# Yes, warming up your cold car can causengine damage **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095 "2022-12-23T15:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/1 "2022-12-23T15:11:46Z")
> **[Yes, warming up your car before driving in cold weather can damage the engine](https://www.9news.com/article/news/verify/weather-verify/warming-up-your-car-in-cold-weather-winter-can-cause-engine-damage-fact-check/536-8bf406d7-194c-4ca0-a06d-d1d56006e5d9?ref=exit-recirc)** > > Letting your car idle when it’s cold outside can shorten the life of your engine. In the garage we keep themergencyehicle hood covered with a sheet draped down over the front and electric skillet turned on to warm th **entire** ngine compartment. ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/2 "2022-12-23T16:15:15Z")
At least the person being interviewed didn’t spread what I think is false information. He talked mostly about electric vehicle issues. This article is the source that the news site used: [Does Warming Up Your Car Actually Help? | Warming Up A Car Myths](https://www.smarttoyota.com/blogs/2398/does-warming-up-your-vehicle-do-more-harm-than-good/) I guess the idea is that driving the car immediately causes it to warm up more quickly, reducing the amount of time that it has to run very cold. As usual, they say that increased pollution is the reason to not warm up a car. The only way I see how idling the car could cause damage is if it is too cold to let the oil settle back down in the oil pan, causing loss of oil pressure. Getting it to warm up faster would somehow prevent this, but that seems far fetched. Better to shut it off after 30 seconds and then start it up again a few minutes later. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/3 "2022-12-23T16:25:58Z")
Well I’m calling bunk that the oil drains from the pistons when it is not moving the car. That makes zero sense. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/4 "2022-12-23T16:27:25Z")
Does anything RG posts ever make sense ? The answer is No . ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/5 "2022-12-23T16:45:59Z")
This sounds to me like a load of bullplop. Whether you’re warming up the car in your driveway, or whether you just get in and start driving, either way, the engine is started from cold, and thermal cycling will occur. The only real risk from thermal cycling is that composite head gaskets will wear out after a certain number of thermal cycles, and depending on the materials used, last for about 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Aftermarket gaskets are redesigned with better materials to extend this life further (assuming proper installation and surface prep). ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/6 "2022-12-23T16:47:11Z")
That was the sources in the article. But IMHO, if oil pressure is normal, parts are lubricated. I want a car sufficiently warmed to keep the windshield free from fogging over. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/7 "2022-12-23T17:41:49Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > _Does anything RG posts ever make sense ? The answer is No ._ Just showing what is ou **there**. As a teen tree-hugger and Greenie, I would star **the** ngine and allow idle to move the car to the stop sign. Then gently accelerate. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/8 "2022-12-23T20:10:33Z")
"Gas-powered cars need oil to keep their engines lubricated. When you start a car, an oil pump circulates the oil in less than a minute. But if you let your car idle to warm up the cabin, the oil can get stripped away. " So are we to believer that the oil pump just suddenly stops working after that initial minute or something? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/9 "2022-12-23T20:15:00Z")
> [@FoDaddy](#): > > So are we to believer that the oil pump just suddenly stops working after that initial minute or something? Yup! The premise on which the OP bases his belief is truly illogical. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/10 "2022-12-23T21:14:58Z")
Maybe the theory is that if the car is rev’ing low rpm (idle), the oil pump doens’t spin as fast, so not enough oil gets to the piston rings. Guessing problem w/that theory is that at low rpm not as much oil is needed. The premise seems unlikely. Frequent idling could eventually could cause engine coke and oil deposits to build up I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/11 "2022-12-23T21:23:29Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Maybe the theory is that if the car is rev’ing low rpm (idle), the oil pump doens’t spin as fast, so not enough oil gets to the piston rings. Oil pumps are designed to provide enough oil at ANY condition. All the needs at idle are supplied. Nothing is left “dry”. So much oil flow that the pressure relief valve opens and excess flow is dumped back to the pan even at idle. As the engine revs faster, even more is dumped overboard but the engine is always supplied adequate oil. Modern engines have designed variable pumps to reduce the HP required so that less power is wasted just dumping the excess back to the pan. The rings don’t need much lubrication which is why they are generally splash lubricated. Same for piston pins. Bearings are pressure fed. It isn’t rings you need worry about…it is the bearings. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/12 "2022-12-23T21:54:44Z")
