How to Warm Up a Car in Winter?
2 Answers
First, after ignition, allow the car to warm up. Wait until you notice a significant drop in engine RPM, and then observe that the water temperature has risen before starting to drive. Below is relevant information about winter car care: 1. Warm-up: In winter, temperatures are low, and the viscosity of lubricating oil increases, making it less fluid. After starting the engine, maintain it at around 1100 RPM to allow the car to warm up before driving. During this time, avoid pressing the accelerator pedal hard or letting the engine RPM get too high. You don't need to wait for the engine temperature to reach the optimal level before driving; you can start once the temperature gauge needle begins to rise. 2. Starting off: When starting to drive in winter, be very gentle and slow. This approach minimizes the load on the engine before it reaches normal operating temperature and allows the tires, which are still hard before warming up, to gradually heat up. This is beneficial for the engine, tires, and overall safety.
In winter, when I warm up my car, I usually start the engine first and wait about half a minute to let the oil circulate slightly to protect the engine. During this time, I can conveniently check the tire pressure and antifreeze level, as cold weather can easily cause issues. Then, I drive off slowly, maintaining low speed for the first few minutes without stomping on the accelerator, allowing the water temperature to rise gradually while driving, which also helps the transmission warm up faster. Modern cars are well-designed, and idling for too long just wastes fuel and pollutes the air—30 seconds to a minute is enough. Since adopting this method, my car starts more smoothly, makes less noise, and saves time. If it's below freezing outside, I recommend adding a windshield defrosting step to avoid blurred vision. Overall, warming up efficiently is hassle-free—don’t just sit there idling.
