Should I warm up my car before driving on frigid winter days? Here's what experts say
DETROIT — As frigid temperatures engulf large swaths of the nation, auto experts are debunking a longtime myth about driving in winter.
AAA, a federation of motor clubs, recommends drivers start their engine and allow it to idle only for the time it takes to fasten their seat belts. This time ensures lubricating oil reaches all of the engine's vital parts.
In addition to unnecessary engine wear, the Environmental Protection Agency says letting your car idle causes air pollution and wastes fuel. Driving your car normally and avoiding hard acceleration will warm up the engine faster than leaving it idle for several minutes, according to AAA.
But experts warn that older cars and electric vehicles may need some extra care before hitting the road in winter.
How the car warm-up routine began
The winter warm-up routine started decades ago when vehicles were more prone to stalling in frigid temperatures, according to Carfax.
Up until the 1980s, Carfax said vehicles had carburetors, a component that regulates the mix of air and fuel in the engine. At the time, warming the car in the winter made sense since it could take several minutes for the right air-fuel mix to reach the engine, without which the vehicle was at risk of stalling or sputtering.
Carfax said modern cars use electronic fuel injection instead of a carburetor. The system helps promptly deliver the right air-fuel mixture, and your vehicle is ready to hit the road within seconds, even in cold temperatures.
"Unfortunately, certain habits are challenging to break, and misinformation is rampant," Carfax said. "Chances are, if you had one of those older models and later sold it, you passed this habit on to the next generation."
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The EV exception
While most internal combustion engines don't require time to warm up — even though many people like to hop into a warm vehicle — EV owners may need to take some action before getting on the road.
Batteries tend to perform best at about 70 degrees, according to Car and Driver. When temperatures fall, battery performance degrades, with some owners reporting a 10% to 20% reduced range when temperatures are below freezing.
EV owners are encouraged to precondition their vehicle using the phone app associated with their car and heat the battery and vehicle interior to operating temperatures. The Department of Energy said the practice is best executed while the vehicle is plugged in to ensure the battery is sufficiently charged and that the cabin is warmed to optimize performance.
"Should your EV not have a preconditioning feature, warming the vehicle up for a few minutes before driving will improve battery performance," the DOE said. "And guess what? Unlike gas-powered vehicles, running your EV in your garage or out on the street does not produce harmful fumes."
Contributing: Coral Murphy Marcos, Dalvin Brown, Ben Tobin, and Minnah Arshad, Paste BN