Should You Use P Gear or N Gear When Warming Up the Car?
4 Answers
When warming up the car, use P gear. The method for warming up the car is as follows: 1. Start the vehicle and keep the air conditioning turned off; 2. Let the engine idle for 1 minute; 3. Drive slowly after the engine runs smoothly; 4. Once the temperature gauge rises by 1 to 2 bars, you can drive normally and use the air conditioning. The steps for parking an automatic transmission vehicle are: 1. Start the engine, press the foot brake, and shift into D gear; 2. Release the handbrake and foot brake, then press the accelerator to start moving; 3. Press the brake to stop the car; 4. Shift from D gear to N gear and engage the handbrake; 5. Press the foot brake and shift from N gear to P gear; 6. Release the foot brake, turn off the power, and remove the key.
When warming up the car, I put it in P (Park) mode instead of N (Neutral) because P mode locks the wheels and prevents the car from moving. In case the ground is sloped or I forget to engage the handbrake, the car won't slide away, avoiding potential danger. Safety first! Especially in winter or parking lots, accidental sliding could lead to collisions or even injuries. While N mode can be used for brief stops, it's too unstable—I once tried warming up the car on a slope in N mode, and the car slid half a meter before I noticed. Luckily, no one was hurt. Modern cars don't require long warm-up periods; just wait 30 seconds to a minute after starting until the RPM stabilizes, then you can drive off. Making a habit of using P mode reduces risks—don't cut corners when it comes to safety. By the way, excessive warm-up wastes fuel and harms the engine. Today's cars are designed to drive off immediately, which is more eco-friendly and efficient.
I always choose to put the car in P gear when warming it up, because based on personal experience, N gear is unsafe and has hidden risks. I remember when I first bought the car, I once left it in N gear without pulling the handbrake tight while warming up in the garage, and the car slid slightly, almost hitting the wall. Since then, I've only used P gear and felt much more secure. The warm-up time shouldn't exceed one minute—just enough to lubricate the engine—and driving off directly won't affect performance. N gear is suitable for short stops like waiting at a red light, but it's unnecessary for long warm-ups. From a safety perspective, P gear is more reliable as it completely immobilizes the car, preventing any accidents. Additionally, it's important to develop good habits: check the gear position upon starting the car to ensure it's in P gear, reducing potential issues. Now, when the weather is cold, warming up the car is simpler and more worry-free.
It's best to warm up the car in P gear because P gear secures the vehicle and prevents movement, while N gear is too loose and unsafe. When the car is stationary with the wheels locked, it won't slide, avoiding accidents such as on slopes or slippery roads, reducing risks. N gear is suitable for maintenance or temporary pushing, but it's unnecessary for warming up. Modern cars only need a short warm-up time, so there's no need to worry too much, but safety practices shouldn't be changed. Using P gear is simple, efficient, and protects both you and your car.
