Is it necessary to warm up the car? To warm up or not to warm up the engine in winter before driving. Is it necessary to warm up the engine?

13.01.2022

With the arrival of cold weather, car enthusiasts are interested in: how long should you warm up your car in winter? And when to warm up - while moving or standing still. We'll tell you how to properly warm up a car in winter and how long to warm it up. cold engine- how many minutes and to what temperature.

Points for and against

Proponents of warming up argue that cold engine more susceptible to mechanical wear. When testing a cold engine, no noticeable wear was noticed. This is explained by the fact that in motion, i.e. under load, it warms up faster and reaches optimal operating mode.

Why do car enthusiasts continue to warm up the engine in winter? This is a habit and experience of long ago. In the past, a cold engine was warmed up to reduce wear. This is not required now. Modern engines warm up quickly; long warm-up periods are a thing of the past.

Note that when the car warms up before driving, the spark plugs suffer. At this moment, the air-fuel mixture is re-enriched, i.e. a large amount of gasoline appears in it. This leads to flooding and, consequently, to an early replacement of spark plugs.

The question remains: How does a car drive on a cold engine? Modern cars are equipped with an injection system that independently changes engine parameters, depending on the situation. Those. The electronics will do the grunt work of warming up for you. The only rule that must be followed is not to rev the engine to maximum speed and try not to give it maximum loads. This is necessary for warming and achieving the performance characteristics of process fluids: motor oil, lubricating components, fuel.

How many minutes does it take to warm up the car?

Modern cars do not need to be warmed up for a long time; three to five minutes is enough to drive calmly and not worry about increased wear. The engine warms up faster while driving than when running Idling. Let's figure out how long it takes to warm up a car at a certain air temperature.

From + 5 o to 0 o 1-2 minutes is enough. At this temperature, the car windows do not yet have time to become covered with ice, so prolonged warming up is not necessary.

At temperatures from 0° to minus 10°, it takes approximately 2-3 minutes. During this time, the engine will reach operating temperature and everything will warm up. technical fluids for further movement. In turn, it will take at least 5 minutes to warm up the car interior.

At temperatures from -10 o to minus 20 o - the warm-up time is from 3 to 5 minutes. At this temperature, car windows may freeze and until they warm up, further travel is dangerous. The best option, is to wait 2-3 minutes, and then turn on the stove and wait another couple of minutes until the car windows defrost.

At a temperature of minus 20 o and below, warming up should be at least 5 minutes. Sufficient time depends on technical condition car. How more modern car and the better the stove works, the less time. To warm up technical fluids, no more than 5 minutes are enough, for the interior - at least 10 minutes.

What to do if you don’t want to wait a long time for the engine to warm up? In this case, an alarm system with auto start (or a Webasto system) helps. Without leaving home, you start the engine from the key fob, and while you get dressed and leave the house, the car will be warmed up.

How to determine that the engine is warm? The engine has an operating temperature range and the criterion is the minimum temperature from the operating range, and not the idle time. This is due to thermal gaps in the motor parts. They reach acceptable levels only at the minimum temperature in the operating range. After which the motor can safely accept the load.

What happens if you don't warm up the car? If you drive carefully, without exceeding engine speed above 2000-2500, nothing bad will happen. A modern car uses an injector to warm itself up as it moves. If these rules are violated, scuffing is possible inside the engine and, as a result, premature repairs, fuel consumption will sharply increase. It happened that on an unheated car in severe frosts, oil seals and other rubber seals were torn off.

From experience I will say: 90 degrees is rather the optimal temperature for engine operation in all operating modes. And its operating temperature fluctuates from 60 degrees, so 3-5 minutes of warming up will not be superfluous. Moreover, 5 minutes is the maximum time. This means warming up the car itself, not the interior.

The debate about engine warming up has been going on for quite some time. Some argue about the need to warm up the power unit, while others declare the uselessness of this idea. Some sit down and drive right away, while others warm up the engine until operating temperature and only after that they begin to move.

Car engine in winter time cools down very quickly, and when parked for a long time, for example, spending the night in an open area, its temperature becomes identical to the temperature environment. Moreover, the difference between the starting values and the optimal ones for operation most often exceeds a hundred degrees.

