Do I need to warm up the engine in winter and summer? What does it depend on? How does the engine material affect the need for warm-up? What happens if you do not warm up the engine or warm it up for too long? Is it possible to warm up "on the go"? Why in Europe, even in winter, no one warms up the engine before a trip? All these and other questions will be discussed in our article.
So, do you need to warm up the engine before driving? Today there is a lot of controversy on this issue, but there is no consensus on this matter.
Even 15–20 years ago, the answer to the question was unequivocal: yes, it is necessary to warm up the engine. Moreover, both in winter and summer. Unheated cars sneezed, coughed, stalled, or refused to start at all.
But with the advent of more modern cars, motorists massively refuse to warm up the engine. Moreover: in many European countries it is strictly forbidden by law to warm up the engine in the parking lot.
So what about an ordinary car owner? Warm up the engine in the old fashioned way before each trip, or do you become like the West and score on pre-warming? And most importantly: why is there such a large number of people desperately defending warming up, if most of Europe has long since abandoned it?
Why do you need to warm up the engine?
To understand why you need to warm up the engine, it is worth understanding what happens in the engine after a long idle time. Especially if it's winter outside.
So, we have an engine with a bunch of parts, a gearbox, and also working fluids: fuel, antifreeze, oil.
All parameters of these components are selected in such a way that they provide the car with a stable ride with minimal wear of parts. Most parts are made of metals and their alloys, and these materials tend to expand when heated. Accordingly, the clearances between the parts of the assemblies are initially designed for the normal operating temperature of the engine.
If the engine temperature is significantly lower than the operating temperature, then:
- working fluids have a higher viscosity and work faster (the risk of sludge formation increases);
- parts are lubricated more slowly;
- the protective properties of the additives are reduced;
- the gaps between the parts deviate from the norm, due to which friction increases, shocks occur, and scuffs form, which accelerate the development of corrosion.
According to some estimates, one cold start of the engine leads to the same wear, which would lead to 500-700 starts of a warm engine.
At the same time, if you do not warm up the engine before driving in winter, the first minutes you will also have to be nervous because of the fogging of the windshield and the lack of good visibility. And getting into an ice car is not very pleasant.
In addition, for the first 5-10 kilometers, the car may “eat” much more gas than usual. Driving dynamics will also deteriorate.
Therefore, warming up the engine is a very useful and necessary thing. But everything must be done wisely. And below we will explain why.
Do I need to warm up the engine in summer?
Why warm up the engine in the summer, when the temperature overboard is already significantly above zero? Or why warm up the engine if the car is leaving the heated box? Maybe in this case, warming up is meaningless and even harmful?
In fact, no: summer warm-up has its own rationale.
First, the operating temperature of the engine is about 80–95 degrees. And the air temperature in summer rarely exceeds 25-30 degrees. Accordingly, even in summer, the car engine in the parking lot is “cold”.
Secondly, even if the street kept all 50 degrees Celsius, it would be wrong to start abruptly from the parking lot. Think about it: even the human body - an almost ideal "machine" - needs a warm-up before any physical activity. So the motor needs to work without load for some time in order to come to an optimal state.
How long does it take to warm up the engine?
Perhaps this is the most appropriate question. After all, we have already come to the conclusion that it is necessary to warm up the engine in almost any case. It remains only to understand how long the warm-up should take.
So, you can focus on the hint:
| Air temperature | Warm-up time |
|---|---|
| +20 C and above | 0.5 - 1.5 minutes |
| +15 C | 1 - 2 minutes |
| +10 C | 1.5 - 3 minutes |
| +5 C | 2.5 - 5 minutes |
| 0 C | 3 - 7 minutes |
| -5 C | 3.5 - 8 minutes |
| -10 C | 5 - 10 minutes |
| -15 C | 8-15 minutes |
As you can see, warming up takes very little time in the summer. You will only have time to get comfortable in the chair, fasten your seat belt, adjust the mirrors and turn on your favorite radio channel.
You should not wait for a complete warm-up. As soon as the temperature of the working fluid rises to 60-70 degrees, you can gently start moving. But it would still be more correct to accelerate when the temperature of the liquid reaches 80-90 degrees Celsius.
Why can't you warm up the engine for too long?
As we said above, everything needs a measure. It is also impossible to warm up the engine for too long.
The fact is that at low temperatures the fuel mixture evaporates poorly, so a car with electronic fuel injection immediately generates a command to eject an additional portion of fuel.
