Heres what the experts say.
Decades later, you might even continue the practice of letting your car warm up before driving it.
If so, youre not alone.
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But is it necessary?
Do you actuallyneedto warm your car up before driving it incold weather?
The answer is no.
This was because the lubricants, specifically engine oil, used to be much thicker.
The engines/transmissions of yesteryear were designed with greater clearances between their moving parts, says Shelton.
Thus, requiring a thicker oil.
“Think of the old molasses in January saying, he adds.
Modern Engine Technology
That is no longer the case.
Modern engines are designed to warm up quickly and efficiently, reducing the need for prolonged idling.
Once fuel-injected engines came along, this practice was no longer necessary, explains Bennett.
Allowing an engine to warm up before driving is no longer needed.
If the goal is to increase passenger comfort, however, this is a different matter entirely.
Best Practices For Starting Your Car In The Cold
Modern engines reach normal operating temperatures extremely quickly.
Using the defrosters will help you remove ice quicker from the windows, he notes.
