Do Cars Need to Warm Up in Cold Weather?
4 Answers
The correct method for "warming up" a car is not idling in place as commonly practiced, as this can easily lead to incomplete combustion and carbon buildup. Only when driving at low speeds can the engine reach its optimal operating state, thereby protecting various components from damage. Here is additional information: Warming up: Warming up means not accelerating sharply when starting the car but gradually moving off, allowing the oil in the engine and transmission to circulate and lubricate dry areas. This prevents damage to the engine when speeding up later. Some people prefer idling to warm up the car, but idling should ideally last between 30 seconds to 1 minute. Prolonged idling can easily cause carbon buildup.
Back when I drove trucks for long hauls, you couldn't even move without warming up the engine at minus 20 degrees. Nowadays, even though new cars have advanced technology, the oil all settles in the oil pan during winter starts, leaving the engine running dry. I usually wait for the tachometer needle to drop from 1200 RPM to around 800 RPM—about half a minute to a minute. During this time, I wipe the frost off the mirrors and fasten my seatbelt, which fits perfectly. If you drive off right away, the gear shifts feel noticeably rough, especially in older cars. Also, using the heater in winter requires caution—turning it on before the engine warms up actually slows down the warming process.
Last time I went to the 4S shop for maintenance, the technician showed me some data on the diagnostic computer: at -10°C, engine wear is 6 times higher than at normal temperatures. This made me change my bad habit of driving off immediately. Now after a cold start, I wait for 30 seconds to let the oil pump deliver lubricant to key components like the camshaft. However, they specifically emphasized not to follow the old practice of warming up the car for ten minutes, as it wastes fuel and can easily cause carbon buildup. I've tried driving off slowly right after starting, keeping the RPM below 2000 for two kilometers, which warms up the engine faster than idling. By the time I reach the neighborhood entrance, the temperature gauge needle starts to move.
When I first bought the car, I was also confused about warming up the engine. I consulted a senior from the automotive engineering department. He said fuel-injected cars actually don't need to idle to warm up; you can start driving after 10 seconds of ignition. However, on snowy days when the windshield is icy, visibility must be addressed. My routine is: start the car → turn on front and rear window defrosters → wipe the side mirrors → by this time it's been about 30 seconds → drive slowly out of the neighborhood. The key is to avoid aggressive acceleration in the first five minutes, maintaining gentle driving to allow the transmission fluid and power steering fluid to circulate. Last time at -15°C, I drove off immediately and the steering gear made a creaking noise that startled me.
