netmouse: (Dark Simpsons Anne)
netmouse ([personal profile] netmouse) wrote2009-02-06 02:35 pm

Like to leave your car running to warm up?

Looking through the Dayton City Police website today, I was unsurprised to learn here that over 20% of motor vehicles stolen in Dayton are stolen with the keys in the ignition.

If you *must* warm up your car, have a second set of keys so you can lock your car while it's warming up. . .
cos: (Default)

[personal profile] cos 2009-02-07 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
There's no point to warming up the car, except perhaps a little bit of comfort from having the heater work right when you get in rather than after a couple of minutes of driving. Is that worth wasting the gas, though? In theory you're already dressed for the temperature of wherever the car is parked, in order to get to the car in the first place.

[identity profile] maruad.livejournal.com 2009-02-07 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Since frostshields have gone out of fashion I find that it helps to run the car for 2-4 minutes before entering otherwise at -40 the windows frost up very badly (especially with a full car) and you end up sitting still till they clear and not a lot is saved for the amount of comfort invovled. I do this with my remote car starter. If I am in a hurry and by myself I will just start it and drive off without letting it warm as I can always open the window to let the windows clear more quickly.

Then again I suspect the climate of Dayton would seem darn near sub-tropic compared to what I am used to living with.

I do agree that running the engine just for comfort doesn't make a great deal of sense unless infants or the elderly are involved.
cos: (Default)

[personal profile] cos 2009-02-08 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
If you live somewhere where it gets to be -40, you're in a "special" situation with plenty of other exceptions not to be assumed in discussion where such locations are not specified :)