For How Long Should I Warm up My Vehicle before Driving?

By Mister Transmission

It may be time to dispense with another long-held drivers’ myth before you damage your engine

Not that long ago, it was necessary for motorists to let their vehicles run for a few minutes before they started driving – especially in the wintertime. The logic behind it was straightforward enough: when in the grip of winter, drivers need to warm up their vehicles to allow the engine’s lubricants to warm up and begin to flow to ensure everything runs smoothly. But here’s a reality check: unless your car is a decades-old carburetor and choke-powered model, or you live in Canada’s far north, chances are you don’t need to warm your vehicle up on icy cold winter mornings.

Modern vehicles feature sophisticated onboard computer systems in the engine block that manages the outdated functions of their erstwhile predecessors. In fact, it’s possible that clinging to the old-world warm-up methodology may do more harm to your engine than good.

Canadian Idle: The Heated Debate Persists

Despite the advancements in automobiles and automotive technology, many motorists insist warming up a vehicle during the cold months will help prolong the life of the engine. However, this popular belief is not an indisputable truth, no more so than the arguments stick shift enthusiasts clutch to in defence of driving a car with a manual transmission versus one with an automatic transmission.

With the electronic fuel-injection systems that are built into modern vehicles, there are more factual reasons for not allowing your vehicle to idle than there are in support of it. Idling produces additional levels of carbon monoxide, a poisonous, invisible, odourless gas, it’s a waste of fuel, and it can degrade your engine over time.

The Lubrication Argument

The naysayers will often agree with all of the above before they revert to the oil lubrication argument. That is, when the mercury plummets below zero, you should run your engine for a couple of minutes before driving since the motor oil in your car will largely settle in the oil pan overnight, and it’ll thicken, affecting its viscosity. They may have a valid point.

Can cold weather negatively impact your vehicle’s transmission? It’s possible frigid temperatures can be a contributing factor to gear slippage or difficulty changing gears. Although subzero temperatures may trigger transmission problems, they are not necessarily the direct cause, but merely a foreshadowing of what’s to come. In other words, if you’re experiencing transmission warning signs, you should have your vehicle inspected by a certified technician regardless of the temperature outside. So how long to warm up before driving? It’s likely not even necessary if you have a modern car.

For more than 50 years, Mister Transmission has kept Canadian motorists on the road by ensuring the transmissions in their vehicles are in tip-top shape. If you have a question about your transmission or want to book a service appointment, contact the Mister Transmission service centre nearest to you.

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Customer Reviews
Best customer service and quick...
Cyndie Moore
Best customer service and quick response time. Had my car back on the road in 3 business days. Ashley is the BEST, she kept me updated on the progress.
Date: March 18, 2024
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Excellent service. Brian and other...
Navjot Kaur
Excellent service. Brian and other team members were very helpful. They gave honest advice for my vehicle and I can’t thank them enough for saving my thousands of dollars on repair.
Date: March 16, 2024
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Excellent help! Chris had his...
Steve Vandevelde
Excellent help! Chris had his guys test and inspect my transmission for free. Knowing that I preferred to save money by doing as much as possible myself, they gave me all sorts of advice, laying out the pros and cons for my choice. I trust these guys. I recommend this shop.
Date: March 15, 2024
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Jamie and the staff went...
DARIN GEAKE
Jamie and the staff went above and beyond to help me get my car fixed. I have a Subaru that was having issues and they spent a lot of time making sure everything was done correctly. Even though they did extra work and got extra parts to make it work, he stuck to his original quote (which btw was almost half of what I was quoted by a different shop). I would recommend Mr. Transmission to anyone!!!
Date: March 15, 2024
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Mark and his staff are...
Ryan Rose
Mark and his staff are the BEST!!! Kind, knowledgeable, transparent. Will gladly take any and all of my future business to him and his exceptional team.
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Amazing customer service! Super friendly!...
Cynicalest T
Amazing customer service! Super friendly! Family owned by mark and son both awesome people!
Date: March 15, 2024
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Thank you for the great...
Linda Jones
Thank you for the great service we received at Mister Transmission in Barrie. It was exceptional. They made sure the vehicle was at 100% before they let us pick it up. I would recommend them to anyone that needs transmission repairs. All the employees were pleasant and made you feel important. If you had any questions they answered them right away. Great job everyone. Ted and Linda Jones.
Date: March 14, 2024
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Friendly and efficient, you couldn’t...
Dale Allen
Friendly and efficient, you couldn’t ask for much more from a mechanic.
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Got my car back fast...
Brenda Kane
Got my car back fast , amazing staff. Thanks Mr transmission!!
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I needed an expensive repair...
Daniel Zwiercan
I needed an expensive repair but the folks at Mister Transmission helped me save money where I could and did a great job. Thank you.
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