Is it Time to Stop Warming Up Your Car in the Morning?

There's a popular belief among many car owners that they need to let their car warm-up for several minutes before setting out on their drive. However, it turns out that this might not be necessary after all.

What is the process of warm-up?

A lot of people believe that you should start the car and let it idle for a few minutes before driving. This is called "warming up" the car. The idea is that it takes time for the engine oil to circulate, lubricate, and heat up. If you don't do this, the engine will get too hot.

Is it beneficial to warm-up your car?

Warming up your car in the morning before driving it can have both good and bad effects. It all depends on the type of engine you have. If you have a newer car with fuel injection, it's beneficial to warm up the car because the fuel injectors are still cold when you start driving. Older cars will benefit from an easy start process because their carburetors may suck in liquid gas instead of vaporized gas.

However, if your engine has no choke or idle valve, then warming up is actually bad for it because warming up does not allow for proper oil flow.

How long should you let your car idle before driving?

The best guideline to follow is 10-minute idle periods. If you like, you can increase the idle period by a few minutes and gauge your engine's response, but it's best not to go overboard. Any longer than that and the car will be running inefficiently and may emit excess pollutants into the atmosphere.

Electric vs. Gasoline cars

The next question is: do we need to warm up our electric car in the morning? The answer is NO. Gasoline cars need to warm up to be able to burn the gasoline and use it as fuel. With an electric car, no such process is necessary - the battery is already charged and ready for use.

Conclusion

When it comes to warming up a car in the morning, there are a number of reasons to do so. One is that it makes the engine oil warmer and more fluid, which helps with lubrication and keeps it from getting too viscous. Warm engines also work better because they don't need as much time to warm up, reducing emissions and fuel consumption. However, there are a few things people should take into consideration before they decide to keep or stop warming up their cars in the morning. For example, older cars may not be as reliable when they're cold due to old parts caused by wear and tear. 

Why Choose PK Motors Accident Repair Centre?

We are your local family run accident repair centre, established over 48 years ago. We are one of the leading accident repair centres in the South East specialising in all manner of repairs, from minor scrapes, to heavy structural damage. We're fully equipped, experienced and qualified so you can be rest assured that your vehicle repairs are in good hands.

Based in Tunbridge Wells we are ideally situated to cover many areas of Kent, and surrounding areas of East Sussex, West Sussex & Surrey.
For general enquiries please call 01892 532886 or email reception@pkmotors.co.uk

GO BACK TO BLOG HOME