Is it necessary to warm up the car before starting?
2 Answers
It is necessary to warm up the car before starting. Reasons: When the car is parked, the gear oil flows to the lower part of the transmission, and the upper part of the transmission cannot be lubricated when the car is cold; After the car has been parked for a long time, the engine oil flows back to the oil pan at the lower part of the engine; Before the engine reaches its operating temperature, the fuel supply system cannot effectively vaporize gasoline completely due to the lower temperature. In a cold state, it is easy to cause engine wear, so proper preheating after the engine starts plays a very important role in extending the engine's service life. The role of warming up the car: Protecting the engine's lifespan: The various components of a car engine are relatively delicate and complex. When the car has not been started for a long time, the gears inside the engine require lubrication from the engine oil. Warming up the car allows the oil in the engine and transmission to flow back inside, lubricating the originally dry parts, thus preventing damage to the engine when driving. Ensuring full lubrication of components for better gasoline combustion: When the car is not started, the lack of lubrication inside the engine makes it harder for gasoline to combust and start the engine. Warming up the car allows the oil at the bottom of the engine to flow back to the upper part, lubricating the various components of the car, enabling better combustion of gasoline and quicker engine start. Driving without warming up the car may lead to the following consequences: Engine carbon deposits. Without warming up, the temperature inside the cylinders may not be sufficient, leading to incomplete combustion of the air-fuel mixture and resulting in carbon deposits. Engine wear. The need to warm up the car indicates that the vehicle has been parked for a long time, and the engine oil has flowed back to the oil pan. Sufficient warming-up time allows the oil to return to the surface of the engine components, reducing wear when the engine is under load. Excessive exhaust emissions. The car's three-way catalytic converter needs to reach a certain temperature to function properly. Otherwise, harmful gases in the exhaust cannot be effectively catalyzed and converted, leading to environmental pollution. Precautions for warming up the car: The warming-up time should not be too long, as it not only increases fuel consumption but also exhaust pollution, since exhaust pollution is most severe during idling. Generally, the warming-up time should be adjusted flexibly according to the weather temperature. In winter, the warming-up time can be longer but should still be controlled to about 2 minutes, while in other seasons, 30~60 seconds is sufficient. After warming up, the car should be driven slowly in a low gear for a short distance until the water temperature rises to about 40 degrees Celsius or the temperature gauge needle rises slightly before shifting to higher gears and accelerating (temperature rises much faster while driving than when idling).
As a veteran driver with decades of experience, I'm accustomed to warming up the engine before starting in winter. I remember older cars with carburetors might stall without preheating, but modern vehicles with electronic fuel injection are much better—usually just waiting half a minute after a cold start allows the oil to circulate fully. Thick oil provides poor lubrication at low temperatures, so a brief wait helps protect pistons and cylinders. But don’t exceed a minute to avoid wasting fuel and causing carbon buildup that harms the engine. In summer, I just drive off gently—most vehicle manuals advise against prolonged idling to warm up, as driving warms the engine more efficiently while saving fuel. Regular maintenance ensures engine health.
