How Long Should a Car Engine Warm Up in Winter?
2 Answers
In winter, a car engine should warm up for 30 seconds to 1 minute before driving, but avoid high RPM driving at this time. Maintain a low speed with engine RPM not exceeding 3000 to 3500, generally keeping it around 2000 RPM. Otherwise, the severe wear on the engine and transmission will be irreversible. An engine can refer to both a power generation device and the entire machine including the power unit (such as gasoline engines, aircraft engines). Types include internal combustion engines (e.g., gasoline engines), external combustion engines (e.g., Stirling engines, steam engines), gas turbines (used in racing cars), electric motors, etc.
My past driving experience has taught me that in winter, the engine warm-up time shouldn't be too long—30 seconds to 1 minute is enough. After starting, let the car catch its breath briefly to allow oil circulation, then drive slowly for a kilometer or two at low speed to let the engine warm up naturally. Prolonged warm-up not only wastes fuel but may also increase carbon deposits, being neither economical nor eco-friendly. Especially with modern cars featuring electronic control systems, prolonged idling can actually harm the engine. I usually wait until the coolant temperature gauge needle moves slightly before accelerating, which benefits engine longevity and quickly warms up the car interior. In short, warm-up is just a transition—driving is the real heat source. Remember to maintain a short warm-up plus low-speed driving strategy in winter.
