Warm Your Toes, Warm Up Pie, But Don't Warm Up Your Engine
Fast forward to this millennium and we've got a very different story. Carbs are history, our engines use fuel injection systems that carefully monitor efficiency both in engine power and fuel delivery. These systems employ subsystems that compensate for things like temperature by making minute external adjustments to fueling. This means it will operate at optimum efficiency regardless of engine temperatures. First thing in the morning, it's adding a little extra to the mix to get things warmed up. It's also making sure that when you step on the gas there's enough oomph to get you up to speed quickly. This means that any amount of time you let your car sit in the driveway idling you're wasting gas. You're also not doing the environment any favors because your emission control devices (like the catalytic converter) only function properly hot, and they heat up much faster by driving than sitting still in the driveway. So even if you're a grandpa, don't watch your car warm up through the kitchen window, get going!
Comments
After reading this article I have to wonder what part of the country or world you live in. Up here in the northeast I find it necessary to warm up my car first thing in the morning, to defrost the windshield and provide heat for the drive. If the commute is as short as mine it is also necessary to allow the engine to come to temp. so the thermostat to open prior to reaching my destination or damage could result. As to wasting gas the vehicles now a days use a miniscule amount of fuel idling for a few minutes. If you are concerned about the environment then driving a car cold will pump more hydrocarbons into the air than a car idling to warm up. Try driving a vehicle that runs on diesel without warming it up first. Maybe trying alternative fuels is a better idea. Just my opinion on this subject.
Thanks, Frank from a cold New England city.
I agree with Frank. Oils are very thick
including powersteering when it’s below
freezing. Your much more likely to blow a
hose or spin a bearing if you take off
first thing. Even a 5 minute warm up will
help & then drive with a light foot on
the accelerator ie low rpms for a short
time.
Cold in NY
I usually don’t warm my automobiles before driving in cold weather, because we keep them in the garage; however our 1996 Dodge Caravan has to be warmed up before shifting into reverse otherwise it sounds like the tranny just fell to the floor not to mention the whip lash. I am sure that it is a fast idle problem but haven’t found a mechanic that can fix it yet.
I fully agree on letting a car warm-up on cold days. Like Frank, I like to see who is about to hit me, until vehicles have instant clear windows and seat warmers available I’ll remain content to sip my coffee watching the morning news until (approx 4-5 min.) the car’s anti-freeze warms up. John might try using synthetic oil in the engine, I don’t know about automotive stores carrying other fluids for low temp operation ,small aircraft though, (as a reference only) are usually warm before take-off following a pre-flight check-list and taxi to the active runway. Or, like me, you can move to Florida, or another warm climate, Harry, try an engine block heater, well worth the expense , I had one on a car in Nebraska, (an extension cord and timer are real convenient too) worked fine, that’s my 2 cent’s, Stay warm , Thanks Ted M.
I definitely disagree with the article here. I warm up my engine, not because of anything to do with fuel, but because of oil. If engines don’t need to be warmed up, why do we have engine block heaters?
I agree with frank and john but I own a 66 cevy car with electronic ignition and I will warm up the car it has nothing to do with the carbartor getting warm but it do’s have to do with the purpose of the oil pump to transfer oil from the pan to the top of the motor to pim the upperhalf of the motor that is why even when you purchase a new vehicle which I have a 2009 camry the dealer even suggests it to break in the motor and all internal parts also own a truck and most truckes have a slight knocking noise in upper engine due to pistons being not fully lubracted. frank in california.
Thanks for all the feedback guys. However I think you’re wrong. Old school mentalities are hard to crack, but consult a current service manual and you’ll see that no gas-engined cars or trucks need warming up. There will be no damage to the engine if you are using the right grade, and good quality (preferably synthetic) oil for the season. Diesel engines require block warmers not for the oil, but because the fuel itself will gel at very low temps, causing the engine not to start. As for clear windows and warm seats, that’s a luxury decision, not engine safety. You could always put on gloves and get out the scraper. As for the extra hydrocarbons a cold engine is releasing if you decide to drive off right away, the engine heats up much more quickly under higher RPM and load, so you won’t be releasing any more stuff driving cold than sitting in the driveway cold. Probably less.
PS: Frank, I’m in upstate NY so I’m no stranger to the cold!
I agree with the author here. I live in Minnesnowta and it is not uncommon to see people sitting and letting their cars warm up for 20-30 minutes. They try and tell me its better for the engine but i think it is an excuse for comfort factor. The best thing you can do is get on the road. The oil doesn’t circulate as well at idle as it does driving down the road. Even though the engine might be warm after idling for 20 minutes the transmission and rearend will still be cold because they haven’t been moving. Also letting the engine sit and run on fast idle only sits and washes the cylinder walls. Not good for rings or sleeves.
