Should I warm up my car before driving??

Discussion in 'Science, Technology & Car Chat' started by Thisdamngood, Jan 8, 2011.

  1. bbgirlsum

    bbgirlsum Well-Known Member

    of course it will! that is when you are sitting there bored out of your nut and frozen inside your car and your windscreen is defogging at a pace of slower than a snail.. it's not only the gas you are wasting, time too AND warmth... lolz
     
  2. runtohell121

    runtohell121 ........................

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    Well... In the morning, I usually turn on the car, walk back out, wipe the water or snow off all the windshield/window and then drive off. That usually take about a minute or so.
     
  3. ralphrepo

    ralphrepo Well-Known Member

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    I think it really becomes moot. In the winter, most people I know start their cars and let it run not because of any maintenance or engine considerations, but because of internal cabin temperatures. They literally let the car 'warm up' so that they won't have to drive a refrigerator, LOL...

    BTW, if you're about to start your car like in Dan's situation, be absolutely very sure that you cleared a non collapsing airway for the tail pipe or else the exhaust will back up into the vehicle's cabin and kill you with carbon monoxide. By non collapsing airway, I mean that the heat from your exhaust will not cause the surrounding snow to melt, and to collapse in on and smother the tailpipe after you already thought you cleared it. In such a scenario, you're sitting in your car waiting for it to warm up a bit more and start to feel a little drowsy. The next thing is, someone finds your dead body in your car.
     
  4. negiqboyz

    negiqboyz Well-Known Member


    I think most of us don't even read the owners manual these days. Drive it and when problems appear, take it to the shop and have the mechanics deal with it.

    Perhaps tech has changed now, I still leave the car running for sometimes before hopping in and driving off. It helps to defog the mirrors and warm up inside the car. I can't put a baby in a fridge .. snow or not .. it's COLD in the morning.
     
  5. neofj

    neofj Active Member

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    Most of the new cars today don't really need to be warmed up today since they are all electronic based fuel systems
     
  6. maximus96

    maximus96 Member

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    i never do anymore
     
  7. dlee122

    dlee122 Member

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    i dont either
     
  8. mochi

    mochi Well-Known Member

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    Remote start the car in the winter to warm up the inside of the car. do the same in the summer to cool it off before driving. I do it mainly for comfort, but I've heard it was better to do so anyway. Dunno what is "right" really, but at least I'll be comfy if I start it up first.
     
  9. Schan409

    Schan409 Active Member

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    yes i think warming up the car before driving is better. if not for long at least 30 sec is recommended.
     
  10. recently i have let it "warm up" for a full minute from the winter time...... and now no longer than 30 seconds...
     
  11. runtohell121

    runtohell121 ........................

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    for the winter, I usually do let it warm up for more than 30 second.. but now since the weather got warmer, I just start the car, within 5 seconds, I drive off..
     
  12. Are you a mechanic? or an automotive engineer?