Should Cars Be Warmed Up in Winter?

[VonTucker]

In winter, cars should be warmed up, and a warm-up period of 3-4 minutes is appropriate. The following are the advantages of warming up a car: Reducing engine speed: During the idling state at startup, the engine speed of a car will be significantly higher than the normal idling speed. After a period of time, it will drop back to the normal level. The reason for this phenomenon is that the car is controlling the engine to reach the normal state in as short a time as possible, thereby reducing waiting or startup time. Reducing the engine speed also has a protective effect on the engine itself, as immediately driving after startup will definitely result in higher speeds than normal. Enhancing lubrication establishment: After a car is turned off, the engine oil will flow back to the oil pan, so there will be poor lubrication during the startup phase. Although modern lubrication primarily relies on the oil pump to forcibly deliver oil to mechanical components, it still takes time—generally at least 10 seconds or more—to establish a relatively complete oil film and avoid dry friction. Therefore, warming up the car is also beneficial for reducing wear on matching components. Moreover, engine oil itself plays an extremely important role in protecting the engine.