Many car owners believe that their vehicle should be allowed to warm up for several minutes before they set out on their journey. This is done to ensure the engine’s longevity.
However, the reality is that things are not as they seem. It is a waste of time and fuel to idle your car for more than a few seconds. Importantly, allowing your car to idle at freezing temperatures can cause engine damage and reduce its lifespan.
Many Believe Idling Cars in Winter is Paramount
The internal combustion engine works by combining gasoline and air in the engine’s pistons. The mixture of air and fuel is compressed. The spark plug ignites the mixture, which then moves the pistons. A carburetor was used to control the mixture of fuel and oxygen in the past, especially before 1980s. The one problem with the carburetor was its inability control the fuel in the mixture of air and fuel precisely.
Because gasoline is difficult to evaporate in cold weather, the carburetor could release more fuel than it needed. Once ignited, the fuel-rich mixture could cause engine damage. To negate the risk of engine failure, car owners were advised to idle their car for a few minutes to allow the engine to warm up (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/12/29/the-biggest-winter-energy-myth-that-you-need-to-idle-your-car-before-driving/), and, therefore, make it easy for the carburetor to supply the right fuel mixture.
Why it’s better to run your modern car than just leave it there
Car manufacturers have moved away from using carburetors in the 1980s to use electric fuel injectors. The car has sensors that measure outdoor temperature. This allows the electric fuel injection to adjust the mixture to compensate for cold conditions. An electric fuel injector creates a fuel-rich mixture of air-fuel and gasoline by releasing more gasoline to compensate for low evaporations.
Keep this in mind: When you idle your car you’re burning more fuel and getting little or no benefit. Your car’s engine was designed to work in cold temperatures without causing the car to stall. Your car should not be idled unless you heat up the cabin and defrost your windshield. This process should take approximately 3 minutes.
