Is it necessary to warm up the car before driving?

[LaGeorge]

It is necessary to warm up the car before driving. Warming up the car generally refers to the practice in colder regions where the engine, being in a cold state upon startup, operates at a higher idle speed for a period to raise its temperature and that of other components to their normal working levels. Precautions for warming up the car: 1. Duration should not be too short: Insufficient warming-up time leads to uneven heating and minimal maintenance benefits. 2. Duration should not be too long: Excessive warming-up time can result in high carbon buildup inside the engine, which cannot be expelled, ultimately negatively affecting fuel consumption. Typically, when the car is first started, the engine speed is around 1,200 RPM. When the speed gradually drops to around 800 RPM, it indicates that the warming-up process is complete.

[Gollum]

I've been driving for over twenty years. Back in the day with older cars, you really had to warm them up – carburetor engines wouldn't run properly unless thoroughly warmed up. But modern cars are completely different; the electronic fuel injection system automatically adjusts the air-fuel mixture. After a cold start, just idling for ten to twenty seconds is enough. In extreme winter conditions like minus twenty degrees Celsius, I wait for the tachometer to drop from 1200 RPM down to 800 before moving off, which takes about a minute. Prolonged idling to warm up the engine is actually harmful, leading to increased carbon buildup and wasted fuel. Remember, driving gently for a few minutes after startup until the coolant temperature gauge starts moving is better for engine longevity than idling.

[DelJourney]

As an automotive engineer, I often get asked this question. Modern engine materials are extremely precise, and oil can cover critical components within 30 seconds of a cold start. There's absolutely no need to idle the car for 5 minutes—that only slows down the warming of the catalytic converter and increases emissions. My daily routine is to start the car, fasten the seatbelt, and then drive off slowly, keeping the RPM below 2000 for the first 2-3 kilometers. What really matters in winter is the low temperature. If the oil viscosity is too high, wait an extra half-minute after starting to let the oil pump circulate, but don't wait too long, as incomplete combustion can lead to spark plug fouling.

[BellaRose]

Every morning when I'm rushing to take the kids to school, warming up the car is completely unnecessary. The new car manual clearly states: you can drive immediately after starting. I usually adjust the seat and mirrors after ignition, and these 20 seconds are enough for the oil to circulate. After starting, avoid stomping on the accelerator. For example, with our family SUV, I keep it under 40 km/h for the first three kilometers. Once when it was minus ten degrees Celsius, I tried comparing driving off immediately versus warming up for three minutes—the difference in fuel consumption was only 0.3 liters per 100 km. Of course, if it's a twenty-year-old clunker, that's another story, but for regular family cars, there's no need to bother.