Myth: You Must “Warm Up” Your Car in the Winter
This is a habit left over from the days of carburetors. Old cars needed several minutes of idling to get the fuel-air mixture right, otherwise, they would stall out as soon as you put them in gear. However, modern fuel-injected engines are ready to go in seconds. In fact, idling in your driveway is the slowest way to warm up an engine and actually wastes fuel.
The best way to warm up a modern car is to start it, wait about 30 seconds for the oil to circulate, and then drive away gently. The engine will reach its operating temperature much faster under a light load, which actually reduces wear and tear. Just don’t floor it until the temperature gauge starts to move.
