2006-10-02 07:55:44 · 5 answers · asked by shorty 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
No. I always thought so however a recent test by Consumer reports shows it to basically just be a waste of gas.
2006-10-02 08:01:02 · answer #1 · answered by Mike Hunt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, no.
Most people confuse "warming" up your car to what manufacturers refer to as operating temperature/load.
Most of the wear in your engine occurs in the first moments when you start your car and oil is not actively coating your engine.
Operating temperature refers not to just the motor but, the entire drive train.
Operating temperature is usually achieved after 20 to 30 minutes of driving.
This is why city driving is considering extreme wear on a vehicle.
Most city trips are about 15 to 20 minutes and then the car cools down.
2006-10-02 15:03:48 · answer #2 · answered by timc_fla 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not the newer cars... it's unnecessary; just drive with care the first few miles.
The older cars without fuel injection needed a bit of warm up to get the choke open and the intake warmed up to the point that fuel would not pool inside the manifold.
2006-10-02 16:26:50 · answer #3 · answered by Tim B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Imagine this, your pistons need motor oil to lubricate it so the pistons can pump back and forth. As the car sits, the oil drains to the bottom. When the car is started, oil then coats the pistons to allow free motion. If you jump into the car and drive away, the oil hasn't gotten the opportunity to coat the pistons. As you, excel, the pistons pump faster and faster. Without oil to lubricate, the pistons will cause friction, heat, and will eventually damage the pistons.
2006-10-02 15:05:49 · answer #4 · answered by Scott D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you don't have fuel injection.
2006-10-02 15:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by Bruce__MA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