The temp here is 5, but the windchill is -20 or so. Should I start my car at lunch & let it run for a while, or would it be better for the battery to just wait until I'm ready to leave for the day?
2007-02-05 03:50:47 · 8 answers · asked by Enchanted 7 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
People don't understand windchill. The windchill is the effect the wind has on the reduction of the temperature of something - like your skin or the engine of your car. Simply said - The wind helps take the heat away.
Saying that the windchill is -20 doesn't indicate that it will get that cold. It only indicates that the wind will help your engine or skin get cold faster. If it's 5 degrees outside, then it's 5 degrees, period.
If you got to work at 8 this morning, you probably won't gain anything by starting your car at lunchtime. I'd just wait 'till 5 (assuming that you have the proper amount of antifreeze in your radiator).
Good luck
2007-02-05 04:04:16 · answer #1 · answered by sk33t3r 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's -18-deg F where I am right now. I am not a big fan of the start-em' and let em run for a half hour school of cold-weather car warming. All that does is burn a lot of gas, although the interior should be nice and toasty when you get back in. At most I let my car run 1 or 2 minutes - enough time for all the lubricants to get flowing well. Anything beyond that is a waste of natural resources.
2007-02-05 11:56:58 · answer #2 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
With this question I am assuming it is a later model car. If your car is within 10 years old you can just start it up and let it go to a normal
idle and drive away. If it is an older model with quite a bit of mileage I would let it warm up a bit say for a few minutes and then move on.
2007-02-05 12:00:21 · answer #3 · answered by dVille 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most answers are right so far. Letting your car run past the point to where it is running smoothly and the oil pressure light has gone out is a waste. Your car will actually heat up FASTER if you drive it because it's under load and has to work harder.
2007-02-05 11:58:46 · answer #4 · answered by tucsondude 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
just wait until you are ready to leave for the day. once you start your engine let it warming up a bit before driving
2007-02-05 12:00:20 · answer #5 · answered by sammy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just a couple of minutes at idle before you drive off is just fine.
The idea is to let the engine warm up slowly and let the engine oil circulate through the engine. This takes two minutes or less, so that's what is recommended.
2007-02-05 12:57:06 · answer #6 · answered by jarhed 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
someone said ( cars are like human too )... just like human before exercising you need to warm up.....warm up the car when you leave from work....besides when the car is running you are charging the battery at the sametime.....
2007-02-05 11:57:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Warmup of five minutes or more is a waste of gas and time.
2007-02-05 11:55:30 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