What is the point of warming your car up in the winter and how long should it warm up before driving?

Answer 1

Some people believe it is better for your engine to be warm. Many people (including me) believe it will warm up better while driving it, but you shouldn't push it until it is warm--this takes about 5 minutes.

Answer 2

Here's what I found, and the source:

Do I need to warm up my car during the winter months?

It is a good idea, yes. If you don't, it will still run. When the car is parked, the oil drops down from between the critical surfaces, where lubricity is important, to the oil pan. When it is cold, the oil is thicker and does not get pumped up into the high end of the engine as quickly as when it is warm. Allowing the engine to operate with no load for about one minute will facilitate the oil's motion to all parts of the engine. There is a school of thought that this short warm-up time will also allow some alloys to better adjust to the cold. Since metal contracts in cold, some think additional friction occurs. Note: If you don't warm your engine up at all, it will still run.

Answer 3

Start it and let it idle for no more than 30 seconds.

Many people think letting it idle longer helps the oil to warm up and run through the engine, but that's just ridiculous. If the oil wasn't flowing through the engine when you first start it, it would self destruct after several cold starts from the friction of metal to metal. Modern oils are designed to flow freely at cold temperatures, that's why most oil has a winter (or cold temp) rating and a summer (or hot temp) rating rating (such as 5W30 or 10W30).


The only reason to warm up a vehicle longer than a few seconds before driving is to have heat. Other than that it's just wasting gas and polluting more. The engine will heat up faster and run more efficiently driving it. Some manufacturers even tell you in the owner's manual to drive immediately after starting the vehicle (Audi, Mini Cooper, and BMW are some).

The only exceptions I would say is if the temperature is in single digits or colder, or you have let it sit for a long time before starting it cold (3-4 days or more), then let it run for a minute before driving it.

For best results, use a block heater or engine oil heater that plugs into an extension cord. This will keep the engine warm and will give you heat immediately on starting the vehicle. Putting a cloth or cardboard over the windshield keeps you from having to scrape windows and/or defrosting them before driving. An engine heater also allows your engine to run more efficiently, saving some fuel in the process.

BTW, in some areas they can give you a ticket if they see your vehicle idling unattended for longer than a minute or so.

Answer 4

warming up a car: The car uses less gasoline, distributes oil through out the at an idle better, the radiator is warm to keep your engine at a safe temp. 5-10 minutes should be sufficient enough.

Answer 5

Allowing your vehicle to warm up in the winter will increase the life of your cylinder walls. When you leave your vehicle sit while it is warming up, the oil is moving through your engine coating the cylinder walls. When you vehicle is in motion this increases the friction and if the cylinder walls are not lubricated then you can seriously harm your engine. You should actually practice this every time that your vehicle hasn't been ran for an extensive time not only during the winter.

Answer 6

With the price of gas where it is, it never ceases to amaze me how many people waste gas warming up their cars before they put their " tender tushies " on the seat !!As long as the engine has adequete oil pressure, the windows aren't fogged-up and you don't race the engine while it's cold there's no reason to warm-up your car.. It will warm up as fast or faster if you check the above and then just DRIVE it ! P.S. You'll get there faster too and conserve gas ! Some countries strictly forbid warming -up or excessively idling motor vehicles.. WE should TOO !!

Answer 7

In this modern technology engines, it does not required for an engine to " warm up " sufficiently before driving because the oil never froze up, also its internal parts has been lubricated while you're driving. You can start driving your car even immediately after it starts running, the question: is it clear enough for you to see where you're driving though?

Answer 8

Warming it up a bit is to get all the parts lubricated as the oil is drawn up from the crankcase(where it all drains down to). But instead of sitting there for 5 or 10 minutes...you can start driving off at a light pace for at least 2 miles....before you throttle it for freeway speeds.

Answer 9

it really depends on how old the car is .all my 80`s model cars needed to be warmed up for a little while,but now that i have a 98 it seems that it just has to be started and slowly be driven to warm up.

Answer 10

It is really hard on your car's engine to drive it before it warms up. And you get the benefit of a nice warm ride. :)