You always hear that you should “warm up” your car. What does that even mean, and is it really necessary? Elite Automotive LLC in Covington, KY has the answers for you.

Back in the day, warming up your car was necessary. In cold or coldish weather particularly, it was important to start your vehicle and let it run for a few minutes before hitting the road. Oil was less advanced then, and required ample time to warm up and lubricate the engine properly. Carburetors didn’t function quite right until the engine was warm, causing the car to stall or die in cold weather. There were no sensors to adjust fuel ratios or make adjustments to running conditions.

But, in the modern era, is warming up your car necessary? In short, no. Modern cars with fuel injection, modern oil, computers, and other electronics don’t need to be warmed up before driving them (except in certain instances, like turbocharged vehicles.) For the most part, your car’s emissions and fuel delivery systems adjust automatically to driving in any condition. The old myths about warming your vehicle up are rooted in truth, but the rules and reasons are no longer applicable.

In extremely cold temperatures, it doesn’t hurt to let the engine warm up a little bit, but less than a minute is typically fine. Generally, it’s perfectly fine to start your vehicle and take off. 

If your vehicle does require a warm up period before it’s drivable, there’s something wrong. A sensor malfunction or weak part can cause a car to run poorly in cold weather, either of which should be fixed before the condition worsens. If your car performs poorly when cold started, bring it by Elite Automotive LLC and let one of our technicians take a look at it. We’ll have your car ready to go, anytime, in no time.



Thank you for visiting Elite Auto & Tire with two locations in Covington, KY. Count on our automotive repair technicians for complete automotive repairs, maintenance, and diagnostic services. Choosing our team will keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.
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1206 Russell St
| Covington, KY

(859) 431-3548
Email the Shop
MON-FRI | 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends | CLOSED

3415 Decoursey Ave
| Covington, KY

(859) 431-1565
Email the Shop
MON-FRI | 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekends | CLOSED