Warming up your car before driving in winter: Is it necessary?

 Do you REALLY need to warm up your car before you drive in the winter? 

It's a question we hear a lot at our Charlotte auto service center, especially in the winter. Is it really necessary to warm up your car before you hit the road? The answer isn't quite as clear-cut as you'd imagine, and our Charlotte car care experts are here to explain. 

It all boils down to how old your car is (in years, not mileage). When your car sits for an extended period of time - like overnight in your driveway - all of the oil in the engine drains down to the bottom of the oil pan. Before you drive, it has to recirculate through the entire engine to ensure all of the parts are lubricated and ready to perform. This is especially true when temperatures are cold outside. 

Do you need to let your car warm up? Why?

Here's the breakdown. 

If you drive an older car, our Charlotte car care experts recommend that you let your car run for a few minutes in your driveway before you try to hit the road. Otherwise, oil won't be properly dispersed through the engine and your engine parts won't be lubricated enough. This results in the risk of damaging your engine's pistons, which can lead to expensive and time-consuming repairs. A few things to note: 

• Older cars take a longer time to disperse the oil throughout the engine because they don't have the same technology or mechanics as newer cars. 
• This is where the assumption comes from; older cars DO need to warm up before being driven so no damage occurs. 
• However, you don't need to let the car warm up for more than a few minutes. After you've idled it in the driveway for 5 minutes or so, hit the road. The best way to warm up your engine is to drive, after all, and extensive idling wastes gas and produces unnecessary emissions. 

If you drive a newer car, you don't need to let it warm up. The engine takes far less time to be ready to perform. You really only need 20-30 seconds to completely lubricate the parts in the engine. So by the time you crank the heat, buckle up, and pick a song from your playlist, you'll be ready to hit the road. Your engine may not be totally warmed up, but it is lubricated and as such, ready to go. Remember, the best way to warm up your car's engine is to simply drive it. 

All in all, it boils down to how old your car is AND how comfortable you feel behind the wheel when it comes to warming it up. If you feel like it's best to take a few minutes to clear the windshield, warm up the cabin of the car, and get situated, you're totally fine. Just don't waste any more gas or emissions than you need to - it only takes a few minutes to prep the engine, even in an older car. 

Toyota of N Charlotte can answer questions about letting your car warm up

Have questions about driving in winter or letting your car warm up? Toyota of N Charlotte has answers. Call us today at (704) 659-2025 ot stop by in person. Our Charlotte car care center is located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville at 13429 Statesville Road.