But the car remains in place. And it turns out that an excess of gasoline is formed in the combustion chamber at idle speed. Gasoline, in turn, causes the engine oil to be washed out, that is, in fact, it leaves the engine unprotected. Gasoline, as we know, is an excellent solvent.
However, if you do not tighten it up, nothing like this happens, and premature engine failure does not occur.
Warming up on the go
Recently, it has become very popular to warm up the engine on the move, that is, in the first minutes of the car's movement. You just smoothly pull off and slowly (at low revs) drive out of the yard or garage. At the same time, it is desirable that the road be as smooth as possible, because during warming up, jerks and jerks are undesirable.
On the go, the engine warms up faster and uses less fuel.
This method has one drawback: whatever one may say, but the movement begins with a cold engine, respectively, the load on the mechanism is greater (remember the clearances and viscosity of working fluids). In addition, the gearbox also needs to be preheated, and without it, the gearbox parts undergo accelerated wear, the oil works faster and gives sediment.
Ideally, run the engine in idle mode for a couple of minutes (twice as long in winter), and then start moving smoothly at low revs.
Why is engine warming up dangerous?
Many people are afraid to warm up the engine due to a number of complications caused by this procedure. The disadvantages of warming up are usually:
- increased gasoline consumption;
- the formation of tar deposits on the valves;
- washing out oil with gasoline.
Oil leaching is especially dangerous. This primarily affects the piston rings and cylinder walls. However, it has been proven that all these disadvantages appear only in cases where there is a chronic prolonged engine warm-up.
With moderate warming up, nothing happens to the engine that could significantly impair its performance.
Is there a difference between old and new cars?
Previously, absolutely all engines were warmed up before a trip, and warming up took a lot of time. Why did this happen?
The first reason is the poor quality of working fluids. At that time, little was known about additives, so oils and antifreezes behaved very capriciously when the temperature dropped. Often, the car simply did not start or would start, but then it stalled.
The second reason is the different coefficients of expansion of the materials of the cylinder block and the pistons themselves.
In older cars, cast iron engines predominated. Cast iron expands differently, so it was impossible to achieve an ideal clearance with the pistons without sufficient warming up of the engine. In addition, cast iron has a lower thermal conductivity (4.5 times lower than that of aluminum), which is why it took more time to warm up the engine.
Also, older cars didn't have all the sensors we have today. That is, the process of mixing fuel with air was not hardware controlled. And in order to return the engine to working capacity, it had to be completely warmed up.
Modern cars are crammed with electronics and are mostly built on an aluminum cylinder block. Aluminum pistons are coated with a thin layer of nikasil (nickel-silicon alloy). This combination of metals allows for perfect clearance at any engine temperature.
We can say that due to this, the wear resistance of the motor is preserved, even if you are too lazy to warm up the engine. But do not forget that in addition to clearances, the properties of fluids play an important role. And no matter how technologists dodge, they have not yet succeeded and are unlikely to succeed in creating antifreezes and oils that work equally well in a wide temperature range.
But what about Europe?
Oh yes: Europe. There, no one has warmed up the engines in cars for a long time. But this is done more for environmental reasons than because of the high reliability of the motors.
Europe is committed to reducing emissions, so it is an unforgivable sin for them to simply be in the parking lot with the engine running.
Do Europeans care about engine durability? - Why do they need it? In Europe, it is customary to change a car for a new one every 4–8 years. And the standard of living allows them. Naturally, this time is very short, so that the lack of warm-up has time to seriously affect the engine's performance.
But this is Europe, and we live in Russia. And not every Russian can afford to buy a new car at least once every 10-15 years. Therefore, it is very important for us to minimize any factors that could impair the quality of engine operation. ESPECIALLY if the motor consists of an aluminum block and nikasil pistons (such engines are practically officially recognized as non-repairable).
By the way, many car brands are reintroducing cast iron power units into their motor lines. These engines are today on the 2017 Toyota Camry. The liter Ford EcoBoost engine found in the Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, C-MAX and Mondeo also has a cast iron block rather than aluminum. Cast iron returns to Opel engines. Also, some Japanese brands remembered about it.
Obviously, manufacturers have made sure that even when running cold, such engines run with minimal wear. Although, even purely theoretically, warming up would not hurt them.
World conspiracy?
