If you live in a cold climate and don’t have the luxury of indoor or covered parking, chances are you’d prefer to warm up your car before you get in and take off.
Turns out you might be letting your car run a little too long, because experts say a minute is enough.
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In fact, according to the US Department of Energy, warming up new cars for more than 30 seconds is a waste of time and gas, and most manufacturers agree.
The reason is that driving will warm up your car more effectively and faster than leaving it idle in your parking spot.
At worst, it could damage your car, says the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
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“Excessive idling can damage engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Many vehicle components, including wheel bearings, tires, and the suspension system, will only heat up when the vehicle is in motion. You must not idle longer than 30 seconds for the oil to circulate through the engine.”
If you learned how to warm up your car from your parents, there was probably a good reason. Cars made before 1980 had carbureted engines, and warming them up properly would prevent the engine from stalling.
The oil used by the engines also took longer to circulate, meaning cars had to idle for more than 10 minutes before leaving the driveway.
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With our modern fuel injection systems, however, you get lubricated quickly, although Consumer Reports cautions against revving the engine until your temp gauge moves above freezing.
So pack up and get going – you’ll warm up faster by moving.
This goes for your body too!
