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How long should I warm up my car before driving?

Every time I get ready to go somewhere, my dad yells at me to warm up my car first. How long should I warm up my car before I drive it?

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Sarah Gray · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
My dad used to tell me to do the same thing, but unless your car is old enough to have a carburetor, experts actually recommend against idling your gas or diesel-powered car to warm it up, unless you just really want to drive a toasty car.
If your car is electric or a plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, you should warm it up in the winter. This is because running the heat can really sap the power in your electric car’s battery, so getting it all nice and warm while it’s still connected to grid power will ensure you don’t shorten your driving range.
Whether you choose to warm up your car or not, you need to make sure it has the best
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