Should you actually warm up your car in the extreme cold? Here's what to know

With a major winter storm sweeping across the U.S. this weekend, getting into a bitterly cold car might be the last thing drivers want to do.

But should you actually warm up your car? And how long should do it?

While warming up your car before you start driving may keep you feeling a little more comfortable when you hit the road, it could damage your vehicle.

AAA Automotive recommends drivers only allow their engines to warm up for a short period of time, saying it’s a “myth” that warming a car up in cold weather can improve its performance.

“Start the engine and allow it to idle only for the time it takes you to fasten your seat belt,” AAA said. “This ensures that lubricating oil gets to all of the engine’s vital parts. Driving the car normally and avoiding hard acceleration brings the engine to a warmer temperature faster, and also reduces wear and exhaust emissions.”

While AAA noted that longer idle time in winter is typically OK, as drivers are often clearing snow and ice from the windshield and other car parts, experts at Carfax say excessive idling can take its toll on your engine.

Idling for too long can affect the cylinders, spark plugs and emissions system, Carfax said. Even idling for longer than 30 seconds could reduce fuel economy and also cause wear on your car.

So where did the idea of warming up your car to help it run better in the cold come from?

Warming up cars during the winter used to be a common practice. When vehicles had carburetors, specifically in the 1970s and 1980s, it could take several minutes for the right blend of air and fuel to be delivered to the engine.

Without the correct blend, cars would sputter, stall and leave drivers stranded, Carfax said.

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, all car manufacturers had completed the transition to electronic fuel injection. That process uses sensors, which work with fuel injectors to ensure the correct air-fuel mix is delivered properly.

Now if you try starting your car and aren’t successful, it could more likely be because the batteries aren’t completely charged.

There are a variety of methods you can use to get your car running again, according to JD Power.

Many are listed below:

• Warm up the battery. You will increase the chances of starting the engine. To do this, you can flash the high beam for 20-30 seconds.
• Turn on the ignition. If you drive a car with an injector, wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to start working.
• Remember to pull the lever if your carburetor has no automatic choke.
• In cars with a manual transmission, before starting the engine, depress the clutch pedal to disengage the frozen transmission from the motor. In vehicles with automatic transmissions, skip this step.
• Try to start the car. The starter should be turned on no longer than 10-15 seconds, as it can overheat. Do it again after 1 minute passes.
• If the starter operates normally, yet the car does not start after three attempts, try depressing the gas pedal and then try starting again.
• If the starter does not turn, the most likely cause is a dead battery or the starter itself.