There are many good points here. Just thought I’d throw my two cents in…
Confort? Yes warm seats are a comfort, but what about defrost? I can scrape my windows, but it’s hard to scrape the insides of the windows when it’s 5 degrees outside. Not to mention breathing in an ice cold car does fogg windows. Warming up your car for 4-5 minutes is a definate help on the safety side.
To start on oiling, and diesels, I’ll start by saying that I’m an ASE master certified medium/heavy tech. I also have advance diesel engine cert. I’ve been a service manager for school bus fleet for one of the top school bus companies, and idling is a huge deal with much controversy.
Idling has started to become taboo in the med/heavy truck field. Mostly because of waste of fuel. When you run that many miles, 10 minutes of idle does become a huge deal. Especially every day and with many trucks, it adds up really fast. Also, for diesel owners, they do need a minute or two warm up time to get the cylinders hot enough to fire the fuel efficiently. Again this has been helped with new technology. Beyond a few minutes, diesel engines will not warm up efficiently without moving down the road. The engines do not create enough heat at idle to stay warm, you have to load them. So you won’t warm them up efficiently by letting them idle in the driveway. Idling also causes fuel wash, which is the excess fuel washing the oil from the cylinders. This can really damage an engine fast. That’s why if you leave a new Ford, Dodge, or Chevy diesel idling, it will raise its own idle. It also cuts fuel to alternating cylinders to make it work harder and cut fuel wash.
Block heaters are designed to warm coolant(comfort), warm the cylinders(better fuel burn), and keep coolant from freezeing in extreme cases(so does proper coolant maintenance). They are almost a requirment on diesels so the fuel can fire when cold.
As for oiling, cold starts are always hard on an engine. The best thing you can do is prepare. If your worried about oiling, check you recommendations, it probably says to put a lighter oil in extreme cold conditions. Do it. It will help so you don’t have to idle your car for an hour to get the oil warm. Oil also won’t warm without moving through the engine, so driving the car will warm the oil faster. And as for hard shifting, that is usually a sign of a problem. Time to change trans fluid, sticking valves in the trans, weak pump, or sticking pressure regulator. This also will warm faster if your moving.
Manufacturers are working to design vehicles that will require minimal warm up time with the least amount of premature wear. Your also talking about a minute amount of excess wear.
In my opinion, its probably best to start the car, warm it up while scraping the windows, with the defrost on. Then get in and drive as soon as you can safely see. Less idling is best, but I don’t think we’re ready to completely get rid of it in the north.
It’s -2 this morning with snow in WI, so I understand.
I totally agree with Chuck. New engines are designed to be started and get going. Idling is worse than driving the car cold. I live in Montreal and I certainly know about cold winter conditions. Proper maintenance, use of synthetic oil and, most importantly, a good block heater connected to an extension cord with a timer to allow for at least a couple of hours of engine warming prior to driving are the best both for the car and the environment. Heated seats are a luxury we have come to enjoy in the last few years. If you have leather seats, as I do, they are almost indispensible. Either that or get seat covers for the winter months. Idling should be limited to the time it takes to remove the snow off the car and removing ice from the windows and windshield – all for safety reason. I didn’t mention winter tires because it is another topic altogether. They have become mandatory in our province as of this year and should improve eveyone’s safety as a result.
I was surprised by the article, and not surprised by the good-humored, but passionate responses of readers in areas of the US & Canada where sub-zero temps are common in winter.
I was raised in Wisconsin and have vivid memories of -70 wind chill days. Brrr. Maybe that’s why I moved to California and then to Washington state – heh-heh.
I would like to offer the thought that those who live in mild climates should take the advice not to “warm up” their engines when it’s 40-60 degrees F. That’s just nuts.
I’m also wondering how diesel vehicles differ. They’ve got fuel injectors, too. But I’ve always heard that diesels are much more sensitive to cold weather and need a bit of a warm-up even on relatively mild (below 35F) days.
Thoughts?
Here in Canada, there are only a few places where the winters are warm enough to ensure a frost-free windshield in the morning. Nevertheless, running the car until all the windows are clear is wasteful and hard on the environment, as the article suggests.
