BIG DROPS – While it can be incredibly tempting on our many sub-zero mornings to leave your car running for 15 or 20 minutes, it could introduce problems with your car’s engine and your wallet.

While we all yearn for a nice, comfortable ride, cars built in the 2000s don’t need more than a minute or two of warming up before they’re ready to go. In fact, the car will heat up faster when driving rather than idling.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid heating up your car completely, of course – make sure you heat up the windshield enough to drive safely – but it doesn’t mean you have to wait for the whole interior of the vehicle be heated.

Overall, other than minor wear and tear, idling will not cause major damage to your vehicle. However, the cost may start to add up.

With an average size vehicle, you would waste about a quarter tank of gas idling every morning for a work week for 15-20 minutes. That equates to 12 to 15 gallons wasted each year and with gas prices averaging $3.50 per gallon, it adds up.

In a recent report that recommends not warming up your car longer than it takes to defog the windshield, Consumer Reports’ chief mechanic said prolonged idling in the winter is inefficient, unnecessary and a huge waste of gasoline. John Ibottson said that while older engines needed a little longer to warm up and self-lubricate to be ready to run, modern engines are much more sophisticated.

“Modern cars have improved technology to the point where your engine is fully lubricated in 20 to 30 seconds,” Ibottson said in the article. “When the temperatures drop in the winter, it’s a good idea to let the car run for about a minute.”

That’s not to say you shouldn’t heat up your car when it’s 30 or 40 below zero outside – but making a habit of it can be bad for your wallet and the environment.

Yet old habits die hard and are passed on to the next generation of drivers who may have seen mom or dad letting their car idle and being told it was necessary.

To help remedy this, some states and municipalities have idling laws which come with fines if you leave your car running for too long, many of which target specific vehicle types. These states include Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Texas.