Back the Car Up - Here's Why You Should Warm It Up on Cold Mornings: Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I read your article and realize you are getting stats from various places that discourage running your car for warm-up purposes. (Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Idle Your Car on Cold Mornings , posted Jan. 12.)

Unfortunately, the info is coming from people who know little about car engines and how they operate. Today with leasing, many people don’t care about warming their car because they are getting rid of it in 24 to 36 months.

The next guy will end up with an engine that has been abused because they ran it in very cold temperatures and put a lot of stress on the vehicle as a result.

“This information comes to you from real experience of working on and understanding engines from the inside out. ...”

In the real world of engines and cars, the engine oil needs to get up into the engine and circulate among the valves and many other metal parts to prevent metal to metal contact and minimize wear.

This can’t happen unless the engine is warmed and oil ultimately reaches operating temperature. When the water is not warmed and engine oil cold and not able to circulate until it gets warm, then the engine is actually subject to unnoticeable internal damage and will not go for the long term if that’s your goal.

In other words, if you intend to keep your car for a very long time (as I have with various models over the years) then warm it up for as long as you can which is generally about 10 to 15 minutes.

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• Who’s right here?

Another tip, probably contrary to your belief, is that premium gas keeps your engine on the inside much cleaner with much less carbon deposits than mid grade or regular. Premium will keeps it running better and for longer.

Usually, the cost between mid grade and premium is about 10 to 20 cents on the average and most car tank are about 12 gallons, so it would cost about $ 1.00 to $2.50 more on a fill up.

Bottom line: if you intend to keep your car for a long time, 5 years, 10 years maybe etc. - Always warm it up in winter, use the best oil and filter and best gas will keep your engine in great shape, going strong for you and the next guy, too.

This information comes to you from real experience of working on and understanding engines from the inside out. I realize this negates your article, but it is very true and sound advice if you are a long term car owner like myself.

This may be considered an old-time philosophy, but it still works well in modern times.

Why I am writing is that this is the second article I have seen about this recently and in both articles the info is not true, except for those who could care less about keeping their cars for any extended period of time.

– C. Mannino, Shelby Township, Michigan

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