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Winter is forecasted to hit us hard this year, with freezing temperatures just around the corner. And we know what it means, it’s the dreaded routine of starting up an ice-cold car in the morning.
It’s tempting to turn the key or hit the remote starter and let it sit for a while to warm up your car before driving off.
But idling for long periods is exactly what you shouldn’t do to warm up your car faster.
Cold Engines Use More Petrol
When it’s cold, petrol doesn’t evaporate as well inside your engine to create the right fuel-to-air ratio needed for combustion. Modern car designs compensate for this issue by pumping more fuel into the mixture to get things going. The engine will run this way until it heats up to about 4.4ºC.
While this gets your engine up and running, the added fuel isn’t good for the cylinder walls. Petrol is a powerful solvent that can wash away the oil necessary for lubricating the cylinder walls. This can increase wear and shorten the lifespan of vital engine components.
To Warm Up Your Car, Drive It…Gently
Driving your car is the fastest way to increase engine temperature to 4.4ºC and achieve the desired fuel-to-air ratio. But use caution – don’t push the gas pedal to the maximum as soon as you hop in and slam the door. It can take several minutes for the engine to fully warm up, so take it easy when you first get going.
The Bottom Line
In short, you don’t need to warm up your car before taking off in the winter. Idling your engine too much can reduce its lifespan, and it doesn’t effectively heat up your engine faster.
The best advice is to start your car and only let it sit about a minute or so before driving. Scrape the ice off your windshield – or even dust off the snow if it’s one of those rare mornings! – and then get on your way. You’ll save fuel – and save your engine in the long run.