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Warming up your car in cold weather can damage your engine. Here's what to do instead
FOX 10 Phoenix ^ | 12/23/2022 | Daniel Miller

Posted on 12/24/2022 4:20:36 PM PST by vespa300

The winter is already brutal on your car because of the conditions, but drivers can make things harder by turning on the vehicle to let it warm up before driving.

One thing some do when the temperatures are cold outside is to start the car and let the engine warm up a few seconds before driving. Several auto experts believe this may not be conducive to preserving the engine.

(Excerpt) Read more at fox10phoenix.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: bs; bull; causespollution; coldweather; engine; imwarming; startingvehicle; vehicleengine; worstexcerptever
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To: vespa300

I once had an old Ford LTD with a blue light on the instrument panel and the operator was not supposed to drive other than very gently until it went out.


21 posted on 12/24/2022 4:34:21 PM PST by Truth29
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To: Secret Agent Man

Yeah, I’m not driving in a ZERO degree passenger compartment for the 10 miles it takes for it to warm up.


22 posted on 12/24/2022 4:35:05 PM PST by Pollard ( >>> The Great Reset is already underway! <<<)
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To: vespa300

I learned that years ago in Alaska. My husband doesn’t believe me.


23 posted on 12/24/2022 4:35:51 PM PST by MayflowerMadam
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To: Aaron0617

Yeah, but I think people think longer is somehow better. Really all it needs is a 30 seconds to a minute. As soon as I hear my idle drop down enough oil has gotten all the way through the engine.


24 posted on 12/24/2022 4:36:26 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: BipolarBob

The FBI would like to have a word with you.


25 posted on 12/24/2022 4:36:35 PM PST by Obadiah (Died suddenly: Obediently following the science to the grave.)
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To: 17th Miss Regt; wally_bert

Now if everyone drove EVs, no warm up needed. But I’m thinking in sub-zero weather the EVs may have some other problems. Like not running or very limited range.


26 posted on 12/24/2022 4:37:02 PM PST by BipolarBob (The party never stops until someone calls the cops.)
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To: vespa300

This article is BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is never good to stress the engine before the oil warms up and the engine is being lubricated properly. When the engine is idling with no load then those stresses are at their minimum. This has been a known fact since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Now a bunch of know nothings with a political agenda are trying to redefine the known laws of science. It also not a good idea to drive around with ICE and frost on your windows. Scraping the windows damages the glass and does not clear them well. Modern ice scrapers break the first time you use them anyways. Cold drivers are also more likely to make mistakes as they shiver.


27 posted on 12/24/2022 4:37:09 PM PST by Revel
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To: Obadiah

Yep. A BS article. There is zero damage during idling. It just burns fuel. These “experts” need to come out and say how idling is any different than driving. OR, like nearly all stories like this the “experts” “sources say” or “some say” is just the urinalist making stuff up.


28 posted on 12/24/2022 4:38:15 PM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: vespa300

That’s BS.
And just part of the “environmental concern” BS agenda at that.
Actually, once the engine starts and runs for a couple of minutes, it will actually heat up faster by driving it. Don’t hammer it when it’s cold, just drive it as one normally would.
But to let it warm up by sitting there doesn’t harm the engine. These pukes put that garbage out there to hide their “environmental concerns”....screw em...and oh, FJB too..


29 posted on 12/24/2022 4:38:17 PM PST by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created...")
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To: Pollard

Just flip your heated seats on. :)

I do suppose people might need a longer warmup time if their vehicle is left outside all the time, versus being in a garage.


30 posted on 12/24/2022 4:38:54 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Drew68

Talk about gaslighting


31 posted on 12/24/2022 4:39:43 PM PST by one guy in new jersey
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To: Revel

>>>>It is never good to stress the engine before the oil warms up and the engine is being lubricated properly. When the engine is idling with no load then those stresses are at their minimum. This has been a known fact since the invention of the internal combustion engine.>>>>

Makes perfect sense to me. I guess we add this to the long list of Climate change fanatic lies.


32 posted on 12/24/2022 4:40:05 PM PST by vespa300
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To: vespa300

There’s nothing damaged by a slow warming of the engine. Rapidly changing the temperature is where differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion may result in damage, say between aluminum heads on a cast iron block, Stainless steel bearings in aluminum casting housings, etc. Going slow in that expansion reduces stress on the material interfaces. If you get rapid thermal expansion combined with reaction forces introduced by vehicle operation of acceleration/deceleration, hills, turns, etc, you increase the probability of damage. How hard you drive the vehicle of course increases/decreases that probability.


33 posted on 12/24/2022 4:40:49 PM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51; Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: vespa300

i’ll bet we can find thousands of OLD articles telling us to warm up the car first....


34 posted on 12/24/2022 4:40:59 PM PST by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: vespa300

“Firestone Complete Auto Care explains on its website that cars with modern fuel injection systems can be driven by simply starting the engine without the car warming up.”

Sounds like Firestone is still thinking they make Firestone 500 tires - the ones that they didn’t bother gluing the tread on.

Anyway, the purpose of warming up the engine gently has nothing to do with the carburetor (which, Firestone implies here, but they, to their credit, know that cars don’t have carburetors anymore) - but rather that the oil is VERY THINK and needs some time to get into its usual spots in the engine, to prevent melting of the bearings.


35 posted on 12/24/2022 4:41:14 PM PST by BobL
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To: vespa300
let the engine warm up a few seconds before driving

That's not good advice at any time. Give it a minute or so at least. In the winter we've always let the car warm up before driving.

36 posted on 12/24/2022 4:42:56 PM PST by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
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To: Drew68

“This is the real story. Don’t let your car warm up because you’ll pollute the air!”

Yep, even a story that should be as non-political as how to take care of one’s car is not POLITICIZED. Just imagine what they’re telling us about vaccines, or Ukraine!


37 posted on 12/24/2022 4:43:11 PM PST by BobL
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To: vespa300

The damage is done when you put a load on the engine before the oil has warmed up enough to properly lubricate the main journal and connecting rod bearings.

Start the car, then clean off the windows. When the car drops from fast idle, or the temp needle moves off the low peg, take off.


38 posted on 12/24/2022 4:43:49 PM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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>> Several auto experts believe this may not be conducive to preserving the engine

Some say...

BS story


39 posted on 12/24/2022 4:43:51 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Drew68

Especially when considering how much these types generally care about what happens to your car. They’re the same idiots that want your car shut down and restarted at every red light. Kill your starter once a year and the rest of the engine every 3, or whatever.


40 posted on 12/24/2022 4:44:50 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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