Most main problem cold start is engine oil. Its viscosity depends significantly on the ambient temperature. In cold weather, the consistency of the oil becomes thicker, which impairs the lubrication of the engine's rubbing elements. This entails increased wear and tear.

Difficulty starting the engine when cold

In addition to all of the above, the operation of the power unit at low temperatures is affected by the following factors:

Type of fuel— a car equipped with a diesel engine necessarily requires winter diesel fuel.
Fuel supply type- old cars with carburetor injection often differ manual control throttle valve.
Availability of automatic or manual transmission— one way or another, there is oil in the gearbox, which also changes its viscosity at low temperatures.
Computer control of engine warming up— the on-board controller selects the most optimal mixture supply, while power unit reaches operating temperature mode in the shortest possible time.

As the operating temperature range approaches, the viscosity of the liquids becomes normal and problems with lubrication and increased mechanical wear of engine and gearbox elements are relegated to the background. Another purpose of warming up the engine in winter is to bring the interior into a comfortable state, as well as defrost the windows.

Engine start button

Is it necessary to warm up the engine in winter?

We should start with the fact that the technical operating manual for most modern cars states that there is no need to warm up the engine before driving. Manufacturers indicate that motor oil and other technical fluids heat up evenly when driving at low speeds. That is, technology production of internal combustion engines and high-quality technical fluids make it possible to start driving in a gentle mode, without causing much damage to the engine’s service life.

The main purpose of such statements is the desire of manufacturers to convince car owners that there is no need to warm up the engine. This was done, first of all, not for the sake of increasing the service life of the motor, but for the sake of the environment. It is a well-known fact that any engine warms up faster when in motion, and as the temperature increases, the catalyst begins to function. It is obvious that warming up the internal combustion engine idle speed takes longer, and fuel consumption increases when the engine warms up in winter. For these reasons, it is recommended to warm up the engine while driving in order to reduce exhaust emissions as quickly as possible.

It is worth noting that in many European countries The legislation establishes certain standards that prohibit warming up or long-term operation of the engine at idle in a residential area. That is, it is forbidden to warm up the engine in winter or allow the engine to idle in summer, otherwise the driver may be fined. Considering that a car in the CIS remains an item of significant material value for most people, and environmental standards are not so stringent, increased attention, first of all, is paid to the serviceability of the engine. It is also worth noting that the mild European climate cannot be compared with the difficult operating conditions of engines in severe frosts, which are relevant for our winters.

But supporters of refusing to warm up claim that the car manufacturer would never indicate in the manual that you can drive right away, warming up the engine as you go. The main argument is concern about brand reputation and warranty obligations to the buyer. One can agree with this opinion, but only partially. The generally accepted practice today is a warranty for a new car, which, on average, is 100-150 thousand kilometers. This indicator can be achieved by virtually anyone modern engine without serious damage. That is, the safety margin assumes such use without warming up, taking into account compliance with a number of additional conditions. However, not every car owner in the CIS exchanges his car for a new one at the end of the warranty period and is not ready to do so. major renovation after 100-150 thousand kilometers traveled. Considering all of the above, it becomes clear that neither modern oils nor technologies can significantly affect the operating characteristics of internal combustion engines and the laws of physics. If you want to maximize the service life of the motor, then the engine needs to be warmed up.

Is it necessary to warm up a carburetor engine?

The modern automotive industry has abandoned equipping engines with such fuel supply systems. But on our roads quite often you can see old “Muscovites” and “Zhigulis”, which continue to drive across the vast expanses of our country. To start a cold engine, the driver has to act as an on-board computer, that is, independently adjust the fuel supply to the cylinders using the choke handle. Thanks to it, the required degree of enrichment of the mixture is achieved, which occurs through position control throttle valve carburetor In this case, warming up the car in winter has the character of a certain ritual:

