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Modern vehicles feature sophisticated onboard computer systems in the engine block that manages the outdated functions of their erstwhile predecessors.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.

Wants to know more?
Visite one of our locations!

image-reviews image-reviews
Customer Reviews
Highly recommended, great customer service...
Travis Minor
Highly recommended, great customer service with transparent billing. I have full trust they fix what is needed and never overcharge customers.
Date: May 11, 2025
Website: Google
It's that time again...VACATION...and if...
Allan &
It's that time again...VACATION...and if you're doing a road trip and you're in the vicinity of Dartmouth, NS and are unfortuneately experiencing problems with your vehicle's transmission please call Mr. Transmission in Beechville, NS. Great team Jason (owner), Kim (front desk), and crew. Without their immediate assistance our vacation plans would had been ruined (road trip Montreal to Newfoundland). After Kim having called us back from an earlier conversatiion (opening came about) that Monday morning they did the impossible to have us on the road to North Sydney to catch our ferry for Tuesday at 8:00 AM. We were in and out of there in two hours, no parts available, but the mechanic did what great mechanics can do, thought outside the box...Toyota is too much by the book to do what he had done. Thank you again Jason, Kim, and mechanic (our apologies for not remembering your name). Yes, we highly recommend this shop. Our many thanks to you again. Allan & Raymonde
Date: May 10, 2025
Website: Google
Fast good service 👌 will.be...
Eric Soo
Fast good service 👌 will.be going back
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Costumer service at it's finest....
Julia
Costumer service at it's finest. I called in at 4pm on a Friday and Dan was able to help me out and scan my car. All other repair shops denied me till later the following week. Friendly and honest. Couldn't recommend them more.
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Great customer service, great time...
Logan Taylor
Great customer service, great time management, recommend this shop if you want it done right and in a timely manner had a clutch done in a day and a half
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Fast and professional!
Kamar Thomas
Fast and professional!
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Kyle and his crew handled...
Gerald L
Kyle and his crew handled my transmission swap, these guys take pride in there work!
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
When I had issues with...
Lance Pierre
When I had issues with my transmission the left me stranded on the side of the 401 I was extremely stressed and worried but both gus and ray as well as the techs here eased my tension and returned my car back to working better the how it was from the factory
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Great people to work with....
Lori Lewins
Great people to work with. Gave a quote for a tranny flush, which i did not need, ran a diagnostic. Turns out a had packed mud under my skid plate, they cleaned it all out and only charged me for the diagnostic.
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Costumer service at it's finest....
Julia
Costumer service at it's finest. I called in at 4pm on a Friday and Dan was able to help me out and scan my car. All other repair shops denied me till later the following week. Friendly and honest. Couldn't recommend them more.
Date: May 9, 2025
Website: Google
Featured Services
Transmission Repair

The evolution of transmissions has made these machines and systems increasingly complex. When transmission repairs are required, determining the cause and cure for what ails can be tricky.

Read More
Transmission Technology

At Mister Transmission we have access to leading-edge diagnostic equipment, enabling us to offer you the fastest and most accurate findings about what’s going on inside your vehicle’s transmission.

Read More
Transmission Maintenance & Service

Just as you have other parts of your car serviced, your transmission needs maintenance to ensure a long life and avoid transmission problems.

Read More
Mister Transmission Blogs
Recent Blogs
Preventative Transmission Maintenance: 5...
A vehicle's transmission is one of its most critical components, responsible for
Read More
April 30, 2025
Transmission Rebuild Vs. Replacement: Wh...
When a vehicle's transmission begins to fail, owners often face a crucial decision:
Read More
April 23, 2025
Transmission Overheating Causes: How To ...
Transmission overheating occurs when the system becomes too hot to function properly.
Read More
April 16, 2025
Signs Of A Failing Transmission Filter A...
The transmission filter plays a crucial role in keeping the transmission system clean
Read More
April 7, 2025
Manual Vs. Automatic Transmission Mainte...
Your vehicle’s transmission plays a crucial role in keeping your car running
Read More
March 31, 2025
Honda Transmission Replacement Price: Wh...
The cost of replacing a Honda transmission varies depending on the model, year, and
Read More
March 28, 2025
How Much Does A New Transmission Cost? A...
A vehicle’s transmission is one of its most crucial components, responsible for
Read More
March 24, 2025
Cheap Transmission Repair Services: Wher...
Transmission repair costs can be high due to the complexity of the system. Unlike
Read More
March 7, 2025
How To Find The Best Transmission Repair...
A vehicle's transmission is one of its most crucial components, ensuring smooth gear
Read More
February 28, 2025
Automatic Transmission Slipping Issues: ...
Automatic transmissions are crucial components of modern vehicles, allowing smooth
Read More
February 21, 2025