What is the correct way to warm up a car?
2 Answers
Correct method for warming up a car: 1. Start the vehicle and keep the air conditioning turned off; 2. Allow the engine to idle for 30 seconds to 1 minute; 3. Begin driving slowly once the engine runs smoothly; 4. Normal driving and air conditioning use can commence when the engine coolant temperature gauge rises by 1 to 2 bars. Reasons for warming up a car: 1. After prolonged parking, engine oil flows back to the oil pan at the bottom of the engine; 2. Before reaching operating temperature, the fuel supply system cannot effectively vaporize gasoline completely due to lower temperatures; 3. Gear oil flows to the lower part of the transmission when parked, leaving the upper part unlubricated during cold starts.
I remember warming up the car is quite important, especially on winter mornings when you first start driving. After starting the engine, don't just sit there idling to warm it up—that actually harms the engine and wastes fuel. Modern cars don't need the old-fashioned method anymore; once you hear the engine running smoothly, usually after about 10 seconds, you can slowly start driving. Keep it gentle for the first few minutes, avoiding high RPMs, to let the oil circulate and the engine temperature rise gradually. Some people think the longer you warm up the car, the better, but that's wrong—prolonged idling can lead to carbon buildup and shorten battery life. I've tried several times: starting the car and driving off slowly right away saves more fuel than waiting five minutes, and the engine sounds smoother too. In extremely cold regions, you might wait a few dozen seconds to let the heater or defroster kick in, but don't idle for too long. In short, the most reliable way to warm up your car is by driving it lightly.
