Can you drive your car without warming up the engine cold?

You can drive your car without warming up the engine when it's cold, but it's generally not recommended, especially in older vehicles or very cold climates. Modern cars with fuel injection and computer controls can tolerate short trips without extensive warm-up, but prolonged idling is still unnecessary and wasteful.

Driving immediately can cause increased wear and tear on engine components due to the lack of lubrication at low temperatures. It can also lead to higher emissions before the engine reaches its optimal operating temperature. The extent of the damage depends on factors like the outside temperature, the age and condition of the vehicle, and the length of the drive.

In short, while you *can* do it, it's better for your car's longevity and efficiency to at least let the engine run for a short time (30 seconds to a minute is usually sufficient in modern cars) before driving, especially in cold weather.