Is It Necessary to Warm Up the Car?
2 Answers
In winter when temperatures drop, you can warm up the car for about three minutes, but it is not necessary in summer. Here are some relevant details about warming up the car after starting: 1. Not pressing the accelerator pedal too hard after starting also counts as warming up: Modern cars are equipped with electronic fuel injection engines, which are technologically advanced. As long as the idle speed is stable, you can drive, but you should do so gently and avoid pressing the accelerator pedal too hard. After driving two or three kilometers, the water temperature will normalize, and you can drive as usual. 2. Precautions for warming up the car in winter: For gasoline cars in winter, the need to warm up depends on the engine's idle speed. If the engine speed is above 1000 RPM after ignition, wait until it stabilizes below 1000 RPM—this indicates the warm-up is complete. Typically, warming up takes no more than three minutes.
As someone who has been driving for over 20 years, I believe it's necessary to warm up the car briefly in winter because the engine oil thickens at low temperatures. Waiting 30 seconds to 1 minute after starting allows it to circulate, reducing wear and protecting components. However, prolonged idling like over 5 minutes wastes fuel and pollutes the air—this was common in the carburetor era, but modern fuel-injected cars are designed to drive immediately after starting. The key is adjusting to weather conditions: drive directly in warm weather, but wait longer in cold weather to let interior temperatures rise and defrost safely. Ease into acceleration during the first few kilometers instead of stomping the gas pedal, helping the car reach optimal operating temperature faster. Ultimately, warming up is for safety and maintenance, but don't overdo it.
