Should You Use Internal or External Air Circulation When Warming Up Your Car in Winter?

[EmilianoRose]

In winter, alternate between internal and external air circulation when warming up your car. Initially, use internal circulation to retain the initial heat. Once the temperature rises, switch to external circulation, which utilizes the car's electric heating grid to warm the fresh air. A few minutes before parking, turn off the heater and switch to external circulation to allow the temperature of the air conditioning pipes to align with the outside temperature, ensuring relative dryness within the air conditioning system and preventing bacterial growth. Internal circulation is primarily used to effectively block external dust and harmful gases from entering the car, such as when driving through areas with smoke, dust, strong odors, or in heavy traffic, to prevent harmful exhaust emissions from the vehicle ahead.