For
those in the northern climates, winter is the time of year when temperatures decline
at night only to slightly rise during the day. Winter means frigid mornings for
those who are out of the house as the early sun begins to creep over the
horizon. Getting your car ready to drive can be a thoroughly unpleasant
experience. Remote start systems and heated seats can allow for time for windows
to de-ice and the cabin to get cozy warm.
The
best thing to do is start the car, take a minute to knock the ice off your
windows, and get going. The obvious caveat here is that if it's below freezing,
you need to make sure your defroster is working before you go tearing out of
your driveway. Don't be the person peering through a porthole in your
ice-covered windshield. An internal combustion
engine
works by using pistons to compress a mixture of air and vaporized fuel within a
cylinder. The compressed mixture is then ignited to create a combustion event—a little controlled explosion that powers the engine. When your engine is cold, the gasoline is less likely to evaporate and create the correct ratio of air and vaporized fuel for combustion. Engines with electronic fuel injection have sensors that compensate for the cold by pumping more gasoline into the mixture. The engine continues to run rich in this way until it heats up to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Here are important things to know about warming up your car in winter.
Drive Normal for Five
to Ten Minutes-Normal driving for 5-10 minutes warms your car up faster
than idling than idling in the driveway. Your car runs most efficiently at
normal operating temperatures. Long idle times waste fuel and cause increased
wear and tear on the exhaust and emission components.
Modern Oil Flows at Low
Temperatures-Modern, high-quality oil flows at low temperatures. For the
most part, you don't need to worry about oil heating up to flow properly.
Modern oil is designed to maintain viscosity at extremely low temperatures. The
first number in oil weight, the one with a w, indicates the oil's ability to
perform in low temperatures (w stands for winter). The lower the w number, the
better the oil performs in cold temperatures. Oils rated 0w can perform without
losing viscosity down to -40F. Follow your manufacturer's specific guidelines.
Restricted Views are Dangerous-Make
sure your windshield is clear of ice, snow, and debris before driving. Keeping
the inside of the windshield clean and clear of moisture will help with fog
before you ever have to use the defroster. If your windshield or windows are
foggy, you may want to wait a minute for the defroster to heat up before
driving off. Keeping a good ice scraper and snow brush handy can help get your
windows clear quickly.
Run for Thirty Seconds-If
your car was made in the last 20 years, it uses fuel injection to push an
air/fuel mixture into the engine and is ready to drive within about 30 seconds.
A fuel injection system has sensors for atmospheric conditions like air
pressure, temperature, and humidity and automatically adjusts the air/fuel
mixture. The newer the car, the more effective and numerous the sensors are.
Because of this, it is a good idea to treat your fuel system with a fuel
additive. Older vehicles used a carburetor to control the mixture going into
the engine, with a manual or electric choke making the mixture rich. In cold
temps, even electric choked carburetors needed a few minutes to warm up in
order to prevent the engine from stalling.
Use a Block Heater and Battery Pad-Use a block heater and battery pad
in extreme cold. If overnight temperatures are 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower,
you may consider an engine block heater and battery pad heater or battery
thermal wrap. Both items attach to your car and then plug into an electrical
outlet. Some engine block heaters come with timers so you can plan when your
engine is ready to drive in the morning. For your battery, trying to hold a
charge in very low temperatures can be draining and potentially harm your
alternator. Starting a cold car with a cold battery the defroster, radio, and seat
warmers puts a heavy strain on the electrical system. Help your battery and
reduce this strain with a battery pad heater.
Warming Up Your Car for a Long Time May Be Illegal-Warming up your car for a long time
may be against the law. More than 35 states and the District of Columbia have
anti-idling regulations in place. Laws vary for different communities, and
often change with temperature conditions. Check your local regulations before
warming up your car for a long time by idling.
“Michigan
Winter Driving Skills Tip#1: Drive
down the middle, and don’t hit any headlights or mailboxes. (Anonymous)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“6 Things to Know About Warming Up Your Car in the Winter” by AutoZone
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