Letting your car idle

[Jess28]

My dad just told me that he was told that you are no longer supposed to start your vehicle to let it warm up (before driving it). I have always started my vehicle in the winter and let it run for about 10 minutes. I thought it was to get all the juices (gas, oil, lube) running in the motor before making the motor run. He said it was something about the gas and the poor quality of it that you were not supposed to start early anymore? Fuel injection or something like this? Anyone hear anything like this? Does it make any sense to you?

 

[Dodge Doll]

So long as the oil pressure is where it should be, you can put the vehicle in gear and go without concern. In truth, it will warm up faster if it's being driven, rather than sitting at idle in your driveway.

Idling contributes to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too, and it could be argued that it's a waste of gas (a favorite argument of my in-laws).

 

[MyMotor]

I agree that it's a waste of gas, but there are times when you have to. We have had the temperature at around zero for a while, and honestly I couldn't sit in it like that! But as long as you drive her gentle till she warms, it'll be fine.

 

[Mustang37]

I have always let my car idle in the winter, I thought you had to also to get the oil moving throughout the motor. I never thought about greenhouse gases from an idling car.

I'm going to ask my mechanic.

 

[Jess28]

Awesome, now I am going to start the car, put in in Drive, and go! I always thought that the interior warmed up better when you were driving, but I thought the warm up period was for the motor.

 

[Dodge Doll]

I start my wheels, clean the snow off the hood and windshields, and simply GO... but I need a towel on the driver's seat, and gloves on my hands: cold buns and paws are not comfortable for this old girl.

I had a Dodge mechanic tell me that tid-bit, back in the 90's... it was about the same time that I learned why diesel 4x4's are a poor choice for 'short hops'.

 

[Fanbelt]

I have always started my vehicle in the winter and let it run for about 10 minutes. I thought it was to get all the juices (gas, oil, lube) running in the motor before making the motor run.

Call me an old school guy but I still let my car idle for at least five minutes before driving it. You can't do it too long though.

 

[Kohn]

The only reason I can think of for such advise is when you're starting it in an enclosed garage. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is high, even for people outside of the car.

Outside of that, I still see a few idling minutes as essential to lengthen the life of your engine.