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

[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.

[vespa300]

Is this true? I've always done the opposite.

[BipolarBob]

Sitting in a frosty vehicle is hard on me. So I’m warming it up and the environment and vehicle are just going to have to suck it up.

[Secret Agent Man]

About 30 seconds until you hear the idle drop to normal. Then you’re good to go.

[vespa300]

Is there damage if I let it warm up for a few minutes? In severe cold?

[moovova]

Just use the remote start from inside the house.

(This does remind me that we sprung for the $95 engine block heater option in our F150. Hadn’t even thought of that.)

[Drew68]

The auto service company notes that idling your engine could damage it while minimizing the car's fuel efficiency, which is harmful to the environment due to fumes emitted from the engine that pollutes the air.

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

[wally_bert]

Same here.

I would think with warmed up oil and coolant going, less stress on the engine.

[vespa300]

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

That’s exactly what I picked up on too..an agenda.

[Secret Agent Man]

Probably not damage, but it may be unnecessary to need 3 minutes. If you are just doing it to warm up the heater/inside, it warms up faster if you drive it than if it idles.

[Obadiah]

Pfffft... no detail on what is supposedly damaged on the engine. This is total nonsense. The only thing the article mentions, several times, is pollution. So yeah, basically a eco-climate change propaganda piece disguised as harming your engine. Tell me, how exactly is a modern engine harmed by idling it to warm up?

[Aaron0617]

Seems like “Damage your engine” in the title is the click bait.

Article really doesn’t mention any engine damage. Just emissions, environment and fuel waste. Here in Chicago, I always warm up in -20+ weather.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I idle the car for at least 30-40 seconds to get the oil circulating, then I take it easy for the first mile or two until there’s some warm air coming from the heater.

[Obadiah]

Great minds.

[17th Miss Regt]

Your opposition to the new wisdom is noted, comrade!

[SuperLuminal]

Dang!
Been driving for 80 years the wrong way...

[laplata]

“I idle the car for at least 30-40 seconds to get the oil circulating, then I take it easy for the first mile or two until there’s some warm air coming from the heater”.

That’s exactly what I do.

[vespa300]

“climate change propaganda”

I think you are spot on....

[granite]

..."which is harmful to the environment due to fumes emitted from the engine that pollutes the air"

[laplata]

After 80 years, I’d say you’ve done it more right than not.

[Chode]

oh well, it does then...