The Polar Vortex of 2014 brought with it several days of sub-zero temperatures and unspeakable wind chills. Here in Maine the vortex reached its peak with blowing snow and a wind chill of -34 degrees. Even our dog refused to go outside.
Alas, go outside and continue with our lives we must. And that often means driving somewhere. But do I really need to warm up the engine and run in idle first?
As it turns out, I don’t. (We’ll call this my first, albeit small, drop of oil.)
Today’s cars are designed to get up and go, even in cold temperatures. According to Popular Mechanics, “modern cars have better lubrication, tighter clearances and, in general, are more resistant to sludge formation.” In other words, your engine will be okay.
Nonetheless, this seems to be one of those sticky myths that rears its head every winter. The persistence of this particular myth is to the detriment of the environment and our wallets. (It can also impact our health.)
The environmental impact is an obvious one. Running in idle contributes to air pollution, and yes, to climate change.
This, from the Canadian government:
“If Canadian motorists avoided idling for just three minutes every day of the year, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 1.4 million tonnes annually. This would be equal to saving 630 million litres of fuel and equivalent to taking 320,000 cars off of the road for the entire year.”
Running in idle also does nothing for fuel economy.
Again, from our neighbors to the north:
“For the average vehicle with a 3-litre engine, every 10 minutes of idling costs 300 millilitres (over 1 cup) in wasted fuel – and one half of a litre (over 2 cups) if your vehicle has a 5-litre engine.”
A report from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) found that, depending on idling habits and vehicle type, a person can save up to $70 to $650 per year. (Note that this report was based on 2009 gasoline prices.)
Not all idling is avoidable—being stuck in traffic, for example. But the practice of warming up our cars is a habit we can break. And we can take it a step further and cut down on other unnecessary “idle” moments.
The EDF offers the following tips for minimizing idling:
- Turn off your ignition if you will be stopped for more than 10 seconds (this refutes another myth that says you use more gas starting your car than idling)
- Warm up your engine (and inside the car) by driving. Just take your time for the first five to ten minutes and avoid excessive engine revving.
But you don’t have to take my word for it—or that of the Canadian Government, the Environmental Defense Fund, CNN or Popular Mechanics.
Even the Tappet Brothers say it’s true.
When a caller asked the brothers to settle a debate between her and her boyfriend about warming up a car in cold weather, here’s what they said:
“Dear Lisa’s Boyfriend: You have your head so far up your tailpipe on this one, it may be coming out your air intake.”
You can listen to the podcast here.
-Jesse Nankin
Eco-Maineia 