In the meantime, we continue to warm up the engines in our cars, more and more often you can hear information in advertisements that this or that model does not need to be pre-heated at all. Manufacturers claim that the advertised car is so comfortable and reliable that it can start without any preparation.
Of course, it is easier for an ordinary car enthusiast (especially if he is not at all versed in mechanics) to buy such a car and, with peace of mind, forget about warming up. After all, the plant gave the go-ahead. And, most likely, nothing will happen during the entire warranty period.
But when the warranty expires, problems can begin. Replacing the engine will cost a pretty penny.
Automotive brands benefit from this. Manufacturers are not interested in the machine working without breakdowns for 10-15-20 years or more. The factories need us to change transport as often as possible. In fact, the Europeans do just that. But if you want the car to serve you well for many years after the warranty expires, do not neglect the engine warm-up.
So, to warm up or not to warm up the engine is a personal matter for every car owner. After all, this is your car, and only you can decide how to handle it. But remember: car factories benefit from imposing on you the idea that new cars do just fine without warming up, even in winter.
Important: preheating the engine is important, but it is not a panacea. If you warm up the engine every time according to all the rules, but at the same time save a lot on working fluids, the consequences will quickly make themselves felt.
Your task is to extend the life of the engine, and starting at low temperatures is always stress for the engine. Try to understand the specifics of this unit, ask experienced mechanics. They have seen the engine from the inside hundreds of times, and have seen with their own eyes the consequences of a cold start. Each of them will tell you that absolutely every engine should be warmed up at any time of the year.
With the arrival of cold weather, motorists are interested in: how much should you warm up the car in winter? And when to warm up - on the move or on the spot. We will tell you how to properly warm up a car in winter and how long to warm up a cold engine - how many minutes and to what temperature.
Points for and against
Warm-up advocates argue that a cold motor is more susceptible to mechanical wear. No noticeable wear was observed when tested on a cold engine. This is due to the fact that in motion, i.e. under load, it warms up faster and reaches the optimal operating mode.Why do motorists continue to warm up the engine in winter? This is a habit and experience of years gone by. In the past, a cold engine was warmed up to reduce wear. This is not required now. Modern motors warm up quickly, long warm-up is an excess 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 a flood and, consequently, to an early replacement of the candles.
The question remains: how does a car drive on a cold engine? Modern cars are equipped with an injection system that independently changes the parameters of the engine, depending on the situation. Those. the rough work of warming up will be done for you by the electronics. The only rule that must be observed is not to spin the motor to its maximum speed and try not to give it maximum loads. This is necessary for warming up and reaching the working characteristics of process fluids: motor oil, lubricating components, fuel.
How many minutes to warm up the car
Modern cars should not be warmed up for a long time, three to five minutes are enough to drive calmly and not worry about increased wear and tear. The engine warms up faster while driving than when idling. Let's figure out how long it takes to warm up the car at a certain air temperature.From + 5 o to 0 o 1-2 minutes is enough. At this temperature, the glass of the car has not yet had time to be covered with ice, so long-term heating is not needed.
At a temperature from 0 o to minus 10 o - it takes about 2-3 minutes. During this time, the engine will reach operating temperature, all technical fluids will warm up 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, the windows of the car can freeze and until they are warmed up, the further trip 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. The sufficient time depends on the technical condition of the vehicle. The more modern the car and the better the stove works, the less time. For heating technical fluids, no more than 5 minutes is enough, for the salon - at least 10 minutes.
What if you don't want to wait long for the engine to warm up? In this case, an alarm with auto start (or webasto system) helps. Without leaving the house, start the engine from the keychain, and while you get dressed and leave the house, the car will be warmed up.
How to tell if the engine is warmed up? The engine has an operating temperature range and the criterion is the minimum operating temperature, not the idle time. This is due to thermal gaps in the motor parts. They come to the permissible norm only at the minimum temperature from the operating range. After that, the motor can take the load harmlessly.
What happens if you don't warm up the car? If you drive carefully, without exceeding the engine speed above 2000-2500, nothing bad will happen. A modern car with the help of an injector will warm itself up in the direction of travel. If these rules are violated, seizures inside the engine are possible and, as a result, premature repairs, fuel consumption will increase sharply. It happened that on an unheated car in severe frosts, oil seals and other rubber seals tore 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 refers to the warming up of the car itself, not the interior.
