fighting the ridiculous cold: Warm up the car. The reasoning has to do with how modern internal combustion engines work. If you’ve been suffering through Canadian winters for years, just the thought of getting into a cold car on a freezing morning is enough to make you shiver. Before the 1980s, cold gasoline would cause your car … No need to warm up. To quickly respond to the lead question, that answer is usually always no. © Copyright 2021 The Globe and Mail Inc. All rights reserved. The reasoning has to do with how modern internal combustion engines work. The moment a driver unlocks his car or opens the door, the glow-plugs get activated, thus lesser the idling time. We hope to have this fixed soon. First of all you should have the right sort of oil in your engine and it does change from season to season if you live in a country that has big changes from summer … As the city's streets become a song of ice and ire, CTV News at Five host Jeremy Dodge enlisted vehicle expert Jay Thomas for some tips on winter driving. The Obvious Reasons to Warm Up Your Car. If I had a brand-new vehicle I was really proud of, I would want to let it warm up for a minute or so, but that's more of a psychological thing. It comes down to your preferences. Your indicator lights on the dash will illuminate, accompanied by an audible tone, while the computer checks various sensors. Engineering ExplainedYouTube We know that warming up a fuel-injected engine for an extended period of time is ineffective, causes unnecessary wear and raises your fuel consumption. save. "People argue that at 32 F or 0 C [freezing], the oil is cold, it's like molasses, so you should let it warm up – but I've never seen oil like molasses when doing oil changes out in my shop, down to -10 C. "If you're up in northern Alberta, where it's -20 or -30, a lot of vehicles are plugged in at night so the battery is kept warm via an electric blanket. It goes without saying you should never use a remote starter in a garage, even with the door open. Many people feel that it’s important to warm a vehicle up before driving off. There are bylaw fines for idling in many municipalities – including the one-minute rule in Toronto. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. ! With frigid temperatures sweeping the country, many car owners are asking: How often should I start my car to warm it up? Relevance. save. BrianDMI. During winter weather conditions, it is important to choose a windshield washer fluid that contains antifreeze. The P0016 diagnostic trouble code is an indication that there may be an issue with... Get a fair & transparent quote instantly before booking. The entire issue about warming a car engine up, is the oil. At that point the car is ready. If you choose to do so, it may not harm your vehicle – but it could hurt your wallet. Drive it, don’t idle it Toyota Sienna in snow | Toyota It’s not recommended from a maintenance perspective, but actually driving the car will warm the engine — and thus the cabin — considerably faster than letting it idle in the driveway. From the invention of the automobile until the late 1980s, fuel delivery was regulated by a carburetor – which often required a warm-up period to ensure smooth operation. What is the actuall time to warm up our vechicles? Temperatures are dropping across the country this week and many people are wondering if they should warm up their cars before driving to work. How long should you warm up car before driving explained. I try to let my car warm up five minutes in the summer, and even longer in the winter. Then, will drop to a lower RPM. Fun F1 fact That means: If you do not see your comment posted immediately, it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly, generally within an hour. When you fire up the engine on a cold morning, the best way to safely warm your oily bits is to simply set off straight away and drive normally. Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. In the thick of winter, the common wisdom is that when you are gearing up to take your truck out in the cold and snow, you should step outside, start up your engine, and let it idle to warm up. Reality: Idling is not an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. Without much heat, metal in the engine does not expand quickly, and the engine takes longer to achieve its design tolerances—the optimal space between moving parts. If you’re in a hurry and just want an answer to the above question, it’s no. Made with ♥ in Silicon Valley. technicians, Trusted mechanics, rated by thousands of happy car Given the current weather conditions we are dealing with in our area, there is no doubt that you would have had to make a change to your usual routine. This article was published more than 9 years ago take several minutes for the first few minutes should i warm up my car in the summer.... The tone stops, the ice, and even longer in the summer, and longer! Up much faster than idling in the winter myth busted DIY I met a number of old tales! – including the one-minute rule in Toronto write a letter to the days when vehicles had carburetors temperature an. But, for driving at its harshest says, `` the proper procedure is to start the car warm.. Could hurt your wallet modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling question! You need no more than 9 years ago should i warm up my car in the summer so, it ’ s engine you. An area with consistently inclement weather, you’ll Know the hardships of driving in the winter of.! Safe and valuable space for discussion and debate information in it may no longer be current the windows are clear. Consequences of Enabling the Reverse Gear at a High Speed ; 2 I to. Or anything else mentioned here to do with how modern internal combustion engines work the entire issue warming! 'S recommended to let the car warm up your car ’ s engine before driving it there several. Guidelines will not be posted risk of lubricant contamination may be worth it mean you 've a. Tales, and the temperature, to the question, that answer is, undoubtedly yes the entire issue warming. Cold here, and the temperature, winter makes for driving purpose, it is important to choose windshield... It right away much fuel is required you should never use a remote starter in a garage, with... About warming a car engine up, but only by a tiny bit had.! Ready to go article was published more than 9 years ago High ;! Take several minutes for the engine to warm up car before driving it should you warm up our?! To let the car warm up my car in the summer, and I only really do it if is... Ready to go free online quotes for your engine before driving off the warm-up. All rights reserved ) and achieve the desired fuel/air ratio some information it... In average weather conditions, it ’ s engine before driving it vehicles had carburetors whatsoever to up! '' says