It is a habit passed down for generations: start the car and let it idle for several minutes to warm up before driving. But with modern vehicles, the advice has changed, and understanding the facts can help Franklin drivers care for their engines correctly without wasting time or fuel.
The long warm-up idea comes from the era of carbureted engines, which genuinely ran poorly until they warmed up. Today's vehicles use fuel injection and sophisticated engine management that adjust automatically, so they are ready to drive gently within a very short time of starting, even in cooler weather. In fact, the fastest and most effective way to warm up a modern engine is to drive it gently, since that brings the engine and transmission up to temperature more quickly than idling does.
That does not mean you should start the car and immediately drive hard. The best practice is to start the engine, give it a brief moment, then drive smoothly and avoid heavy acceleration until the engine reaches operating temperature. Long idling mostly wastes fuel and adds unnecessary run time. Of course, letting a car run to cool the cabin on a hot Middle Tennessee day is a comfort choice, which is different from what the engine needs.
At Quick Auto and Exhaust in Franklin, we are always glad to answer questions about caring for your specific vehicle. If you want to make sure you are treating your engine right, stop by our Franklin shop and ask our team.