With the freezing weather showing no signs of easing, a motoring expert has issued a stark warning to all UK drivers.
"Don't drive your car cold," TikTok user, Capturing Cars emphasised in a video. They explained that jumping into your vehicle and immediately setting off can prove "very damaging" to your motor in the long run.
To demonstrate their point, Capturing Cars climbed into their vehicle to reveal to viewers "what they should be doing" instead. "Luckily what you need to do is incredibly simple and starts with starting the car up," they continued.
Upon turning the ignition, Capturing Cars highlighted that the revs (RPM) sits at just over 1,000. "Essentially, all you need to do is wait for those revs to drop down to 1,000 or just below it," they added.
Whilst acknowledging comments that this isn't essential for newer vehicles, Capturing Cars advised that "not everyone drives a modern car", and secondly waiting for 30-60 seconds isn't "the end of the world".
"It can potentially help your engine," they said. "If I was sitting here and revving the car to warm it up, I would argue that isn't a good thing - you should not be doing that to get it up to temperature at any time of the year, but particularly when it is cold."
Capturing Cars concluded by explaining that once the RPM has dropped to 1,000 or less, it indicates the fluids within the engine including the oil are now at a temperature where it is safe to drive.
The AA supports this advice, stating on their website: "A range of fluids is key to your engine's smooth running, but when temperatures drop, these can become thicker and not work as effectively. Engine oil is a key example of this, and if it gets too thick, it can become hard for it to circulate the engine – causing potential problems."
The motoring experts further advise: "Although this is only likely in temperatures well below zero, it's a good idea in general during the colder months to let your engine warm up before setting off, providing ample time for the fluids to warm up and thin out."
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Reacting to the advice on TikTok, one user highlighted another advantage of waiting: "It's getting the oil around the engine as well. if you pull off straight away after starting you metal moving together with no lube.... not good."
Another agreed: "It's science. Oils work better at operating temperatures, by the time you clear the windows and windscreen most modern engines will be close to operating temps.
"It's also true - modern engines and oil technology mean it's not necessary to idle, handbooks often state gradual driving, but I don't race the engine until at operating temperatures."
The AA also cautions that during freezing conditions, batteries may struggle under the additional strain of providing sufficient power to start your vehicle. "It's worth having it checked by a trained professional beforehand and replaced if necessary, particularly if the car hasn't been used a lot or only for shorter runs," they said.
"The last thing you want to be left with is a flat battery and a car that won't start."