Getting around in your car with comfort is the dream of any driver. In summer, you want it to be cool, and in winter, on the contrary, warm. But in addition to amenities, it is imperative to monitor the technical condition of the vehicle. And in this regard, a person sometimes has to sacrifice his comfort for the sake of prolonging the service and durability of the "iron horse".
Warming up the engine before driving is one such eternal topic of discussion. All motorists were divided into two camps. One - for warming up, others categorically deny it. For many years, the drivers have not come to a consensus. Which of these two camps you are in is entirely up to you.
Do I need to warm up the car engine
Every owner of his own vehicle every year (most often in winter) is asked the same question. Do I need to warm up the engine before driving?
This concept has come to us since the last century. This is due to the fact that the vehicles of that time did not move until the engine reached the desired temperature. Warming up took place at idle. And so that the engine did not stop while driving, it was necessary to wait a few minutes in front of it. And as soon as the minimum required temperature was reached, it was possible to go on a trip without fear of stalling. In order to warm up the engine, it is turned on at idle speed for one to two minutes. And whether it is right or not, everyone decides for himself.
Today's cars are made more resistant to lower temperatures in the environment.
pros
Decide for yourself whether you need to warm up the vehicle engine, having learned all the pros and cons of this process.
- Comfort. This is an important moment in our climatic zone. Indeed, after a long parking, it will be very cold in the car, and it is almost impossible to drive a vehicle.
- The engine oil acquires the required viscosity.
- Stable engine performance. After all, jerky driving does not inspire anyone.
- The gaps between the parts are narrowed.
- Reduced fuel consumption.
Minuses
The main disadvantages of warming up the engine before a trip, which car owners talk about, are:
- Environmental pollution by exhaust gases.
- Excess fuel consumption.
- Modern engines are prepared for instant start.
- Damage to oil, candles and neutralizer.
Correct engine heating
The process of raising the operating temperature in the internal combustion engine is simple. First, read the instructions. Manufacturers sometimes build in special programs that the driver should not interfere with. In other cases, the engine starts and heats up until the coolant arrow begins to rise. And in cars with fuel injection, the tachometer readings will drop to idle. After that, you can gradually start moving. The time required to warm up each vehicle is individual.
Warming up on the go
Today, many manufacturers advise to warm up the engine while driving. This is primarily related to environmental protection. Environmental guards have become a solid wall against warming up the car at idle. This opposition is based on the increased pollution of nature during this process. During warm-up, the engine generates exhaust gases with an increased volume of harmful compounds. It should be noted that fuel consumption is also increasing. After all, the engine is wasted.
To warm up the car on the move, a certain list of conditions must be met. They should not shorten the life of the engine, otherwise the manufacturers would not recommend doing so. Because manufacturers are not interested in quick and frequent car breakdowns. After all, this is fraught with repairs during the warranty period. Numerous returns and breakdowns take a toll on a manufacturer's reputation, and profits depend on it.
So, idling, the engine gets contaminated due to the rapid ignition of the air-fuel mixture. And during warm-up on the go, the operating time in extreme conditions is significantly reduced.
If you decide that warming up on the go is the most rational for you, then you will have to fulfill several conditions:
- Use of synthetic oil. It should have a high viscosity index. It is this type of oil that is capable of filling all the necessary channels in an unheated engine. And thus you will avoid the appearance of scuffs on the working surface. It is especially important to purchase quality oil during the winter. This is due to the fact that it is during the cold season that it works in the shortest possible time and becomes an aggressive liquid. And this, of course, will not add years to the service life.
- Smooth ride. A very short period of time is required to start the movement until the minimum required temperature. These are the very few minutes in which you drive out of the garage or parking lot. Therefore, this distance should be driven smoothly, evenly and without jerks. Keep the movement speed low.
- Drive carefully for the first kilometer, after a long stop. Avoid all kinds of potholes and bumps.
Warming up the engine depending on its type and type
During the trial and error of motorists, based on the recommendations of the manufacturers, information was gradually gathered about the need to warm up one type of engine or another.
An urgent question for owners of cars with turbodiesel internal combustion engines: is it necessary to warm up? It is recommended to hold a diesel engine with a turbine at idle speed for a few minutes. And then hit the road. The turbine is to blame. It can be started at a certain crankshaft speed. It is achieved at high speeds. When the turbine is not running, movement will affect the engine in the form of overheating. This, in turn, will lead to a rise in temperature in the cylinder head and warpage. Therefore, it is better to warm up a turbodiesel engine for a couple of minutes while standing in the garage or in the parking lot. So you protect yourself from expensive repairs.
