QC

Winter driving tips: Should you warm up the car?

Those of us who live in a four season climate are comfortable with the idea of allowing our vehicles to warm up on a cold winter’s day before driving off to work, or taking the kids to weekend hockey practice. But with the technology available in today’s automobiles, is this still something we should be doing?

The simple answer is no. For the most part, letting your vehicle idle for long periods of time when it is cold is not only bad for the environment, but can cause serious damage to your engine and emission system.

In the past, most vehicles employed a carburetor to deliver fuel to the engine. Today, almost all new automobiles employ some form of electronic fuel injection. During cold engine startup, the computer management system tells the fuel injectors to stay open longer allowing more fuel to flow into the engine in part to keep it running cool. Trying to warm up the engine at slightly above idle speed is actually doing the reverse and inviting additional problems.

Cold engines produce a much higher level of unburned hydrocarbons as fuel needs heat to burn efficiently. Even the best catalytic converter is unable to process 100 percent while running at maximum temperature. Allowing the engine to idle for extended periods of time will, over time, begin to clog the exhaust system.

In addition, spark plugs may also become plugged or dirty due to inefficient fuel burning. Older vehicles require regular maintenance, most calling for spark plugs to be changed approximately every 30,000 km. The good old days weren’t always so good.

Today, almost all engines employ an electronic ignition system that requires spark plugs to be changed at intervals in the range of 100,000 kilometres. An engine at idle for extended periods of time could dramatically shorten the life of your plugs, causing you to spend hard-earned dollars on unnecessary service and repairs.  

A better approach is to start your vehicle and let it run for up to one minute before driving off to work or play. This will allow fluids to start flowing through the engine and then warm up to efficient temperatures under normal driving conditions.

Should the temperature outside dip below freezing, allow up to a maximum of five minutes of idle time before driving away. In most cases, this will be just enough time to clean off any snow or ice that may have accumulated on the windows.

While you may not be warm as toast on the way into work, school or taking the kids to hockey practice, you will benefit by saving money at the pump and the repair shop by driving a vehicle that runs cleaner and more efficient for many years to come.