Can You Drive While the Car Is Warming Up?

[VonIsaac]

You can drive while the car is warming up. Precautions for driving during warm-up: Drive at idle speed, but do not accelerate. Wait until the engine coolant reaches the normal operating temperature and the idle speed drops before driving normally. This is because the car is not fully warmed up, and the engine oil is thicker when cold, preventing it from fully lubricating all components. Accelerating during this period can cause wear and tear on the engine internals. Car warm-up: Warm-up refers to the process of preheating the engine by letting it run to achieve better lubrication and reach the optimal working condition. For vehicles that have been unused for a long time, it is advisable not to drive immediately after starting; instead, wait until the warm-up process is complete before driving. When the engine is cold, it maintains a speed of around 1500 RPM after starting. Once the engine reaches the normal operating temperature, the RPM returns to the standard level. This entire process is known as the warm-up cycle.