What is the correct procedure for warming up a car while stationary?
1 Answers
The correct procedure for warming up a car while stationary is as follows: Start the engine and let it idle for about one minute before beginning to drive slowly. Once the coolant temperature reaches the normal operating range, you can proceed with normal driving. Additional information about stationary warm-up is provided below: 1. Stationary warm-up refers to idling the engine while parked. For manual transmission vehicles, shift to neutral and engage the parking brake. For automatic transmission vehicles, engage the parking brake and you may shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral). 2. During stationary warm-up, avoid using any electrical accessories except for the rear window defroster to prevent overloading the battery. 3. Do not use the heater for defrosting during stationary warm-up. The heater won't produce warm air at this stage, and it will only prolong the warm-up time while further burdening the battery. 4. Avoid pressing the accelerator pedal aggressively during stationary warm-up. Since lubrication is inadequate immediately after startup, revving the engine can lead to increased wear. Moreover, the timing chain tensioner may not be fully engaged right after startup, and aggressive throttle input could cause the timing chain to skip teeth, resulting in timing misalignment that would require engine disassembly for repair.