Simply starting your car and letting it idle won’t help preserve your battery’s life.
When it’s been snowing and it’s cold and the roads are slick, it’s hard to make yourself get in the car to go anywhere. But, you want to make sure your car will start when you have to go somewhere. To many drivers, that means running out to start your car and letting it idle. That, they believe, will help keep the battery charged.
But they’re wrong about that.
“One stubborn car care myth that refuses to go away is the belief that starting a car in cold weather and letting it idle for a few minutes is a good thing. While this might have been necessary in the ’70s, there is absolutely no reason to do that with a modern car equipped with a fuel injector . . . unless you want to waste fuel, create pollution, and insufficiently warm your vehicle,'” according to chicagotribune.com. “It’s not the starting that is important, but what you do next that matters. If you start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes, the heat won’t evenly disperse through the entire vehicle. In short, your car will warm up enough to create condensation in the fuel tank, but it won’t get hot enough to burn it away.”
Chicagotribune.com adds, “Instead of idling, you need to drive your vehicle to keep the battery adequately charged. The rule of thumb is to drive anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, and, at times, reach highway speeds. As far as frequency goes, the colder the temperature, the more often you will need to drive. In temperatures that hover around 0 degrees F, this might mean taking a drive every single day, maybe twice. At higher temperatures, however, you may be able to drive once a week and be fine.”
If, despite your care, your battery dies or your car won’t start, it’s time to call the Wichita auto repair technicians at Tracy’s Automotive.
Tracy’s Automotive is here to help you. If you don’t have time or feel you can take your car to the shop, Tracy’s Automotive will pick it up at your home or work. Then, after your car is serviced or repaired, Tracy’s Automotive will bring it back to you thoroughly cleaned.
Tracy’s passion for a better tire buying, auto care and auto repair experience drove us to develop the model of Tracy’s Automotive Tire Pros. Tracy’s has turned hard work and inspiration into a booming tire and auto repair provider. Now Tracy’s has three locations and serves customers all over Wichita and Goddard – Maple Street auto care and auto repair, E First Street N and W 21st Street N.. Tracy’s is thrilled to be a part of your family’s trusted brands for all auto repair and tire needs.
Tracy’s Automotive is a proud dealer for Jasper Engines and Vogue Performance Exhaust systems.
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