Experts weigh in on how long you should warm up your car on cold days before driving

It’s the dead of winter, the temperature outside is freezing, the sky is dark, the temperature inside your car isn’t much better and you’re late for work.Do you need to warm up your car before you hit the road?Anecdotal, parental and social media advice on the topic is conflicting, so we asked two experts for the best practices for starting your car on a cold day.For the vast majority of cars on the road, warmups in the traditional sense are not necessary, said Robert Sinclair, Jr., the Senior Manager of Public Affairs at the American Automotive Association (AAA).“After starting the vehicle, in the time that it takes to put on the seatbelt, the vehicle will be ready to drive,” he said.Sinclair said fuel injection technology and synthetic oil make it unnecessary to idle your engine for a prolonged period before you drive.Synthetic oil is able to flow and lubricate the engine even at lower temperatures.“[Waiting]1-2 minutes on newer cars is all you need,” said Lauren Fix the automotive expert for Car Coach Reports.While you don’t need to wait long to drive your car in cold weather, flooring it right away might not be the best idea.“The key is to drive the vehicle gently until the engine reaches operating temperature, which a gauge (if equipped) will show.

In fact, gentle driving helps to more effectively circulate the engine oil and warm the transmission and related components which remain cold while idling,” recommended Sinclair. While modern cars don’t need an extended warm-up, Fix recommended a five-minute idling period for older cars.So which cars need this idling time?“Older vehicles with carburetors usually need to warm until up to operating temperature,” said Sinclair.But many vehicles that use this technology are starting to move into the classic car category.According to Sinclair, “Fuel injection has been standard equipment on nearly all engines since the late 80s/early 90s.” If you turn your car key or hit the start button a...