I live in central Canada, and temperatures reach as low as -30C. Just this week, it’ll be -20C overnight and I always park my car outside. From what people have told me I should idle for 10 minutes when it’s extremely cold, and then drive off. What should I really be doing?

  • nochinzilch@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I agree with the advice to let the car run for a minute or two until the idle settles down a bit. But I also agree that it’s ok to let it run for 10 minutes if you want the cabin to warm up.

    Needing the car to warm up for 10 minutes is a holdover from carburetors I think. They just weren’t as good at metering fuel in extreme conditions, and the cars simply wouldn’t drive until the coolant got a little heat into it to warm up the carb.