Car Care: How long to warm up - Part II

[mikebw]

I didn't read the previous thread, but from what I understand the "best" thing to do for a normal gas engine with a modern exhaust system is to simply start it and start driving right away. What this does is gets the cataylitic converter to heat up as quickly as possible to the optimum operating temperature. When the cat is cold, the cataylist inside will not function, so the longer you let a cold engine idle the longer you are letting the untreated emmissions escape from the exhaust.

Now all that might just be for the environment, who really knows about what is best for the engine.