Mechanics share whether they actually warm up their cars before driving

Photo by@aeschbachauto/TikTok Tom Wang/ShutterStock

'110 seconds is best I can do…’ “You like to get out of bed and just start running?” The answer is, probably not and maybe your car shouldn’t either. This creator from Aeschbach Auto (@aeschbachauto) in Wisconsin, asked their fellow mechanics about car hygiene. Specifically, if they actually let their car warm up before driving it.

Do people warm up their cars?

If the individuals are skilled in mechanics, then indeed. Everywhere within the mechanic's workshop, there was a clear "yes." These mechanics assert that it's without a doubt essential.

“Everyday, about 15-20 minutes,” says one mechanic.

“In the winter time yeah, absolutely. Keeps everything nice and warm and gets the oil up to operating temperature so its not thicker than syrup,” says another.

“Always,” another mechanic echoed. “You like to get out of bed and just start running?”

As of Saturday, the video has received more than 569,000 likes and 8.7 million views.

What are viewers saying?

For the most part, viewers don’t think this is as necessary, especially for as long as some mechanics mentioned.

“I’m reversing before the camera has a chance to come on,” one comment with 34,000 likes read.

“I be shifting into reverse before it even finished cranking ain’t no one got time for that,” another wrote.

“15 to 20 mins is insane and a waste,” one user lamented.

“10 seconds is the best I can do…I’m late for work,” a different commenter mentioned.

Another user warned against idling, writing, “I live in Sweden where it gets cold. Let the car idle for the 30 seconds it takes for the rpm to settle, then drive car smoothly to let the car warm up, idling for longer is useless/bad.”

Is it true?

The truth seems to be debated. Even though these mechanics are knowledgeable and recommend it, some information suggests that it's not essential to warm up your car for a long period.

According to an article on AAA, the American Automobile Association mentions that you only need to warm up your car as long as it takes to buckle your seatbelt. Likewise, Consumer Reports indicates that a couple of minutes is sufficient, arguing that “an engine is completely lubricated before it reaches its peak operating temperature,” and driving is the most effective method to warm up an engine, even during the winter. However, the cold weather might make you need extra time to clear your windows and other tasks.