Thursday, January 29, 2015
It’s that time of the year when many motorists let their vehicle "warm up,” or idle, before driving. Did you know that today’s cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without excessive idling?"Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today's vehicles," says Rich White, Car Care Council. "In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary. The best way to warm up your car's engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money."
The EPA cautions that idling your car longer than 30 seconds increases air pollution, wastes fuel and siphons your gas dollars. It can also lead to engine damage and create issues with cylinders, spark plugs and the exhaust system.
The idea of idling before driving dates back to when cars were built with carburetors. With new fuel-injection technology, complex computer systems and thinner synthetic oils, drivers don't need to warm up their cars before hitting the road.
Source: Car Care Council
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