What are the impacts of idling the car for 10 minutes to warm up?
3 Answers
Idling the car for 10 minutes to warm up can easily lead to carbon buildup in the engine, which may later result in a feeling of reduced engine power. Below is some information about warming up the car while idling: 1. Purpose of warming up: After the vehicle has been parked for a period of time, the engine oil will settle, allowing all vehicle components to be immersed in oil. Warming up the car ensures that after starting, the components drive the oil flow, achieving the effect of lubricating all parts to protect them. 2. Correct operation: An idle time of generally 2-3 minutes is optimal, and prolonged idling is not recommended. After starting the engine, wait 30 seconds to 1 minute before driving, and be sure to keep the gear in 1st or 2nd with the engine speed maintained at 2000 rpm.
Last time when I got my car repaired, the mechanic told me that idling for ten minutes after a cold start is actually not good for the car. Although it allows the oil temperature to rise, long-term low-speed operation of the engine can easily lead to carbon deposits, especially in direct injection engines. I've seen some cars with blackened throttle bodies caused by this. It's also not cost-effective in terms of fuel consumption—calculating it out, it uses more fuel than driving two kilometers. Now in winter, I basically start the car, fasten my seatbelt, and drive off right away, just driving slowly at the beginning to let the water and oil temperatures rise together, which also preheats the transmission. Exhaust pollution is an environmental issue, but as ordinary car owners, we are more concerned about our wallets and the condition of the car.
A veteran driver with twenty years of experience honestly says: Carburetor cars in the 1990s indeed needed warming up, but modern fuel-injected cars' manuals state that 30 seconds is sufficient. Once in winter, I warmed up the car for a full ten minutes in place, only to see the fuel consumption gauge skyrocket to 3.5L/h. What's more annoying was that the idle speed started to shake afterward, and upon removing the spark plugs, carbon deposits were found on the electrodes. A mechanic at the repair shop said that prolonged low-load operation is like a person only eating without moving, making the piston rings prone to sticking. Especially for turbocharged cars, this practice is even worse, as the turbo bearing wear intensifies when the oil hasn't fully circulated. It's recommended to start driving at a steady speed once the coolant temperature gauge needle begins to move.