Talk about damaging the power steering pump or spinning a bearing is erroneous. There is that possibility anytime you start your car if it has been sitting, no matter what the outside temperature. There is a much bigger danger of damaging the car when the interior is warm when you jump in, because the temptation is to pop into gear and drive – too fast for the drive train, which won’t get warm until it is loaded, which means driving gently for a few blocks (or farther if it’s really cold!).
In cold climates, it can get cold enough to make the tires “square”, which will keep you going slowly until the tires heat up enough to become flexible. Volkswagen Beetle drivers in the old days had to keep a scraper in hand to clean off the INSIDE of the windshield, and a window open to minimise the frost buildup.
Many European countries have “idling” laws to prevent excessive warming up routines and to effectively kill drive-throughs, because of the pollution they produce.
Another concern, which is seldom mentioned when talking about idling, is the drop in oil pressure in a gasoline engine at idle. There is a danger that parts, especially the valve train, will not get enough lubrication to prevent premature wear. The multi-valve systems used in most cars today are more susceptible to this, yet no one seems to be aware of this issue.
Hi
I get a kick out of all those so called experts who claim that you shouldn’t warm up your engine. Just get into your car and go. Thats ok for three seasons, but totally not for most North American area’s. Frozen windshields (inside and out) prevent most commuters from doing that. Sure,jump into your car and go, and probably get into an accident. thats what likely to happen where I live (Northern BC, Canada). I am a certified Auto Mechanic and I know that you get marginal engine lubricate in cold weather. Most of the time, the oil is so thick that oil filter operates in bypass. So basically you have no oil filtration until the engine warms up. Does that sound like a good condition for the engine to be operating in full load? I don’t think so. At 20 to 30 below (C) every lubricant will cause excessive drag, which will increase engine load. Start and go may sound like a great idea for the environmental banana’s, but not for us who acually have winter.
John Rinaldi
Terrace, BC
Canada
Only tangentially relavent, as it certainly is not a gas auto, but I rememebr my father telling me that back on the farm, the tractors would have their diesel set into jelly in cold weather, so to get them going, they would have to light a fire under them.
Was he pulling my leg, or do you really have to go to such extremes to get a tractor going?
The author I suspect must live in Miami or someplace South of there..
He sure does not live any place where it gets cold for a period of time.
Its garbage writing
I live in upstate New York so am not unfamiliar with cold weather. At one time I commuted to work about thirty miles one way so I racked up a lot of milage on my cars. At the start of my daily journey is a steep hill about two miles long, when I reached the top of that hill the engine was up to operating temperature. I consistently drove my cars at least 130,000 miles and they never burned any oil and I never had any engine or transmission problems. I attribute the long engine life to a good warm up in a short time. I never experienced frost build up on the inside of the car because I kept a window open until the heater had sufficient heat to keep the windows defrosted. A ice scraper worked well on the outside and I was always careful to make sure all the windows were clear of ice and snow. Good maintenance is also necessary with oil changes every 3000 miles or so and the use of synthetic oil. I drove over three quarters of a million miles on that commute and always got very good service from my American made automobiles
Hi tjdepere, thanks for the comments but I have to say that although Miami sounds really nice to me since there is 4 inches of snow predicted for tonight, I am in upstate New York. It gets pretty darn cold here.
It’s great to see the debate raging on the warm-up myths. Aside from interior frost (which I’ve never seen on a car that doesn’t leak water like crazy) I haven’t read anything that supports to idea of a warm up in the morning.
Yup, I’ve actualy put fire under my diesel tanks to degel my fuel on my peterbult.. It gets cold here in Montreal. As for idiling the car in cold weather, well I like to idile my gas cars for a max of three minutes and then take off in any temperature. Just enough to get the “system balanced” on the computer and the temperature of the oils warmer so I wont blow any seals in the engine. Also, when I go its always “easy accelerations” for the first few minutes then its off to normal driving. As for diesels, well that’s a whole different ball game. In extreme cold the diesel engine has to warm up so that it returns hot fuel back to the tanks to keep them from geling. BUT, you cant idile too long because the engine will never warm up in idile. Diesels in general are a cooler runing engine than gas in idile. I think that you have to find the balance between the time you need to Idile your vehicule and go. Idiling for too long not good for your engine no matter what. The oil pressure is not enough to lube the top at idile and you’re wasting gas and time for nothing… so there’s my 2 cents
I have a question about this: As of what year is it so that a car doesn’t need to be warmed up? I assume our 2006 sedan doesn’t need warm-up, but we also have several Fords dating from 1960 through 1970, and a 1986 GMC pickup. Are they also start-and-go? (I know, you’d think someone who owns multiple vintage cars would know this, but my husband and I are ignorant jalopy owners, not knowledgeable collectors.)
