How long should a car warm up before starting?
2 Answers
Car warm-up before starting can be done within 30 seconds to one minute after ignition. Below are the daily maintenance and operational precautions for vehicles: Daily vehicle maintenance: Regularly change engine oil, replace the three filters (air, oil, and fuel), and periodically add power steering fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. Frequently monitor and check the condition of engine oil, brake fluid, and antifreeze. Additionally, keep the engine clean by regular washing. Driving precautions: When starting a cold engine, allow the car to idle for about one and a half minutes to give it sufficient warm-up time. Extend the engine shutdown by half a minute after parking. The engine remains at a high temperature after stopping; shutting it off immediately causes the cooling fan to stop right away, which is not conducive to engine cooling.
As a commuter who has been driving for over a decade, I believe the warm-up time depends on the weather. In cold winter conditions, when the vehicle is first started, the engine needs some time for the oil to circulate, so I usually wait about 30 seconds before moving to protect the engine components and avoid premature wear. Then, when driving, be gentle—avoid sudden acceleration until the temperature gauge rises to normal levels before driving as usual. However, most modern cars have advanced technology, with fuel injection systems that perform well, so prolonged idling to warm up just wastes fuel and increases pollution. I generally keep it under a minute. Remember, safety first—never leave the car unattended while warming up. Overall, it's best to do a short warm-up, then drive gently to reach optimal temperature, which saves fuel and is more environmentally friendly.
