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Warming up the car?

Lisa Miles

I read an article via E&T magazine the other day about the carbon cost of 'warming up the car' on winter mornings before driving off and wondered how many people still do such a thing? 

I remember in the 1970's some of our neighbours would always have their car idling for a while and vaguely remember them saying something about getting the oil circulating around the engine first before driving off. But as far as I'm aware, there is absolutely no need to do that nowadays with modern cars, if it was ever needed before anyway! The manual of my own car specifically states that it should not be started and left in an idling state but should be driven as soon as the engine is on.

Warming up the interior of my own car on a winter's morning consists of me making sure the heated seat is on (which can be felt around 2 minutes into the journey Relieved) although one thing I struggle with on occasion is de-misting the windscreen which can take longer. However I bought myself a telescopic handled de-mister pad that I wipe over the inside before I switch on the ignition.

Out of interest is it (or was it ever) necessary to idle a car before driving off? Were my 1970's neighbours correct? Thinking 

  any tips from the experts in the Automotive and road transport systems Network? 

Parents
  • 0

    Don't worry about the carbon cost, there is no direct CO2 charging infrastructure created yet, though Al Gore is developing an app. So not long now before we are all charged for breathing.

    Anyway while your car warms you'll be contributing to the the greening of the planet to help feed the new 8 billion population 

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  • 0

    Don't worry about the carbon cost, there is no direct CO2 charging infrastructure created yet, though Al Gore is developing an app. So not long now before we are all charged for breathing.

    Anyway while your car warms you'll be contributing to the the greening of the planet to help feed the new 8 billion population 

Children
  • 0 in reply to Jon Steward

    But there is a large amount of fuel duty and VAT to pay on the fuel used to warm the car up.

  • 0 in reply to Simon Barker

    Well you can blame the insane energy policies for that. And the lack of investment in innovation in ICE emmision reduction. But if you're a fan of NET ZERO then you'll be fully supportive of the mini budget keeping the dream alive.

    Keep on Greening the planet we'll soon be at 9 billion to feed.

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