Choke lever

First, warm up the battery - to do this, you need to turn on the low beam briefly (for about 30 seconds).
Disable all unnecessary consumers electrical energy- lights, fans and so on.
Depress the clutch.
Pull the choke to the required level - it is not always necessary to shut off the air as much as possible, it depends on the condition of the engine and the ambient temperature.
Send a command to the starter using the ignition key - if the engine does not start immediately, you need to try again after about 30 seconds, since the battery capacity will be restored during this time.
When the engine starts, adjust the idle speed - it should be approximately 1200 rpm. This is done using the suction handle.
Release the clutch pedal - in cold weather, the engine may then stall, since the viscosity of the oil in the gearbox can be very high.
After a while, turn on the heater fan and warm up the interior - it is not recommended to direct the hot stream directly to the glass, since the temperature difference can cause a crack.
As the engine warms up, gradually remove the choke - in the operating temperature ranges, enrichment of the mixture is not required.
After warming up, remove the choke completely.

Some imported cars with carburetor engines are equipped with automatic choke. In this case, the throttle valve is controlled without the participation of the motorist.

Is it necessary to warm up a diesel engine?

Morning problems with starting a diesel engine are due to the fact that fuel has entered the gas tank, which does not meet winter operating conditions. Winter diesel fuel contains special additives that prevent thickening at low temperatures. Is it necessary to warm up a diesel engine in winter? This is a rhetorical question. Diesel engines have the same problems as gasoline ones. Plus everything in the cold fuel filters clogged with hardened paraffins, and this reduces their permeability. If there is a lack of fuel, it is very difficult to start the engine.

There are several ways to combat these phenomena:

Glow plugs- heat the fuel to operating temperatures.
Winter additives are the most in a simple way— adding 5-15 percent low-octane gasoline to the fuel.
Returning warm fuel to the gas tank through the return line- this is how fuel is preheated.
Electric filter heating— melts paraffin deposits.

Is it necessary to warm up an injection engine?

The supply of fuel to the cylinders via injectors is controlled by the injection computer. The on-board controller analyzes information about the temperature of the air that enters the engine, the temperature of the engine itself, crankshaft speed and coolant temperature. Based on this information, the electronics command the servo to change the throttle position. Warming up your car in winter has become much easier - you don’t need to perform any rituals, you just need to start the engine. All other operations will be performed by the programmed machine.

If you left and did not wait until the engine reached the operating temperature range, follow these rules:

For the first few kilometers, do not accelerate - the lubricant is not yet warmed up and the engine operates in oil starvation mode.
The gearbox is also still frozen - there is no need to operate it like Formula 1 racers.
There is no need to sharply load the suspension - the oil in the cushions under the engine and shock absorbers is still very viscous, these components should gradually return to working condition.

Modern cars are equipped with various devices that make it easier to operate the car during cold periods.

There is no need to think about how to quickly warm up the interior of a car in winter; for the comfort of passengers and the driver, there are the following options:

Heated steering wheel.
Heated seats.
Heated front and rear windows.
Heated mirrors.
An air conditioning system that heats the interior before the classic stove fires.

Of course, all these “bells and whistles” help the motorist leave the parking lot faster in the morning after a frosty night. But do not forget that 10 minutes of operation of a cold engine can be equated to 100 km. mileage Piston group wears out, primarily due to the fact that the piston, made of aluminum alloy, heats up much faster than a steel cylinder liner. In this case, the gaps are significantly reduced, and the oil does not provide the required lubrication due to its high viscosity. Liners, rings, and gearbox bearings suffer. Of course, modern additives are capable of smoothing out the strong dependence of oil viscosity on temperatures, but no one has yet canceled the laws of physics.

From all of the above, we can conclude that it is necessary to warm up the vehicle in winter in order to extend the life of the engine and gearbox. Warm-up time depends on the type of power unit and gearbox. If the frost is slight, 3-5 minutes will be enough to warm up the oil. But it will take a little more time to free the glass from frost.

The engine is the heart of any vehicle. It is thanks to it that the most basic function of any car is accomplished - movement. Caring for the engine and correct operation allows you to preserve its service life. In this article we will talk about such a phenomenon as warming up a car engine, how much time should be allocated for this in winter and summer, and what speeds are permissible when warming up.

Is it necessary to warm up the engine?

Every morning, a large number of drivers leave their houses, get into their cars and start the engine for a certain period of time. Everyone has long known that a car engine needs to be warmed up before driving, but not everyone knows why.

