How Long Should You Warm Up Your Car in Winter?
2 Answers
In winter, cars need to be warmed up for about 3-5 minutes. The main reasons are: 1. After being parked for a long time, the engine oil flows back to the oil pan at the bottom of the engine. When starting the engine, the upper part of the engine is in a state without oil and lacks lubrication. It takes about 30 seconds after starting for the oil to be delivered to the parts that need lubrication the most, such as the pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft. 2. After the vehicle starts, when idling, the lubricating oil has not yet been supplied in place, making it prone to wear. Statistics show that over 90% of engine component wear occurs within the first three minutes after a cold start. 3. In winter, especially in severe cold, idling to warm up the car can easily damage the engine. Instead, a low-speed slow driving method should be used to warm up the car.
As female car owners, we find complicated operations most annoying in daily car use. I specifically consulted a car-savvy friend about warming up the car in winter. He said modern cars are so advanced that idling for five minutes like driving instructors suggest is unnecessary. Now I start driving slowly about 30 seconds after ignition, taking advantage of the low engine temperature to gradually warm up while defrosting the windows. This saves time and fuel, and importantly prevents black smoke from the exhaust. I remember one late-night shift at -25°C when I did this – the temperature gauge returned to normal after driving about 2km. If concerned, observe the dashboard after ignition; when the RPM drops below 1000 from 1200, it's safe to move – far better than idling. Adopting this habit saves significant fuel monthly and benefits engine maintenance.
