Do Cars Need to Warm Up in Cold Weather?
2 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.
