
ATTENTION INDIANA: Don’t Warm Up Your Car in Cold Weather
If you want to sit in your car and listen to us a little longer in the morning while you wait for the engine to warm up, we're not complaining. But don't do it because you think it's good for your car. Spoiler alert: it's not!
Practically everyone does it. When you get ready for work each morning during the winter, you go outside and "warm up" your vehicle, go back inside for a few minutes, and then by the time you go back into your car, it's nice and toasty. Let's be honest, nobody wants to sit inside a freezing cold vehicle. Aside from that, you might think that you need to let your engine warm up for a little bit when we are experiencing cold weather. However, that's not necessary at all. In fact, it can actually cause more harm than good for your vehicle.
Letting your car idle like that to wait for it to get warm inside does play a role in the environment. According to IN.gov:
Only ten minutes of idling per day adds more than 50 pounds of carbon monoxide, particles, nitrogen oxides, and other toxic gases to the air per year. If you idle more than 30 seconds, your car will emit more air pollution than if you turn it off and on again.

Now, most of us typically don't think about things like that. We just want to make sure that we don't freeze our hind ends off when we are in our vehicle, myself included. However, because of the dangers to the environment, idling your vehicle like that is actually illegal in some states. While idling your car for prolonged periods of time is harmful to the environment, it could also be potentially harmful to your vehicle.
ATTENTION INDIANA: Don't Warm Up Your Car in Cold Weather
Years ago, it was a good idea to warm up your vehicle when the temperature dipped. Old-fashioned carburetor engines had to warm up, or they could stall. However, unless you have an older model vehicle prior to 1980, there's no need to do that anymore. According to Southern Living, carburetor engines got phased out in the early '90s, and modern cars with fuel injectors warm up really fast. All you need are the five to 10 seconds it takes to start the engine, adjust your mirrors, put on your seat belt, and ensure you have clear visibility through all windows, to safely drive your car.
According to IN.gov:
Cars are not designed to run for extended periods of time at idle. Idling causes unnecessary wear and tear on your engine and actually results in deposits of fuel residues on your engine's cylinder walls that can contaminate oil and damage components.
The only reason to let newer cars warm up is for comfort. If you need to crank the heater and let the windows defrost, go for it. Nobody wants to freeze their butt off. Other than that, it just wastes gas and causes more wear and tear on your engine.
10 Indiana Laws You Don't Know You're Breaking
10 Must-Have Items To Keep In Your Car This Winter Just In Case
Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals
Stock Up on These Winter Essentials Before It Snows
Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS
More From WKDQ-FM








