Is warming the engine up harmful? Nope. Car engines are designed to run. It will warm up faster if you drive it, and more fuel will be burned when it is cold. Extended idling (taxicabs, police cars, limo’s) might have a problem, but the standard family car will suffer no real problems by a short warm-up. I agree with the other posters . . . start it . . . belt in, check your mirrors, get a good tune on the radio, and drive away slowly and take it easy for the first few miles. Now COOL DOWN of the engine, that’s a whole other story! Will running your engine for a few minutes after you park the car harm your engine? :0) Rocketman