Should You Warm Up Your Car in Winter? What Mechanics and Engineers Actually Say, by Mitch Tanner Car on YouTube. 11 min 32 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 32 s
- Time to do it
- 5 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Open the owner's manual and read the cold-weather starting section for your exact model. It overrides any general advice you read online, including this guide.
Clear snow and ice from the windows, mirrors, lights, roof and number plates before you set off. Snow left on the roof can slide onto the windscreen as you brake.
Start the engine and let it idle for about 30 seconds to a minute. Use that time to scrape the glass, buckle up and set your mirrors.
Drive off gently instead of waiting. A light load warms the engine faster than idling, so keep the revs low and avoid hard acceleration for the first few minutes.
Leave the heater on low until the temperature gauge starts to move. Before that it just blows cold air and slows the warm-up.
Skip long idle sessions. Idling burns roughly a quarter to half a gallon of fuel an hour and can dilute your oil with fuel over time.
In extreme cold or with a diesel, use a block heater or extend the warm-up slightly. Follow the manual for the temperature where extra warming is recommended.
Never leave a running car in a closed garage or with snow packed around the exhaust. Carbon monoxide builds up fast and you cannot see or smell it.
For a hybrid or EV, skip the idle warm-up and use pre-conditioning while the car is still plugged in. That warms the cabin and battery without running the engine.
Tips and common mistakes
The W in an oil grade like 5W-30 means winter, and the lower the first number, the better the oil flows on a cold start.
Lots of short winter trips leave condensation and fuel in the oil, so take a longer drive every week or two to burn it off.
Never leave a running car unattended with the keys in it, even for a minute, and check your local idling laws.
Scraping the glass yourself is faster than waiting for the defroster to do it, so start the engine and get to work.
Questions
How long should I let my car warm up in winter?
About 30 seconds to a minute is enough for a modern fuel-injected engine. Driving gently warms it faster than sitting still, so there is no need to wait for the gauge to reach normal.
Does idling damage my engine?
Long idling is not good for it. It burns fuel, washes oil off the cylinder walls and lets condensation build up, which is why most manuals suggest driving gently instead.
Do I still need to warm up a diesel or an old car?
Diesels and older carbureted cars benefit from a little more warm-up time, and a block heater helps in extreme cold. Check your manual for the temperature where that applies.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
