“Do I need to warm up my car in the winter?”
That’s one of the most common questions I hear at this time of year! Before I answer that question, I’d like to share an open letter to our parents…
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Dear Mom and Dad,
You’ve taught me things about cars over the years. While I know most of this stuff used to be true, times have changed. Cars are a lot different now! There are a few housekeeping items I want to fill you in on.
1. Glass headlights were replaced with plastic headlights. You can’t clean them the same way.
2. The “penny” test isn’t a great way to check a tire’s condition anymore. It’s better to pay attention to the tread wear indicators.
3. It’s not necessary to “warm up” your car in the morning, because cars are so different now. Modern cars have fuel injection systems, which do a better job of getting started in the cold.
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Warming up your car doesn’t accomplish a lot.
Sure, your interior will get hot, but what’s the cost? Wasted time and money! Is the extra comfort worth the price of burning gas? I report, you decide!
Let’s dispel a common myth right now.
Warm-ups are a good thing to do before you exercise, but they won’t boost your engine’s performance. In fact, your car warms up more effectively when it is in motion. You might as well skip the warm-up and get to work!
Why do you really warm up your car?
However, I’m not convinced many drivers warm up their car due to a concern for its performance. It’s like that one time you claimed to volunteer at a clothing drive in college, because you wanted to “make a difference,” but you were just looking for an excuse to talk to your cute classmate.
(No judgment — we have all done it!) 😉
You say the warm-up is for your engine…
…but is that really true, or are you more interested in comfort? Be honest! Look: I get it. I hate being cold just like anybody else. But let’s weigh the pros and cons.
Pro: Your car won’t feel like a freezer.
Con: Idling is incredibly stressful for your engine.
Pro: You won’t have to clean the windshield with your hands.
Con: You will burn a lot of gas (bad for your bank account and environment).
I’d like to draw attention to a key fact.
The “pros” are focused on short-term benefits. The “cons” involve long-term consequences.
It’s like dieting. Sure, it would be nice to eat cake for breakfast everyday… but is it worth the risk of getting fat? Eating healthy might seem boring… but is it worth the benefit of getting super fit?
Future rewards require you to give up present urges.
Are you willing to sacrifice comfort today so you can save money, lower emissions, and protect your investment in the future? I can’t answer that question for you.
(But I’m not going to lie… I really hope you say YES!)
If you have any friends who swear by warming up their car, send them here for a reality check! 😉
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