Do I need to warm up my engine before driving on cold mornings?

Question

I own a 4 cylinder Hyundai Accent. The manual says the engine does not require to be "warmed up" before driving. But this has been something I've been told to do ever since I started driving. It's been getting down into the 30's overnight lately so I've been briefly warming it up before I start driving. So do I actually need to warm it up? If so, for how long? And lastly, what damage (if any) can be done to my engine if I don't warm it up properly on cold mornings?

Answer 1

You don't really need to warm it up as long as you don't drive "hard" until it's warm. The reason you used to have to let cars warm up is because older cars had carburetors and they would have to be warm or there was a good chance of the engine stalling when you drove. newer fuel injected cars are computer controlled and won't go dead (unless they have a problem). The only potential harm would be from starting then immediately flooring the car and taking off (because the oil is cold and thick), as long as you drive normally nothing will happen.

Answer 2

The drivers manual said it did not require to be "warmed up" then why question it. Oh, I know, because the manufacturer wants us to keep buying new cars! Well, like you I always thought I had to warm the car up first, but that is a waste of gas. Just don't take off at fast speeds, drive it slowly for the first few minutes, that will be sufficient. Saves you time and gas. I had over 200,000 miles on my Camry doing this.

Answer 3

It is not needed to have your car sit and warm up. As a matter of fact I spent 6 years in Germany and it was forbidden for you to warm your car up a few minutes before driving. I spoke to several law enforcement officers and they told me that it causes noise pollution when people get up in the morning and starting their cars and letting them run. It disturbs people still resting and causes unnecessary pollution. Just think if 5 people on one block that has 50 homes on it warmed up their cars for 5 minutes before taking off may not sound like much but if you did that at a number of 5,000 people doing it in a city area for 5 minutes each times 5-6 days a week you can see how that could add up and effect your air quality. I think that makes a lot of sense when you look at the big picture. Hope that this helped clear up that question. Good luck. Adub.

Answer 4

When its in the 30s its not so critical, but where I live its commonly around zero and it becomes quite important. It can't hurt to let it sit for a little while. If its cold and you dont let a car warm up, the oil isn't distributed throughout the engine, and it can wear out quicker.

Answer 5

You don't need to let it warm up, it just wastes your gas. Just don't drive with a heavy foot until the car reaches normal operating temperature and then you're fine.

And no it won't damage your engine since your oil is already protecting it since the start-up.

Answer 6

ok. all and sundry is slightly spectacular in the event that they stated which you ought to allow your automobile heat up interior the warmth climate. All autos run on fluids. gas, tranny fluids,potential guidance fluid,anti-freeze, and so on. Now mutually as none of those fluids will freeze till at like -35 or so temps, they do get thick and sludge like whilst chilly. once you first initiate your automobile they fluids are all interior the pan and in case you place the motor vehicle incontinual and hit the gas the fluid won't be the place it desires it is why you hear autos "whining" whilst they shrink back interior the morning because of the fact the potential guidance fluid has not lubricated the pump sufficient and hence has to artwork harder. The tranny fluid is all down interior the pan and not lubricating the transmission and returned once you place the motor vehicle in kit it is putting the tranny under rigidity without lubrication and that's inflicting unneccessary friction on the tranny factors.i will bypass on consistently. the properly suited answer is to start it up and wait till you hear the engine fairly down and see the RPM's drop it fairly is a large instruction manual to apply to be attentive to in the experience that your automobile is warmed up sufficient. submit to in ideas the chillier the temp and the longer it has sat there not started the longer you ought to allow it heat up.,

Answer 7

yes you should warm it up(at least in the cold weather).warming it up,helps the lubrication,so the oil can get to all the engine parts and also it lets the anti-freeze get all warmed up.

Answer 8

nope you can start driving as soon as you start the car no warm up needed the fastest way to warm up a car is to drive it...

Answer 9

you dont absolutly have to... but it is better on the motor and it will make it last longer if you let it warm up.. even 5 mins helps in the long run