First, let's try to figure out what happens to the engine after it has completely cooled down and what happens to it after the first start. So, leaving the car under the window for the whole night, the following picture occurs. If the action time is summer, then it cools down engine compartment and metal, the car’s intake system also loses its operating temperature, in addition, condensation forms in it. IN fuel system pressure also decreases.

Apart from the intake and exhaust system, any oil that accidentally settles on engine parts flows down into the sump and does not remain on the upper parts of the engine.

All this helps to reduce the efficiency of the engine and reduces its resource during the startup process. In addition, in winter not only cooling occurs, but also icing of the inlet and exhaust system, which interferes with the normal supply of fuel and exhaust gases. Condensate can be found not only in the manifold, but also inside the cylinders. Now is the time to find out what happens while the engine warms up.

During the startup process, the engine begins to run almost dry. is gradually restored and the parts begin to be completely lubricated. And this means that crankshaft will rotate much better, since this reduces friction between various parts.

The fuel system is pumped independently or manually. To do this, high pressure is created in it, and the level of gasoline in the air-fuel mixture seriously increases. The motor goes into mode high speed, where it reaches operating temperature much faster. Ice from the walls of the intake and exhaust manifold begins to disappear, after which the warming up process accelerates.

What happens if you don't warm up the engine?

What happens if you drive on a not warmed up engine? Firstly, the engine will immediately receive an unwanted load, which is accompanied by dry friction, ineffective fuel supply and exhaust gases. Carburetor cars in this mode simply begin to stall, so they immediately close the air damper completely. As for injection engines, they can continue to work in this mode. A trip on a not warmed up engine is accompanied by failures when pressing the gas pedal. In some cases, even lumbago is felt, which can easily disrupt the ignition. At the same time, fuel consumption increases, and power is noticeably lost.

Warming up the engine is necessary in order to bring the lubrication system and fuel supply system into full working order and, thereby, ensure the normal functioning of the engine.

How long do you need to warm up the engine in winter and summer?

Each driver chooses the engine warm-up time for himself. This time will depend on his patience, as well as on the characteristics of the engine. almost always take longer to warm up than injection ones. This is explained by their inability to operate until the idle speed becomes stable.

To economically and effectively warm up the engine, it is recommended to use the following time. Start the engine with the choke fully closed and remove it until the speed remains at a stable level. Then you can choose two paths for yourself. The first is to start moving after the temperature needle reaches 50 degrees Celsius. The second is to gradually reduce the choke until the engine begins its normal operation without it. The warm-up time, however, is usually the same.

It is worth considering that when operating with increased suction, the engine consumes more fuel, but also warms up much faster, and when using this device sparingly, it consumes less fuel, but it takes much longer to warm up.

Injection engine has other heating features. They can be divided into winter and summer time. The fact is that in such motors the computer itself determines the engine warm-up time and gives the following signs characterizing the full readiness of the motor: signal on-board computer and reduction in engine speed. The most relevant is the second sign.

In the summer, after the engine speed drops, you can immediately start driving the car. Usually, this happens within 2-3 minutes. In winter, operation of the car is permissible after waiting 1-2 minutes after the speed has dropped. This will be considered the engine warm-up time.

Permissible speed when warming up the engine

It is impossible to give load to an engine that is not warmed up. That is why you need to know exactly what speeds are allowed to be used when preparing the engine for operation. Most often, this is true for carburetor cars, since injection engine“he knows” when and how many revolutions should be.

So, before we start carburetor engine pull out the choke completely. As soon as the engine starts, the speed will be at 2000 rpm. Now you need to reduce this value to 1500. Gradually reduce the suction and if the speed is unstable, then close the damper to the required level. As soon as the tachometer needle rises a little and the speed increases, the throttle must be opened until the speed begins to be on the verge between unstable and stable. This can be either 1200 or 1300 rpm.

