How long should a car warm up before driving?
2 Answers
It is sufficient to warm up the car for about one minute after starting. Once the engine speed stabilizes around 800 RPM or the coolant temperature reaches the normal operating range, you may drive according to your usual habits. Avoid aggressive throttle inputs or harsh driving during this period. Also, refrain from turning on the cabin heater as it will prolong the engine warm-up process. When a vehicle remains parked for an extended duration, engine oil drains to the oil pan due to gravity, leaving the upper engine components without proper lubrication. Additionally, the fuel system cannot fully vaporize gasoline efficiently until the engine reaches its optimal operating temperature.
I've been repairing cars for twenty years, and many car owners still maintain the old habit of idling their cars for three to five minutes to warm up. In fact, with today's engine technology, after a cold start, waiting about 15 seconds for the oil to circulate to all parts of the engine is sufficient. After that, use slow driving instead of idling, keeping the RPM below 2000. Drive for about two to three kilometers until the temperature gauge starts to move, and the lubrication effect stabilizes. It's important to note that prolonged idling to warm up the car can lead to carbon buildup, and the catalytic converter is more likely to clog. Once, while checking a customer's carbon buildup issue, I found that the fuel injectors were almost clogged because they insisted on warming up the car for five minutes every day.
