Driving during the winter season can be incredibly challenging. Snow piles up on your car, visibility can be limited, and handling your vehicle over stretches of black ice can prove dangerous. 

Many car owners warm up their cars before driving anywhere. They are not sure why they do it but believe that it is somehow beneficial for the vehicle. 

But is it truly necessary to warm up your car before driving?

Before the mid-90s, most vehicles used a carburetor, a mechanism that blends air and fuel for internal combustion engines in a suitable air-to-fuel ratio. But during the late-80s and 90s, American car manufacturers began switching to fuel-injected engines. 

Older cars, which relied on carburetors, did need warming up to work well. Without warming up, the carburetor would not be able to get the right mix of air and fuel in the engine, and the car would stall out. Because of that, drivers sometimes waited for 10 minutes before even entering the vehicle. 

The switch between engine types solved this issue a very long time ago. Carburetors are no longer under your hood, and you wouldn’t cause any damage to your car if you were to drive it from the get-go.

Nonetheless, warming your vehicle up still provides some benefits.

The appeal to get into a warm vehicle is quite strong. Plus, most drivers think warming up their car is good for the engine. But is it true?

Let us start with the engine. One of the benefits of warming up is that you allow your engine to lubricate itself. When your car sits unused for extended periods of time, the oil drains down the bottom of the oil pan. Once you start the vehicle, the oil pump quickly moves the oil throughout the motor, lubricating all necessary engine components. Letting your car stay idle with the engine on can help quickly finish the lubrication process. It would also allow your engine to last longer, provided you are diligent with maintenance. 

Warming up also helps to deal with a frosty windshield. The temperature rises quickly, clearing the windshield and allowing you to retain visibility when driving. 

However, you should be mindful of how long you let the car sit idle. 

Some drivers idle the engine for 10-20 minutes to warm up their cars. However, idling for prolonged periods simply wastes fuel and provides no real tangible benefits. 

In modern vehicles, engine lubrication takes about 20 to 30 seconds. Whenever you hop in, start the car, put the seat belt on, and get situated, the engine might not reach the proper temperature but will always be fully lubricated.

The fastest way to warm up the engine is by driving. The upside to avoiding long idling is that you will save money on gas and pollute the environment less. 

Warming up is a great way to maintain engine health. You allow it to lubricate itself and, in turn, prolong its life cycle. However, modern vehicles no longer have carburetors, and lubrication takes 20-30 seconds. So, there is no real need to sit idle much beyond the time it takes to defog the windshield.

According to Energy Saver, idling can use a quarter to a half-gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. So, be mindful of your gas consumption and don’t allow your engine to waste fuel.

Real insights from real owners

© 2022 J.D.Power. All rights reserved.

© 2019 J.D.Power. All rights reserved.