The issue of warming up the engine with the onset of cold weather is one of the most discussed topics. If the situation with the old ones is clear (it is necessary to warm up such a unit before the trip, otherwise the engine will work unstably until a certain warm-up, failures occur, and the engine stalls), then with the old ones everything is not so simple. There are a large number of supporters and opponents of warming up a modern injection engine before driving. The fact is that injection engines have become much more technologically advanced units, are equipped with complex systems, the materials used to manufacture the power unit parts themselves have changed, motor oils have been improved, etc.

An engine with an injector works quite normally after a cold start, that is, you can actually start driving right away. However, many drivers are still of the opinion that such an engine needs to be pre-warmed, especially in winter. Others, on the contrary, argue that a modern engine does not need to be warmed up. In this article we will talk about whether it is necessary to warm up injection engine, to what temperature you need to warm up the engine in winter, as well as how you can raise the temperature of the internal combustion engine before starting and how to make starting the engine easier in winter.

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Warming up the engine in winter on a modern car

Let's start with the fact that in technical manual The operating instructions for the vast majority of modern cars specifically indicate that the engine does not need to be warmed up before driving. Manufacturers pay attention to the fact that engine oil and other fluids heat up evenly when driving at low speeds. In other words, production technologies and high-quality technical fluids allow you to start driving in a gentle mode without much damage to the engine’s service life.

Let us note that the main purpose of such statements is the desire of manufacturers to convince car owners that there is no need to warm up the engine. This was done primarily for the sake of the environment, and not for the sake of increasing the service life of the power unit. It is a well-known fact that any engine warms up faster while in motion, and as the temperature rises, the catalytic converter begins to work. It is quite obvious that warming up at idle takes longer, and fuel consumption when warming up the engine in winter is increased. For these reasons, it is recommended to warm up the unit while driving in order to reduce exhaust gas emissions as quickly as possible.

We would like to add that in many European countries, separate regulations are enshrined at the legislative level prohibiting warming up or prolonged idling of the engine in a residential area, etc. In other words, you cannot warm up the engine in winter or allow the engine to idle in summer, otherwise the driver may be fined. Taking into account the fact that in the CIS, for a large number of people, a car continues to be an item of great material value and environmental standards are not so stringent, increased attention, first of all, is paid to the serviceability of the power unit. It should also be added that the mild climate of Europe with its moderate temperatures cannot be compared with the difficult operating conditions of internal combustion engines in severe frosts, which are relevant for our winters.

Proponents of not warming up argue that the car manufacturer would never have indicated in the manual that you can drive immediately, warming up the engine as you go. The main argument is concern for the brand’s reputation, as well as warranty obligations to the consumer. We can agree with this, but only partially. Common practice today is to guarantee new car, which is, on average, 100-150 thousand km. mileage Note that this indicator can handle almost any modern engine without serious breakdowns. In other words, the safety margin assumes such operation without warming up, taking into account a number of additional conditions. At the same time, not every driver in the CIS exchanges his car for a new one after completing warranty period, and also not ready to do it after 100-150 thousand kilometers traveled. If we take into account all of the above, it becomes clear that neither technology nor the most modern oils can seriously influence the laws of physics and the operating features of internal combustion engines. If you intend to maximize the service life of the power unit, then the engine should be warmed up.

How and how much to warm up the engine in winter

So, we decided on the need for warming up. The fact is that many people mistakenly mistake the overall engine temperature for the coolant temperature (it is this indicator that is displayed by the temperature indicator on the instrument panel of civilian cars). At the same time, we should not forget that for internal combustion engines in winter it is much more important indicator is the temperature motor oil. The degree of heating of the oil determines its fluidity, pumpability and the effectiveness of the formation of a protective film on parts.

Since it is well known that in a cold engine the clearances are increased (parts shrink when cooled and expand when heated) and the oil thickens, then it becomes clear that even minimal loads on the internal combustion engine can lead to defects. In other words, the pressure in the lubrication system may not be enough, the oil film breaks through, dry friction occurs, scuffing and other damage to the surfaces of loaded elements appear.

It is also important to know that the coolant temperature and engine oil temperature are very different. Warming up the coolant to 90 degrees Celsius is accompanied by the fact that the oil has warmed up to only 40-55 degrees. For this reason, starting the engine in cold weather in winter means that the lubricant will take much longer to warm up compared to the coolant. You can also add that gasoline consumption when warming up the engine in winter while driving will be increased at the initial stage compared to fuel consumption when warming up at idle speed.

