It can be second nature for some drivers to leave their car running for a while to heat up the engine on a cold winter morning.
But it turns out this is actually doing no good at all, and could be adding to the time taken to get moving in the winter months.
According to Road&Track, Kent Live reports letting the engine idle can damage vehicles and prolong the warm-up period.
The practice of turning on the car to get up to operating temperature harks back to the days of carburetors, which was a device that mixed air and fuel.
The component needed several minutes of idling to get them to an operating temperature so they would run smoothly.
But generally speaking, modern cars do not have these any more.
Engines are now fuel injected and are better treated if you just drive straight away.
Warm the engine quickly by driving away instantly, without putting too much load on it before reaching operating temperature.
Can idling cause damage?
Yes it can.
Idling for too long on a cold day can cause engine oil dilution.
You may have thought you were reducing the strain on your engine by letting the car slowly warm up, but that leads to raw gasoline seeping into the oil, breaking down the oil's lubrication properties and increasing the wear.
Another big issue for drivers in the cold? Ice.
Here's how you can safely de-ice your car effectively
1. Turn on the engine
It sounds like an obvious hack, but before you do anything you should get your engine on.
The most effective way of de-icing your car is to flick on the air-conditioning and let it circulate in the car.
2. Do not leave the car unattended
A car thief's dream and also against the law. Drivers have to be ‘in control’ of their vehicle at all times. If you need to go back into the house you should turn off the engine, lock the car and head in. Car insurers rarely pay out if the keys are left in the car.
3. Get rid of any snow
Use a brush to wipe off all the snow from the car, making sure the front grille is clear.
4. Start de-icing the outside
Make sure you keep a scraper and some de-icer in the car for mornings when you are stuck. As the engine warms the car from the inside get scraping from the outside. Don’t wipe windows with your hands - your mitts will leave greasy smudges.
5. Never use boiling water on glass
The rapid expansion and contraction of the ice can cause the screen to crack.
6. Wait until all the glass is clear before you drive off
It’s worth waiting an extra few minutes to make sure your car is safe to drive before you head out in the icy weather.
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