Expert explains why letting your car idle might not be the hottest idea.

” Should You Warm Up Your Car Before Driving? “
CR’s expert explains why letting your car idle might not be the hottest idea.

It’s easy to understand the appeal of getting into a warm car when the temperatures outside begin to drop. Some drivers are also convinced that letting the car warm up before driving is also better for the engine. But is it really a good idea?

Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic, John Ibbotson, says that giving the engine a chance to run for a minute before driving on a cold day is smart but that there isn’t a need to let it run longer beyond warming the cabin and defogging the windshield. And there’s a real downside: wasting fuel and generating emissions.

An engine is fully lubricated long before it reaches full operating temperature. When your car sits for an extended period of time, the oil drains down to the bottom of the oil pan. Once you start the engine, the oil pump quickly circulates the oil throughout the motor, lubricating all the necessary moving engine components. A cold engine idles at 1,200 rpm or more, making quick work of the lubrication process. Being mindful to give your engine a chance to lubricate, along with being diligent about routine maintenance, can help most modern engines last 200,000 miles or more.

There used to be a saying about older engines that the worst thing you could do for a motor was to start it, because for a split second those engines were somewhat dry and weren’t well lubricated with oil.

READ more online at: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/should-you-warm-up-your-car-before-driving-a5580016349/