Should you warm up your car? Does warming up your car actually help? During the winter most people think it is a good idea to warm their vehicles up before they head out for the day. With remote start vehicles becoming more popular than ever, the trend of warming up your vehicle has as well, because it just takes the push of a button. While warming up your vehicle may be convenient so you don't have to deal with driving in a cold car, this can affect the overall health of your vehicle. Here are a couple of ways how this affects your vehicle and the environment. more Engine Life Warming up your vehicle can actually shorten the life of your engine, by letting your vehicle idle in the cold you are actually stripping away oil from the engine's pistons and cylinders each time you do this. While you may wonder where this myth came from since it's not true, it's because it was once based on facts. Jake Scheafer the Service Director at Smart Motors' says before cars and trucks were equipped with fuel management systems, they relied on carburetors and simpler fuel system management which did need significant time to warm up. He also stated "Vehicles manufactured post-1980 have fuel management systems designed to heat up the engine fairly quickly. Under normal wintertime circumstances, idling your car or truck for about 30 seconds is all it takes to get the engine above 40 degrees; ideal for typical operation.” Environmental Harm While warming your vehicle up may make your drive a little more comfortable, it can add to more damage to the environment. Idling your vehicle releases harmful chemicals, gases, and other toxins into the air. This contributes to regional haze, depletion of the ozone, and global climate change. Idling your vehicle burns way more gas than just starting it and every gallon of gas burned produces more than 20 pounds of greenhouse gases. Avoiding Damage to Your Engine If you are worried about harming your engine and the environment but you still want your vehicle to be warm you should know that most new vehicles warm up fast. “Vehicles manufactured post-1980 have fuel management systems designed to heat up the engine fairly quickly. Under normal wintertime circumstances, idling your car or truck for about 30 seconds is all it takes to get the engine above 40 degrees; ideal for typical operation,” said Jake Scheafer. Schaefer says that unless the outside temperatures are extremely frigid, drivers should start their vehicle, get out and walk around it to remove any obstructing snow or ice, get back in and start driving as usual. Driving the vehicle, he says, is a much quicker way to warm up an engine without causing it damage. "Of course, if it’s very cold out, you should wait until your defrost starts blowing warm air,” he warns. “You don’t want to compromise your safety by peeking through a tiny clear spot you’ve managed to make in your windshield.” Another thing to be careful about is accelerating too fast the first few moments you are driving. This can add unwanted strain to your bearings and flood the combustion chamber with gas, which in turn will take miles off your engine's life. This is why it is a good idea to take the first couple of miles on the slower side and not rev your engine too much. If you are worried that you've already done damage to your engine or you just need maintenance done on your vehicle, come visit our Service Center at Smart Motors Toyota in Madison, WI, and our Toyota trained technicians can help. We proudly serve drivers throughout the greater Madison area, including Sun Prairie, Middleton, and beyond. Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Modern vehicles should approach safety in a modern way. Toyota has developed some of the most innovative driver-assist technologies to keep you and your passengers safer on the road. Here are a few of those technologies that are a part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection This is arguably one of the most important technologies in the Toyota Safety Sense Suite. It not only helps you stay more aware of oncoming obstacles, but helps you avoid collisions, keeping you, your passengers, and people outside your vehicle safer. The pre-collision system with pedestrian detection uses a camera and sensors to constantly scan the road ahead for obstacles, vehicles, and pedestrians. If the system detects one, it will alert you via audio and visual cues. If the system detects an imminent collision and you haven't applied your brakes, it will apply the brakes for you. If you do apply the brakes, the Brake Assist system kicks in to give you a little more stopping power. more Lane Departure Alert and Lane Assist It's nearly impossible to avoid every possible distraction when you're driving. When you're distracted, your chances of leaving your lane increases, and so does the potential for a dangerous situation. That's where the Lane Departure Alert system comes in. The Lane Departure Alert system engages after you're traveling at 32 miles per hour or higher. Once it's engaged, sensors scan the road around you to find street lines to recognize your position in the lane. If you start to veer out of your lane without a turn signal, this system will use audio and visual warnings until you return to your lane or use your turn signal. Coupled with the Lane Assist feature, this technology is even more helpful. If your Toyota is equipped with Lane Assist, your vehicle will make small steering adjustments to keep you in your current lane if you start to leave the lane without a turn signal. Automatic High Beams To help improve your vision and driving safety at night, many new Toyota models come standard with automatic high beams. This system also makes the road safer for other vehicles around you at night. When activated at speeds of 25 mph and above, the Automatic High Beam system will switch back to low beams if it detects on an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle ahead of you. This helps ensure that you have the best view at night without taking away other drivers' ability to see the road. Road Sign Assist One of the newest features in the Toyota Safety Sense family is the Road Sign Assist technology. This feature uses a smart camera to scan the road for speed limit signs and other important road signs. When it finds one, it displays it on a display in the cabin for your reference. These technologies don't take power away from the driver; rather, they simply make better, more aware drivers out of all of us. If you're curious as to how these technologies work in real-life situations, you can take a tour of a Toyota equipped with them at Smart Toyota in Madison, Wisconsin. Proudly serving drivers throughout Middleton, Sun Prairie, and beyond.
Winter can be tough, especially in the northern parts of the country. Don't be afraid of what the season will bring this year when you get behind the wheel of one of Toyota's well-equipped vehicles. Here are four 2019 Toyota models that are winter ready. 2019 4Runner As Toyota's top off-roading vehicle, the 2019 4Runner is loaded with capabilities that make it totally ready for driving through winter storms and snowy streets. Opt for the TRD Pro trim level for the most capability. Features like the multi-terrain select system give you total control as you take on wet or snowy roads. This system has four different driving modes to choose from; each adjusts the braking pressure and engine throttle for ideal traction in each situation. Mode options go from light to heavy with the turn of a dial. more 2019 Highlander The 2019 Toyota Highlander is ideal for winter roads and inclement weather thanks to its available dynamic torque-control all-wheel-drive system. Engine power is perfectly distributed between the front and rear wheels, while braking is distributed between the left and right wheels for total grip and control. Exterior features like puddle lights and automatic high beams light the way as the days get shorter. The available smart entry system will detect when you're approaching the vehicle and turn on puddle lights on the bottom of the side mirrors. Automatic high beams turn off when approaching an oncoming vehicle to keep the dark roads safer. 2019 Sequoia With the space, power, and performance featured in the 2019 Sequoia, you can have peace of mind as you take the entire family out for a drive in the winter. A 5.7-liter V-8 engine gives you 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque for plenty of power to get through deep snow. Multi-mode four-wheel drive lets you choose among four-wheel drive low and high ranges and two-wheel drive. When you don't need traction, stay in two-wheel drive for better fuel efficiency. When you need to engage the Torsen limited slip differential, turn on four-wheel-drive easily. Bring along up to seven passengers or fold down the rear seats for 120.1 cubic feet of cargo space. You'll even be able to haul your favorite toys through bad weather with 7,400 pounds of towing capacity and trailer sway control. No matter what precious cargo you have on board or in tow, the 2019 Sequoia will keep it safe. 2019 Land Cruiser The 2019 Land Cruiser combines space and off-road capability for a Toyota model that's ready to take everybody out for a winter adventure. A multi-terrain monitor shows your surroundings on a 9-inch navigation screen so you can see any upcoming obstacles. The Cruiser's limited-slip differential sends power to the wheels with the most grip in each situation. Come by Smart Toyota today to see our selection of new Toyota vehicles that are ready to take on the winter weather. Our staff will be happy to show you our most equipped vehicles and get you out for some test drives. Image used with permission via toyota.com / cropped from original