Information about the need to refuse to warm up the carburetor type of engine on the fly is quite common. The opinion about the possibility of its normal operation only at a certain temperature is not entirely correct. So, with its excellent performance, the ignition system with the air damper has the ability to line up the number of revolutions. Thus, the engine is able to run smoothly after three minutes. But after such an adjustment of the speed, fuel will flow into the engine for some time, washing off the oil from the piston surface. As a result, dry friction is formed between the rings and the cylinder. And as a result - the appearance of seizures. Therefore, it is still better to warm up out of motion with regular monitoring of the air supply.
Another common question among car owners: is it necessary to warm up the injection engine? And he is not entirely correct. Indeed, regardless of the type of fuel supply, operation after warming up is carried out according to the same scheme. If you decide to wait for the engine to reach operating temperature, do so with both the injector and the carburetor.
What happens to the engine in cold weather
To understand the question of whether it is necessary to warm up the engine in winter, information about what happens to the car at this time of the year will help.
The parts that make up the heart of the machine are different in material. Each of them reacts to the cold in its own way - the gaps become larger, and the parts, on the contrary, fit closer to each other. Both that, and another leads to early wear and tear. Plus, the viscosity of the oil changes. In the cold, it becomes denser. And before the time when the engine warms up, the engine experiences "oil starvation". The result is serious damage and overhaul of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, it is important to allow the oil to warm up evenly and without unnecessary stress in cold weather.
Common misconceptions
Inexperienced motorists sometimes mistake rumor for truth and unknowingly break their vehicle.
To prevent this from happening, explore the most common misconceptions about warming up your car:
- Once the engine reaches operating temperature, you can use it at full power. This is not true, since, in addition to the engine, other parts also need to be warmed up.
- Application of high rpm for quick start.
- The new car does not need warming up. Undoubtedly, a recently rolled off the line engine reaches operating temperature faster than a worn one. However, completely warming up should not be neglected.
The issue of engine warming up with the onset of cold weather is one of the most discussed topics. If the situation with the old ones is clear (it is imperative to warm up such a unit before a trip, otherwise the engine will work unstably until a certain warm-up, failures occur, the engine stalls), then 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, equipped with complex ones, the materials for the manufacture of the power unit parts themselves have changed, engine oils have been improved, etc.
An engine with an injector after a cold start works quite normally, that is, in fact, you can start moving immediately. At the same time, many drivers are still of the opinion that such an engine must be pre-warmed up, especially in winter. Others, on the other hand, 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 the injection engine, to what temperature the engine should be warmed up in winter, as well as how the temperature of the internal combustion engine can be raised before starting, and how to make it easier to start the engine in winter.
Read in this article
Warming up the engine in winter on a modern car
To begin with, the technical manual for the vast majority of modern cars specifically states that the engine does not need to be warmed up before driving. Manufacturers pay attention to the fact that engine oil and other technical fluids are evenly heated in motion 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.
Note that the main purpose of such statements is the desire of manufacturers to convince car owners that the engine does not need to be heated. 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 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 the engine warms up in winter is increased. For these reasons, it is suggested to warm up the unit on the move in order to reduce the toxicity of the exhaust gases as soon as possible.
We add that in many European countries at the legislative level there are separate norms that prohibit warming up or prolonged idling of the engine in a residential area, etc. In other words, do not warm up the engine in winter or let the engine idle in summer, otherwise the driver may be fined. Taking into account the fact that on the territory of the CIS a car for a large number of people continues to be an object of great material value and environmental standards are not so strict, 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 harsh operating conditions of internal combustion engines in severe frosts, which are relevant for our winters.
Proponents of refusing to warm up argue that the car manufacturer would never have indicated in the manual that you can drive right away, warming up the engine on the go. The main argument is concern for the brand's reputation, as well as warranty obligations to the consumer. One can agree with this, but only partially. The generally accepted practice today is a guarantee for a new car, which is, on average, 100-150 thousand km. mileage. Note that this indicator nurtures almost any modern engine without serious damage. In other words, the safety margin assumes such operation without heating, taking into account the observance of a number of additional conditions. At the same time, not every driver in the CIS changes his car for a new one at the end of the warranty period, and is also not ready to do it after 100-150 thousand kilometers traveled. Considering all of the above, it becomes clear that neither technology nor the most modern oils can seriously affect the laws of physics and the peculiarities of the operation of an internal combustion engine. If you intend to maximize the life of the power unit, then the engine should be warmed up.
