A lot of the U.S. is getting blasted by an arctic cold front. Should we let our cars run for 10, 15 or even 20 minutes before taking off?

The answer is... NO. You do not need to start your car and let it warm up before taking off. It used to be necessary back when cars had carburetors, which need the engine to warm up before they'll work right. But by the 1990's, almost all cars had electronic fuel injectors, which automatically compensate for the temperature.

The only real reason to let your car warm up, when old man winter graces us with well below zero temps, is so you are warm when you get in the car, or to defrost your windows. I let my car run and warm up because I take Shay to daycare every morning and I want to make sure she is warm at all times.

So, unless your car is 30-years old or older, you don't NEED to start your car for it to run better in the winter months. In fact, you could also end up wasting a decent amount of gas.

A 2009 survey found that when it's cold out, the average person lets their car warm up for about five minutes. And a test showed that when it's right around zero degrees, letting your car idle for just five minutes can increase your total fuel consumption by 7 to 14%... totally worth it!

I just hope gas stays under two-dollars for a LONG, LONG time.

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