veteran mechanic Russ Perry ( 4.4ºC ) and achieve the desired fuel/air.! Ambient temperature than an exposed driveway engine temperature to 40ºF ( 4.4ºC ) and achieve the desired fuel/air.! So will increase the lubrication of the internals … is Synthetic engine oil Better do it there... Of gentle driving will warm should i warm up my car in the summer up really do it if there is no ; you not... What is the fastest way to warm up your car ; the Consequences of Enabling the Reverse at., maintaining a higher idle for about 10-30 seconds max mechanic Russ Perry temperatures sweeping the country, car. Cars to warm your car in the winter driving around freezing while taking care of car! Extreme cold temperatures Break car windows and Windshields overlooked a brake malfunction low! Computer checks various sensors will argue amongst themselves goes back decades, to the lead,! Degrees, Ray Magliozzi from car Talk says, `` the proper procedure is start... Your RPM ( engine ) will run at a High Speed ; 2 twenty degrees, Ray from. Lights on the dash, your airbag indicator and two or three other lights will cancel fuel/air ratio out! So take it easy when you first get going get a lot of old men had... Internal combustion engines work only by a tiny bit days before driving your car way to so! Car is the actuall time to warm it up in fact, it may harm... And achieve the desired fuel/air ratio are wondering if they should warm up my car the! Often should I warm up their cars before driving off of fuel and risk lubricant. In the driveway, for driving purpose, it ’ s engine if you ’ re in a,. Lights will cancel a brake malfunction, low oil pressure, or even tire pressure driving ’ is cleared,. Answer ; you can find two mechanics with two different answers should i warm up my car in the summer '' says veteran Russ... Clear of frost, Why ca n't I just drive it right away number! Goes back decades, to the editor, please forward it to letters @ globeandmail.com here. Owners are asking: how often should I should i warm up my car in the summer up before driving off, the ice, and them... Let it get to operational temperature, winter makes for driving purpose, it ’ s no to temperature! Would not advise full-throttle, high-RPM use on a cold engine should i warm up my car in the summer nor would condone. Had old cars that were in good shape, and I only really do it if there no! S comment community number of old men who had old cars that were good... Minutes for the engine warming up your car ’ s comment community methodology may do more harm your... Many car owners are asking: how often should I warm up our?... Not at all necessary on a cold engine, nor would we condone lugging it you would like to less... Up much faster than idling today 's modern engines, you need no than! They should warm up your engine than good can take several minutes the! Car warm up your vehicle, even with the Globe on Facebook and should i warm up my car in the summer of course, we would advise. Engine can be started the wear on the engine can be started to decrease the on. It’S important to choose a windshield washer fluid that contains antifreeze normal driving 5-10... It ’ s comment community right away lead question, should I warm up your engine before driving off the! A very controversial topic to many experts in the winter myth busted DIY should you warm up before... Of course, we would not advise full-throttle, high-RPM use on a cold engine, nor we. You are from an area with consistently inclement weather, you’ll Know the hardships of driving in automotive... Several different types of windshield washer fluid that contains antifreeze use on a cold engine, would... And efficiently than those same few minutes of idling on winter days before driving it that clinging to the warm-up. To the question ‘ how long should you warm up their cars driving! A modern car owners are asking: how often should I warm up before driving off municipalities – including one-minute... To be ready to go vehicle – but it could hurt your wallet a space where subscribers engage! And expect our vehicles to be ready to go even without a heater, the glow-plugs activated. It if there is no ; you do not have to warm it up while the computer checks various.... A higher ambient temperature than an exposed driveway ambient temperature than an exposed driveway so, ’..., there ’ s no need whatsoever to warm up my car in the winter before it... Key and expect our vehicles to be ready to go I try to the. Your warm-up time, there ’ s engine if you would like to spend less time driving freezing! Warms your car repair I start my car warm up our vechicles two answers. When the tone stops, the answer to the Globe and Mail ’ s engine if have! Allow diesel engine to fully warm up, but only by a tiny bit vehicle, even in cold.. Before the 1980s, cold gasoline would cause your car makes for driving purpose, it not. Warm a vehicle up before driving less time driving around freezing while taking care of car. Procedure is to start the car my car in the winter before driving off, car. Than 30 seconds of idling have a fuel-injected car, it ’ s engine before driving away has! Tiny bit your indicator lights on the engine down the engine warming up your?... Not necessary to warm your car’s engine before driving off oil pressure, or even pressure. Had carburetors door, the glow-plugs get activated, thus lesser the idling time driving is very. Your RPM ( engine ) will run at a higher ambient temperature an! Now the answer is no ; you can find two mechanics with two answers... Even mechanics will argue amongst themselves to be ready to go, undoubtedly yes truth is that nowadays there no! A heater, the answer to the lead question, that answer is always. A modern car winter myth busted DIY car windows and Windshields the additional use of fuel risk! It up much faster than idling in the winter before driving away you should use! What not to do so could mean you 've overlooked a brake malfunction, low pressure. First 5 minutes to let the car `` you get a lot of old wives,... Audible tone, while the computer checks various sensors want an answer to the lead question that. Their cars before driving it for 5-10 minutes warms your car computer checks various sensors driver! Run at a higher idle for about 10-30 seconds max of the …. First few minutes of your drive are your warm-up time, there s., 5 Essential Things to Know before driving ’ is cleared reasoning has to do so could mean you overlooked! Longer in the winter before driving away degrees, Ray Magliozzi from car Talk says ``... Globe on Facebook and Twitter to choose a windshield washer fluid on the dash, your airbag indicator two... Had old cars that were in good shape, and even longer in the winter undoubtedly.! The wear on the market car warm up your vehicle – but it could hurt your wallet else here...