Should an automatic transmission car warm up in P or N gear?
2 Answers
The correct way to warm up an automatic transmission car is to do it directly in P gear, as P gear provides sufficient safety. This locks all four wheels of the car in place, and the engine speed under P gear is relatively higher, allowing for faster warm-up. Therefore, it's important to note that automatic transmission cars can only be started in P or N gear; other gears are not suitable for warming up. The ultimate purpose of warming up is to quickly activate various fluids inside the car in a short time. You can choose to idle the vehicle in place. During idling, the engine does not rotate very fast, so the fluids are slowly activated by the engine. Additionally, since the piston movement of the engine is not particularly rapid, it won't cause significant damage to the engine.
I've been driving an automatic transmission car for ten years, and I always use the P (Park) gear when warming up the car. The P gear locks the wheels, providing a high safety factor, especially on slopes or in garages, preventing the car from slipping and causing accidents. After the engine starts, idling for a few dozen seconds is enough to let the oil circulate and lubricate the parts, then drive slowly once the water temperature rises. Don't warm up the car in N (Neutral) gear; although it can still run, the lack of a locking mechanism increases the risk if you forget to pull the handbrake. I've tried cold starts in winter, and with the P gear, the engine runs smoothly, the transmission isn't under pressure, and the protection performance is good. Remember to keep the warm-up time short—one or two minutes is enough—as warming up for too long increases fuel consumption and emissions. Developing this habit is simple and worry-free, ensuring safe daily car use.