I have to say that this is a heated discussion, and I wish the people who put comments in, would actually read all of the comments above before dissing the author. As for warming things up, someone couldn’t pay me to ride my 2004 zx636 cold. I don’t know a lot about cars, but one thing I do know is if you hammer on a motorcycle throttle cold things are bound to turn out bad. Reason is.. as noted above, the oil needs time to warm up and start moving through the engine. When the engine in off, the oil sits in the bottom of the motor, then needs to make it’s way back up to the top-end of the bike. I know motorcycles are different then cars but this is what I always think of when starting up my car. But after reading the article above I’m less likely to sit inside while my car warms up. Thanks author (Matthew):-) Cape Cod, MA
I’m in Taiwan and I always do the same thing as the author suggests in the article with my VW Golf (Gas). After reading different comments above, now I can imagin how life is inconvenient in a freezing land. Good luck.
I’m sorry but I DO warm my car up if its cold…the reason….my 11 month old baby, that’s why….I don’t want his little butt freezing on the drive to day care….now I know people are going to say “wrap him I’m blankets!” and trust me I do, but to have a baby bundled in blankets and then trying to get his car-seat belt buckled SAFLEY AND CORRECT is kind of hard when he is wrapped in 4 blankets, and a winter coat. Moms out there do you understand what I mean……
It’s going to be 0 degree’s here in Nebraska in a few days. I plan on leaving my car in the truck outside all night and in the morning, starting it up and immediately flooring it. I’m sure the oil will be completely pumped through the engine almost immediately when i start the car and it won’t do any damage. Great research on your topic!
For those of you who are not car-savvy, that was sarcasm. When its cold, let your car warm up. I don’t know who let this guy post this article, but someone needs fired.
Also, what metal is your engine made of? One that doesn’t contract when cold and expand when hot, apparently.
I’m in Edmonton. It is going to be -32 C that’s 26 below F tomorrow morning. If I don’t warm up my vehicle for at least 15 minutes, my breath will freeze in the inside of the windshield, even with the defroster on high. Not so ease to drive safely when you have obstructed forward vision.
Atleast there are some people that know what they are talking about on here. I work in the service dept for a Honda dealer here in the state I live in It is very hard on the engine to drive it cold You can and will do severe damage in the long run to a engine driving it cold compared to letting it reach what certain motor’s specify as a proper engine temp
Honda makes very good motor’s but they are only as good as how the owner takes care of them for example the h22 motor honda uses in alot of there cars in the 90s some of them blew out at 30,000 miles and some are over 500,000 miles running like spec says it should
I have personaly watched tech’s blow motors up for customers that are having issues to help with insurance and warrentys (I do not support fraud) and everytime i seen it done they just start the engine cold and put it in neutral and floor it
-Blows the motor every time
I think some people are willing to set aside their own common sense for the lets save the planet movement infact george carlin put it best look at this youtube link of one his performances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbFD4NC60EA
That person from Edmonton commenting on frosted windshields and having to warm up his vehicle.Ever noticed all the people driving with their windows fogged, going down the highway with the last exit 5 miles back?It is because you have to open a window a crack for the first minute in the car.More people, more minutes.Start your vehicle scrape ,brush ,what ever,2 minutes at idle .Drive slow for the first few blocks.Lower temperature,more blocks at slower speed.You will not want to drive fast with the window open a crack anyways .Get the vapour from your breath out until your car warms up and happy driving.I am also from Edmonton and drive a big old minivan,never idle more then 2 minutes and my windows are always frost free BABY !
That makes sense, drive in sub zero temps with your window open and frost reforming on your windshield because your engine has not come up to temp yet. So we just throw safety out the window for a couple more minutes of patients. What in the world were auto starters invented for and they seem to sell very well this time of year.
Obviously the editor has never heard of a turbocharged engine. I think he should investigate the problems caused by cold oil not circulating through a turbo correctly and the consequences this can have. In general Turbo/Supercharged or normally aspirated engines should all be allowed to warm up to reduce likelyhood of damage caused by cold oil, it’s not really got anything to do with fueling…
Great topic, honorable frostbitten brothers. I think it’s less foggy talking about this if we include “manual or automatic transmission?”. Comfort aside, it’s easier to get moving quicker
with a manual because the fast idle doesn’t eat gearteeth like it can with an automatic. It takes me about 3 -5 minutes at 0*F(-18*C) or colder before the idle goes below 1000 rpm in my auto.trans. vehicles. I don’t like shifting into gear at rpms higher than that; but, if you use 10Wxx or lighter oil, I do not think you need to worry in a manual trans. vehicle about waiting that long for good engine lube to happen. Try pouring your favorite winter-weight oil next time it’s brrr-cold (”pour point”) and you’ll know which brand and type of oil is best to use. I also use an anti-fog coating on the inside front windows of my ’60s jalopy and find it really helps the defroster work better. (Helps to not breathe directly on the windshield & crack a window, like was said). I would be interested in others’ comments about the auto. trans. fast idle thing.
