Transmission needs to warm a bit in the cold

(Source: Star Tribune, Minneapolis) Question: I see lots of advice on how long to warm up a car's engine in cold weather. But doesn't the automatic transmission require a warm-up as well? In below-zero weather I've had cars barely run or shift until the fluid warms up and flows better. Isn't that a consideration for how long to warm up a car before driving it?

Answer: Yes, it is. When temperatures are tolerable to us humans _ perhaps 20 degrees and above _ not much warm-up is necessary for the automobile. Start the engine, allow it to stabilize and idle for perhaps 15 seconds, shift into gear, wait a few seconds for the transmission to fully engage then drive the vehicle up to temperature gently.

There are valid reasons for longer warm-ups in moderate conditions _ age and medical condition of the occupants and age and mechanical condition of the automobile. In any case, if the vehicle is in the garage, back out into open air before warming it up.

The faster we can warm up the vehicle, the more efficiently it operates and the less fuel it consumes and the fewer emissions it produces. The key is bringing the catalytic converter up to working temperature as quickly as possible. Driving the vehicle under moderate loads accelerates this process.

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