Does the Audi A6 Need to Warm Up?

[MaliaFitz]

The Audi A6 also requires warming up before starting. Warm-up Duration: In summer, you can warm up the car for about one minute while stationary, whereas in winter, it's necessary to idle for approximately 3 minutes to complete the warm-up. Reasons: After being parked overnight, the engine oil flows back to the oil pan. Upon restarting, it takes time for the oil to gradually return to its original position. Therefore, idling for about a minute after starting the car provides a buffer period for the oil to circulate back to its working areas and perform its lubricating function. Additionally, this helps raise the engine's operating temperature to its normal working range. In winter, due to lower temperatures, the engine's operating environment is colder, and the oil's fluidity decreases, requiring a longer idle time for both the engine temperature and oil to reach optimal working conditions.

[VonIker]

As a seasoned Audi mechanic with twenty years of experience, I've seen too many people obsessing over the warm-up issue. For fuel-injected cars like the Audi A6, there's really no need to idle for more than 30 seconds—one minute max even at -10°C. Prolonged idling actually harms the engine, leading to carbon buildup and wasted fuel. Every day, I start my car and wait for the tachometer needle to drop to 1000 RPM before driving off slowly, just keeping the throttle gentle until the coolant warms up. The electric water pump and oil circulation system kick in quickly, and revving the engine while stationary only causes unnecessary wear. Remember, the key to warming up is 'gentle driving,' not 'idling in place.'

[IvanAnn]

Last week when I went to the 4S shop for maintenance, I specifically asked the technician about this issue. The new Audi A6 equipped with the EA888 engine now has a rapid warm-up function, and the official manual clearly states 'Do not warm up the engine while stationary'. You can drive normally once the blue coolant temperature light on the dashboard goes off after a cold start. German engineers have already taken this into account during the design phase - the system automatically increases idle speed at low temperatures to protect the engine. It's those older Crown and Santana models that actually need warming up, while our highly electronic vehicles should avoid idling to warm up as it's particularly bad for the catalytic converter.

[Julie]

The last time I drove my friend's 2022 A6, I noticed that the RPM would surge to 1200 at startup, then automatically drop back to 800 after about 20 seconds. By this time, the engine oil has already been pumped throughout the engine, so it's perfectly fine to shift into D gear and drive off slowly. The key is not to stomp on the accelerator! Keep the RPM below 2000 until the temperature gauge reaches 90 degrees, which protects the transmission oil temperature and saves fuel. By the time you've driven to the second intersection in the neighborhood, the heater will already be warm.