Considering the above features, it becomes clear that it is optimal to warm up the car for 5 to 15 minutes at idle (depending on the outside temperature and certain conditions). For example, on many cars it will not be possible to remove frozen ice and snow from the windshield until warm air comes out of the deflectors, and it is simply unsafe to drive immediately with a frozen windshield. Of course, some drivers remove ice using special defrosting compounds or use a scraper, but in this case additional financial costs will be required for car chemicals, and there is also a risk of scratching the windshield. Comfort can be considered another weighty argument in favor of warming up, since immediately getting into a frozen cabin and starting to drive is not particularly pleasant.
After warm air begins to blow from the air ducts and the temperature needle begins to rise slightly from the minimum mark, you can begin to move. It is no longer advisable to warm up the engine at idle, since the engine will warm up very slowly. When driving, you need to move smoothly, in lower gears, without spinning the internal combustion engine above 2-2.5 thousand rpm. Sudden accelerations are also unacceptable. Also, we should not forget that not only the engine needs to warm up, but also the transmission, as well as chassis. According to many experts, the oil in the box hardly heats up at idle and will warm up to operating temperature only after 20-30 kilometers.

If you make sudden changes in load modes while driving, then accelerated wear a large number of mating parts are exposed. In other words, until the thermal clearances return to normal and the working fluids are completely diluted, even moderate loads on the power unit and other vehicle components should be avoided. Ignoring these rules leads to increased consumption engine oil, deposits, the appearance of scoring, etc.

Let's add that in addition to the engine they suffer hydraulic units (steering rack with power steering), shock absorbers, etc. In the process of heating such parts and assemblies, you should avoid driving through potholes and sharply turning the wheels at a large angle for a couple of kilometers. This statement is also true for rear-wheel drive/all-wheel drive cars that are equipped with oil-filled gearboxes. Without preheating the lubricant, these elements can also quickly fail under load. Finally, we’ll add that it is necessary to warm up both the motors and the motors. The fact is that the turbine is a rather sensitive element to the quality of the lubricant. Minimal warming up at idle speed is also required for the initial dilution of oil and other technical fluids, after which such units are further warmed up while driving.

How to start the engine in winter and make cold starts easier

If the car is operated in a climate zone where there is a significant seasonal drop in temperature or frosts are almost constant, then you should think about how to warm up the engine in winter before starting it. Using solutions such as installation preheater engine, electric engine heating in winter and other developments in this area make it possible to ensure ease of starting, increase the efficiency and comfort of operation of gasoline and diesel vehicles at low temperatures.

Let us add that if the car is located in a region where the climate is moderate, then it will be enough to know how to keep the engine warm in winter without major modifications. We are talking about . In some cases, a car blanket, hood insulation, or even installing a simple cardboard flap in front of the radiator is sufficient. This approach allows you to speed up warm-up after starting and increase the cooling time of the engine during parking in winter.

It should be noted that most modern car alarms today are equipped with useful function, which allows you to implement automatic engine warm-up in winter. Moreover, even if there is no such option initially, you can install . This decision allows you to start the engine remotely, that is, the car will already be warmed up at idle by the time the driver intends to make a trip. Autostart can be configured so that the car will start, for example, every two hours. This will prevent the engine from cooling too much while parked, which will minimize possible problems cold start in severe frosts immediately before the trip.

What operating modes of the internal combustion engine are violated if the engine is not warmed up in winter?

Viscosity automobile oil in the engine.

Most motorists during winter operation modern car fill in synthetic or semi-synthetic oil. This lubricant retains its properties at temperatures up to minus 35 degrees Celsius.

It is difficult to determine what the viscosity will be at lower temperatures (and this happens in some regions of Russia). It is not a fact that lubricant will flow to the engine components with the required efficiency.

Thus, operating the engine, especially with increased loads, can lead to premature wear of engine components. Considering that there are now many million-plus engines, a slight decrease in service life may not be noticeable, but there is still a reason not to force the power unit.

Compression in cylinders.

