UAE winters aren’t too long or harsh – but car lovers know how to take care of their vehicles according to the changing weather. One of the most common winter car care advice is to warm up the engine before driving. However, it is also a piece of advice that’s met with a lot of scepticism. Aside from the fact that the temperature doesn’t drop too low in this region, there is a difference in the technology used in modern cars. Instead of a carburettor, cars are now equipped with fuel injection systems that revive in full swing in no time.
That said, people still believe that it is good to warm up their car before driving. Today, we will find out if there are actual benefits of warming up your car before driving or if it is just a myth. For that purpose, we need to take a look at all the pros and cons of warming up a car before driving.
Pros of Warming Up Your Car Before Driving
People who have been driving for decades are often used to the practice of warming up the engine before driving. However, if we look at it from the perspective of newer cars, this practice only has a few key benefits to offer.
1. Prevents Engine Oil Congealing
A drop in mercury can cause car engine oil to congeal. Therefore, warming up your car for a minute will allow car components to lubricate properly.
2. Keeps You Warm
One of the benefits of warming up your car is that it offers comfort when you hit the road on chilly mornings. Because who would want to leave their cosy homes and end up in an uninviting cold car.
3. Defogs a Windshield Quickly
In the UAE, a fog usually settles in the early winter mornings. So, if you plan to hit the road in the early hours, then you can quickly defog your windshield by warming up your car for a minute. This will also prevent traffic fatalities.
Cons of Warming Up Your Car Before Driving
The cons of warming up a car outweigh its benefits. The disadvantages are detailed below.
1. Damages Car’s Components
Warming up a car excessively can damage the car’s components including the exhaust system, spark plugs, and cylinder walls. This is because a car’s engine does not operate to its fullest when idling leading to incomplete combustion. Fuel residues accumulate on the cylinder walls and spark plugs eventually damaging them.
2. High Chances of Car Misfiring
Sometimes a car misfires after warming up due to faulty spark plugs. The more a car is warmed up, the more carbon it releases. Excessive buildup of carbon deposits can easily foul a spark plug.
3. Pollutes Environment
Warming up a car before driving releases a poisonous gas – carbon monoxide. This contributes to global warming and human health problems too.
In Abu Dhabi, you can be fined AED 1000 for driving a vehicle emitting visible black smoke.
4. Loss of Fuel and Money
More than the usual fuel is burned up when warming up a car before driving. So, the more a car is warmed up, the greater it costs.
Driving is the fastest way to heat a car’s engine. Idling your car for several minutes might have adverse effects instead of beneficial ones.
So, next time when a person asks your opinion on the popular question, ‘Should I let my car warm up before use?’. Then, your answer should be a straight ‘No’. The myth of warming up a car before driving has long been overshadowed by the efficiency of modern fuel injection systems.
Nevertheless, if you are planning to switch to a modern car with high-end features, then you can consider buying one of the used cars for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top car blog, for more information on cars and the automotive industry.
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