Free car warm-up timer for cold weather engine warm-up. Modern cars need 30–180 seconds. Start instantly — no download required.
Modern fuel-injected cars (post-1990) need 30–60 seconds of idle in mild weather, up to 90–120 seconds below freezing. The engine management system adjusts fuel mixture electronically — extended idling wastes fuel and can wash oil off cylinder walls with excess fuel. Drive gently for the first 5 minutes instead.
Technically no — carburettored engines (pre-1980s) needed warm-up; modern fuel-injected engines do not require extended idling. However, 30–60 seconds allows oil to circulate before driving under load, which most mechanics still recommend in cold weather.
Extended idling (5+ minutes) can be mildly harmful — it runs the engine at a low load with an enriched fuel mixture, which can deposit carbon and dilute oil with unburnt fuel. 60 seconds of idle followed by gentle driving is better than 10 minutes of stationary warm-up.
Below 32°F (0°C): 60–90 seconds. Below 14°F (-10°C): 90–120 seconds. Modern synthetic oils flow adequately at very low temperatures, so even in extreme cold the required idle time is shorter than most people assume.
In several UK local authorities and some US states, leaving a vehicle running unattended on a public road is an offence (idling laws). Check your local regulations. Using a remote start system with the car locked in a private driveway is typically legal.