I’m an ASE certified Master Automotive Technician. It is important to remember that you should not just start a cold motor and go racing down the road. You should take it easy on the motor for a few miles. It is true that the oil will be cold and it does not lubricate as well when it is cold, but you also do not need to let it warm up before driving…you just need to go easy on it for a little while.
I really enjoyed reading this article. Not only does it remind me of the “good ole days” watching grandpa, but it reminds me that I am not crazy for letting my car warm up in 2008!
What about starting your car just to warm it up? We often do that a couple times a day but I worry about the battery. If it is a good idea to start it, how long should we run it for?
Thanks much!
The more often you start it, the faster it wears. “Back in the day”, there were manually-pumped pre-oilers available to distribute the oil in the engine, before starting, to help address this issue. Listen to the ASE certified guys.
I realize this topic is already dead, just had to comment anyways. All the posts about oil temp needing to come up to temp are valid but it seems most forgot the actual temp of the engine components. Metals expand and contract depending on temperature. Your engine was designed to run at a specific temp range. All the tolerances in the engine are picked for that range. Running the engine cold means you are running out of tolerance. Ever wonder why your engine is noisy when its cold? You can hear the lifters chatter and other pinging sounds. Running the engine cold should only be done at low rpm. Modern engines will never run at “peak efficiency” when they are cold because your computer cannot manipulate the thermal expansion of the parts in your engine or compensate for the cold oil.
I live in Alaska, it’s been at least 10 below since late December. Letting it warm a little while is good for the engine, letting it warm for warmth on the drive is wasteful and I say that driving a Yaris. Use a scraper…wear a parka.
About my previous comment…people with babies and elderly are excused.
i drive a 1998 ram 1500 with 476,000+ miles and live in indiana, it is not as cold as say wisconsin or alaska but it does tend to drop to zero. i used to own a 2001 ford f150 and my dad insisted that i just start and go, took his advice and thats why i now have a different truck. i religiously believe letting the engine warm up is good because it’ll properly lubricate the engine and help with a smooth ride. it seems to me that my current truck has a hard time driving normal when the temp is cold and i can hear my engine bitching about it to me. so if you got a brand new car or a rental go on and tear it up but if yours is a little older let er warm up it may kill the enviroment, but thats what trees and hybrids are useful for it equals out. oh and this world is going to crap anyways why not help :}
My comment is more of a question! As I read the comments about warming up your car, I keep looking to see if it is actually bad for your engine to leave your car idling too long. I’ve been told that recently, and just wondered if it was true. Thanks for any help and advice you can give! Deb
I am actually from Miami, and recently moved to upstate NY. Poor decision on my part I know. I drive a 2001 BMW Z3 and use High Performance Synthetic Oil. My friends up here made me familiar with warming up my engine at low temperatures to reduce wear and cause damage. I use to do this until I read my Owners Manual for my car which states,
“Do not allow engine to warm up by allowing it to run while the vehicle is stationary. Instead, begin driving immediately at a moderate speed.”
I suggest everybody to look at the owners manual for their specific car.
During the winter on cold days in Spokane, WA I have noticed that my lifters are very noisy at the initial start up, which is indicating that it is trying to suck thick cold oil up a long line. I usually wait 30 seconds for oil to get up to the top of the engine before pulling out and putting a load on the engine. I think this is very wise myself…Tom
I agree with what the author says. I live in the northeast and it gets pretty cold here during the winter. If I get in my vehicle in the morning and there is no snow or frost on the windows then I let the car warm up for a minute or two and then go gently. Obviously if there is frost or snow I remove it before driving.
I think what he was getting at is that it does not benefit your engine to warm it up more than a couple of minutes. As for remoter starters, the reason they sell is because people don’t want to have to spend time in a cold car and would rather let it run 15 minutes so they can be comfortable. It has nothing to do with benefitting your engine.
when smokey yunick was writing an automotive column for Popular Science in the 60’s he said after you have oil pressure drive away under a light load it always worked for me