While the conclusion, “experts say driving after 30 seconds to a minute after starting your car is a best practice” is true, much of the narrative is hogwash. Pre 1980’s cars used a “choke” to increase the fuel mixture which could be set either manually or automatically (press accelerator foot to the floor) for cold weather starts, usually for 30 seconds to a minute. By which time the automatic choke would release or the manual choke would begin demonstrating the classic “rich fuel misfire”. (Picture your lawnmower or snowblower running on choke). “Constantly letting a cold engine idle can actually be counterproductive because it gradually strips oil away from the engine’s pistons and cylinders.”. Pistons and cylinders are generally lubricated from below using the “splash method” so assuming you’re not running 90 weight oil in your crankcase, it’s hard to imagine how you wouldn’t have sufficient splash lubrication within less than a minute. “Top end lubrication” for thicker oils driven by the oil pump may conceptually be a problem but today’s motor oils range as low as 0W-50 with 0 being the lowest Winter viscosity. For modern cars, use the manufacturer’s recommended motor oil, give it a minute to warm up while you clear the windows, avoid drag racing you neighbor’s kid to the end of the block and you’ll be fine. For older cars running 20W- 40, set the choke, bang on the dashboard, carbs, free the brakes, mutter the ususal prayer and go for it. My 1952 has had the carb’s replaced (shaft wear) and lower main bearings (had an extra set sitting around) and sitll runs fine. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/13 "2022-12-23T21:56:25Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > > [@FoDaddy](#): > > > > _So are we to believer that the oil pump just suddenly stops working after that initial minute or something?_ > > _Yup!_ > _The premise on which the OP bases his belief is truly illogical._ You know that it pumps regardless of engine rpm. Easier on thengine if RPMs are lower as engine is warming up. Under load idle allows earlier warm up which be.tter and moreven. ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/14 "2022-12-23T22:01:11Z")
Well, here in northern LA county, last week I had a bad windshield frost from the cold. Problem is we are not used to having ice scrapers any more. So, I did warm up the car/engine for a few minutes until I could see where I am going. Maybe I shortened the engine’s life, but definitely prolonged my life and our neighbors’ lives. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/15 "2022-12-23T22:07:47Z")
With the morning frost buildup here, I am finding myself having to use the Remote Warm-Up Apparatus to defrost the windows so I can safely see where I am going. My Remote Warm-Up Apparatus consists of an extra key on a keychain by itself; since my car has no power door locks and no security system, I can start the engine and lock the door to deter anyone from hopping in and driving away. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/16 "2022-12-23T22:12:12Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > since my car has no power door locks and no security system, I can start the engine and lock the door to deter anyone from hopping in and driving away. False security . The vehicle with actual remote start with shut the vehicle off when a door is opened . Yours will keep running even after they break a window and reach in to open door . Then they just get in a nd drive away. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/17 "2022-12-23T22:18:14Z")
Once they step on the brake to put into drive the engine will shut off. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/18 "2022-12-23T22:20:51Z")
The ONLY way it’s hurting the longevity of the engine is the fact you’re putting engine use on the vehicle, but no mileage. So the engine is a little worn out more than a vehicle with the same mileage that doesn’t idle. The rest of the article is total do-do. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/19 "2022-12-23T23:56:15Z")
Totally agree with bchoen and mikefromNH. The only way you can reduce your car life from reasonably warming up your engine is to drive into a semi that you didn’t see because of frosted windows. With the manufacturer’s specified oil, changes at specified intervals and manufacturer’s scheduled maintenance, pretty much every car will last well beyond when you’re tired of it and/or rust/corrosion/plastic degradation has resigned it to the scrapyard. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2022, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095/20 "2022-12-23T23:56:31Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > The vehicle with actual remote start with shut the vehicle off when a door is opened Ours will keep running even after you open the door. You have to shut the ignition off, then restart it if the 10 minute timer has not elapsed. I have not tried but imagine putting it in drive is disabled. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/yes-warming-up-your-cold-car-can-causengine-damage/188095.md?page=2)