What does car hot start mean?
2 Answers
Car hot start refers to restarting the engine shortly after it has been turned off, when the engine temperature is still near its normal operating range and has not dropped significantly. At this point, the oil on the engine's friction surfaces has not yet drained back, and the oil film remains. This type of restart is called a hot start. Precautions for hot starting include: 1. Perform necessary checks before a hot start. Before a hot start, the car owner should conduct inspections, including checking the window glass, body assembly, tires, and the trunk. 2. Regularly clean the battery and replenish the electrolyte. The battery has a limited lifespan, and older batteries may exhibit low initial starting voltage, leading to engine shaking. Therefore, it's essential to clean the battery regularly and replenish the electrolyte.
Hot start simply means restarting the engine when it's still warm. Situations like stopping to buy groceries and restarting, or the auto start-stop system kicking back in at a red light, all fall under hot starts. At this point, the engine's metal components and oil remain at operating temperature, with sufficient lubrication and minimal mechanical resistance, making it noticeably easier than a cold start. One detail to note is that most cars' hot start RPM is about 200 revolutions lower than during a cold start, and it stabilizes very quickly, usually returning to normal idle speed in just half a second. This type of start also puts less strain on the battery, which is most evident in vehicles equipped with start-stop functionality—their starters and batteries are specifically reinforced during design.
