Winter is coming, and that means drivers are bracing themselves for cold-weather driving. Getting into an ice-cold vehicle is no fun, but is it actually bad for your car? Here's what you need to know about warming up your vehicle before driving during the winter months.
Do I Really Need to Warm Up My Car?
If you drive a car manufactured after about 1995 or so, probably not. That's because modern cars are designed with fuel injection systems instead of a carburetor, which means they don't need to idle for nearly as long to warm up. The only reason to let your car warm up these days is to make sure the oil gets distributed across the engine for proper lubrication. According to Consumer Reports, this only takes 20 to 30 seconds.
That may not be quite long enough to allow the cabin air to warm, though. This is really a matter of personal comfort, and your experience may vary depending on just how cold it is outside. Still, your car probably only needs to idle for a minute or two until the heater can pump out warm air.
Things to Do When Warming Up Your Car
DO Turn on Your Ignition First
To prime your car to produce heat, turn on the ignition — but don't start the car. Pause at this step for about 5 seconds to help your car get ready to pump out heat.
DO Warm Up Your Car for 30 Seconds
This is about how long it takes to make sure engine oil has spread throughout the engine to keep all the parts lubricated and running smoothly. If you don't feel like counting, it's about as long as it takes for you to buckle up and turn on the radio.
DO Turn Your Fan Off at First
If you turn the heat on right away, the fan will just blow cold air into your face. Turn on your heater, but wait a minute or two before turning on the fan to keep the icy blast at bay.
DO Adjust Your Vents
Once you have hot air pumping, aim your vents at your chest instead of your face, which will help your body warm quickly. When you feel comfortable, adjust the heat to come out at your feet. Heat rises, so the floor of your car will cool off fastest.
Things NOT to Do When Warming Up Your Car
DON'T Warm Up Your Car in a Closed Garage
If you park in a garage, always open the door before turning on your car. Allowing your car to idle in an enclosed space can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to build up. This colorless, odorless gas can poison or even kill you if you inhale too much.
DON'T Idle for Too Long
Idling your car longer than 2 minutes wastes fuel and drives up the cost of operating your vehicle. It also increases your emissions, which add greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere and is a major cause of climate change.
DON'T Leave an Idling Car Unattended
Leaving your car idle while you sit in the house is a recipe for getting distracted and wasting gas. It's also not safe to leave a running car unattended if you have pets or children inside. Instead, try scraping away snow and ice while you let it idle, then enjoy the warmth as your reward when you're done.
Be a Better Winter Driver
Staying safe on the road in winter means knowing how to care for your car in the cold. You'll also need to learn how to handle snowy and icy road conditions. To sharpen your winter driving skills, sign up for a driver's ed course from Aceable today.
Updated 12/6/23