From the school physics course it is known that when the temperature decreases geometric dimensions metal parts are also reduced. This also applies to the cylinder block. Many drivers of cars with “slow” engines note that in winter they grip more easily during startup.

Indeed, as a result of reducing the physical dimensions of the cylinders, compression increases, which helps the engine start. On the one hand, this is good for older engines.

What is it like for the new engines? If the cylinder diameter is reduced, the piston rings will forcefully bore the cylinder, ultimately reducing compression. Designers provide for this moment, but the additional load on the engine can reduce their efforts to zero.

Antifreeze condition.

Antifreeze does not freeze at extremely low temperatures, but turns into a slightly crystallized mass that has less fluidity. Through thin pipes and tubes such a mass moves more slowly.

Firstly, this creates additional load on the pump (especially at high speeds). Secondly, it can lead to a violation of the thermal regime of the engine, slow heating of the radiator of the interior heater.

Video is an experiment showing how long it takes to warm up a car in winter to a temperature of +30 degrees:

Driving in a cold car interior is unpleasant and dangerous. In addition, it can be noted that the quality of antifreeze does not always correspond to what is stated on the packaging.

Changes in the physical properties of diesel fuel.

Diesel fuel may become waxy. At the same time, it stops entering the cylinders, stopping its journey in fuel lines, filters, and injectors. Most often this happens while driving. In this case, the temperature of the fuel line when blown with oncoming air can be significantly lower than that of the surrounding air.

In many diesel cars The “return” mode is used to heat the fuel in the tank. Even a small amount of warm fuel entering the tank can prevent waxing of the fuel and an unexpected stop along the way.

Video - discussions about whether it is necessary to warm up the engine in winter before driving foreign cars and modern domestic cars:

Which car systems are affected by not preheating the engine in winter?

A car is more than just an engine. There are many other systems that are no less important for the operation of the car.

Mechanical box gear shift.

The decisive fact is that many motorists rarely perform routine oil changes and manual transmission flushing. During operation, the physical properties of the oil can change dramatically. Warming up the oil before operating the gearbox helps distribute it throughout the manual transmission mechanisms, therefore increasing its service life.

Automatic transmission gear shift.

Historically, most automatic transmission manufacturers are located in countries where extreme cold does not reach. There are car configurations designed for cold countries, including adapted automatic transmissions.

All options are available to Russian car enthusiasts. The control of most automatic transmission models is based on the interaction of devices and components through oil pressure transmission channels. That is, the work directly depends on its (oil) condition automatic transmission. From this point of view, warming up is a necessity to maintain the automatic transmission in working condition.

Comfort system.

In those car models with a high-quality comfort system, remote heating vehicle laid down a priori. From warming up the glass, landing zones, windshield depends on the health and safety of the driver and passengers.

Operation of electrical equipment.

Electrical and electronic systems very sensitive to low temperatures. Frozen insulation loses its elasticity. If it is moved or shaken while frozen, the conductors may break.

When there is a sharp change in temperature, heavy condensation occurs. Excess moisture gets into electronic devices, rendering them unusable.

The negative impact of driving on a cold engine can manifest itself in the braking system and suspension.

Video - how to properly warm up the engine in winter and why:

Many car enthusiasts are guided by separate tips that indicate that you can start driving immediately after starting the engine in cold weather, if this maneuver is not associated with additional throttle changes and loads on the engine. This has a rational grain, but only within a straight section in the yard, for example, to drive away from the entrance where picky neighbors live.

In city conditions, it is difficult to imagine that you can move evenly for three to five minutes to warm up the engine.

Video - is it necessary to warm up the engine in winter:

If you live in a multi-story building, or the car is stored in a parking lot, in winter preheating the engine involves waiting in the cold. In this case, it is rational to set remote system autostart. Installation costs will be repaid by the achieved comfort, saving time and money on machine repairs.

Standard estimated warm-up times for various climate conditions:

from 0 to minus 10 degrees Celsius – 2-3 minutes;
from minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Celsius – 3-5 minutes;
from 20 to minus 35 degrees Celsius – 5-10 minutes.

It is calculated that while the car is warming up, there is less environmental pollution and fuel consumption than when driving on a cold engine.

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