Should You Really Warm up Your Benz?
Most of Us Know to Warm up Our Engine or Risk Damaging It. But Is That Really the Truth?
Warming up your Mercedes-Benz on a cold and snowy morning makes sense. After all, a quick warm up helps vital fluids come up to temperature, and your engine block gain heat. What could be so bad about that, right?
There are two kinds of people in this world. Folks who don’t care, and therefore don’t warm up their engines, and simply throw their car in gear and take off. Then there are folks who care, and do the complete opposite. But why? What’s the logic behind either behavior, and more importantly, who’s right? We enlisted a professional to help settle this debate.
We’ve previously featured videos from the clever folks at Engineering Explained. They have some of the most in-depth explanations about all-things automotive, and typically shed light on controversial issues. So, back to the main question: should you, or should you not warm up your Benz?
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About Warming Up
First, let’s start with why most of us think it’s a good idea to do so. Back in the carburetor days, before fuel injection, people warmed up their vehicles for long periods of time. The goal was for fuel to flow through the lines, let air mingle with it, and allow the engine to carburate the right mix. As a result, the engine would eventually be ready for action, some 15 or 20 minutes later.
According to the video above, though, modern fuel injection engines don’t need such a process at all. In fact, Engineering Explained says that if you live in cold climates, you should only idle your car for the few minutes it takes you to clear it from snow or ice. Not a minute longer!
Some may find this logic erroneous, but the video might convince you otherwise. After all, these folks aren’t called Engineering Explained for nothing. Even if you still don’t agree after watching the vid, you’ll at least know the science behind it.