Do You Need to Warm Up Your INFINITI Car?

Tired of talking, or even thinking, about politics? Here’s a sure-fire way to change the subject and get a vigorous conversation going while you’re at it: ask a random gathering of people whether or not it’s necessary to warm up a car before you drive. Your friends won’t be the only ones who’ve had the debate. Plenty of other people around San Diego and Carlsbad, CA have it, too. As a public service, Kearny Mesa INFINITI gives you the answer. 

Obviously, we don’t get much by way of cold weather in Southern California. Sure, it’s chilly sometimes by California standards, but it’s not something the average Minnesotan or New Yorker would think much of. Yet we’re willing to bet that when you take a road trip up north and you want to start your car, you let it run for a few minutes before you pull out of the driveway or parking space.

If your car was built after 1995, odds are better that you don’t need to warm it up. The reason is simple. Older cars (with carburetors) need some time to warm up and run properly in much the same way that some of us don’t function properly without our morning coffee. Later cars trade the carburetor for an ECU and fuel injection. When the car is first started, the ECU will tweak the amount of fuel in the combustion chamber to ensure that it runs properly based on engine temperature.

When the car is colder, the injectors are pumping a higher volume of gas in order to ensure the engine idles properly. Left to idle for an extended period of time, however, that gasoline begins to break down the motor oil that lubricates your engine components. As the oil breaks down, it doesn’t protect against engine wear; that, in turn, leads to higher repair bills.

In short, if you feel the car needs to be warmed up when you go for a cruise up north or during the late, cold nights, drive it. It’ll warm up faster, with less engine wear. Start at a lower speed (you don’t want to get on the interstate and put the pedal to the floor right away), but don’t let the car idle for extended periods of time. And if all else fails, bring your INFINITI SUV or car to Kearny Mesa INFINITI for routine maintenance, an oil change, new tires, or anything else it might need. We’re located at 4670 Convoy St in San Diego, CA, or you can give us a call today!