How and how much you need to warm up the engine in winter
So, we decided on the need for warming up. The fact is that many mistakenly take the overall engine temperature for the coolant temperature (it is this indicator that displays the temperature gauge on the instrument panel of civil cars). At the same time, one should not forget that for an internal combustion engine in winter, a much more important indicator is the temperature of the engine oil. The degree of heating of the oil depends on its fluidity, pumpability and the effectiveness of the formation of a protective film on the parts.
- Since it is well known that in a cold engine, the gaps are increased (parts decrease 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. The heating of the coolant to 90 degrees Celsius is accompanied by the fact that the oil warms up to only 40-55 degrees. For this reason, starting the engine in winter in cold weather means that the lubricant will take much longer to warm up compared to the coolant. You can also add that the consumption of gasoline when the engine is warming up in winter in motion will be increased at the initial stage compared to the consumption of fuel when warming up at idle.
- Considering the above features, it becomes clear that it is optimal to warm up the car for 5 to 15 minutes at idle speed (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 right away with an icy windshield. Of course, some drivers remove ice with the help of special defrosting compounds or use a scraper, but in this case additional financial costs for auto chemistry will be required, and there is also a risk of scratching the windshield. Another weighty argument in favor of warming up can be considered comfort, so it's not particularly pleasant to get into the frozen interior and start driving right away.
- After warm air began to blow from the ducts and the temperature arrow began to rise slightly from the minimum mark, you can start moving. It is no longer advisable to warm the engine at idle further, since the engine will warm up very slowly. When driving, it is necessary to move smoothly, in low gears, while not spinning the internal combustion engine above the 2-2.5 thousand rpm mark. Sharp accelerations are also unacceptable. Also, do not forget that not only the engine needs to be heated, but also the transmission, as well as the chassis. According to many experts, the oil in the box hardly heats up at idle and warms up to operating temperature only after 20-30 kilometers.
If you carry out sharp changes in load modes while driving, then a large number of mating parts are exposed to accelerated wear. In other words, until the thermal gaps return to normal, and there is no complete dilution of the working fluids, even medium loads on the power unit and other vehicle components should be avoided. Ignoring these rules leads to an increased consumption of engine oil, bedding, the appearance of scoring, etc.
We add that, in addition to the engine, hydraulic components (steering rack with power steering), shock absorbers, etc. suffer. In the process of heating such parts and assemblies, it is necessary to avoid movement in pits and sharp turns of 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 add that it is necessary to heat both motors with. The fact is that the turbine is a fairly sensitive element to the quality of the lubricant. Minimum warm-up at idle speed for the initial dilution of oil and other technical fluids is also required, after which such units are further warmed up on the go.
How to start the engine in winter and make cold starts easier
If the car is operated in a climatic 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. The use of such solutions as the installation of an engine preheater, electric heating of the engine 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.
We add that if the car is located in a region where the climate is temperate, 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 enough. This approach allows you to accelerate warm-up after starting and increase the cooling time of the engine in winter when parked.
It should be noted that most modern car alarms today are equipped with a useful function that allows you to realize auto-heating of the engine in winter. Moreover, even if there is no such option initially, you can install it. This solution allows you to start the engine remotely, that is, the car will already be warmed up at idle speed 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 during parking, which will minimize possible cold start problems in severe frosts just before the trip.
Read also
How to properly warm up a car engine. Features of warming up engines with a carburetor, an injector and installed LPG, as well as diesel engines.
Literally screaming for people to stop warming up their frozen engines every time the car is idle. It seems to us that the information is worth attention as a topic for discussion. Therefore, we present it for our readers.
The harsh winter conditions are challenging for your car, but you can make them even more challenging if you spend some time warming up the engine each morning when starting your car before driving. If so, then you, another of the many drivers who think it is important to warm up the car's engine at idle speed, and this is important in order to protect the engine in cold weather. that will do more harm than good!
This is how this article-advice begins categorically. Move on. Approx. the author.
We spoke with mechanical engineer and former drag racing driver, Stephen Chiati, about this pervasive myth that you need to warm up your car in winter.
For the past 26 years, Chiati has worked - mostly in gasoline engines - and currently oversees all work on internal combustion engines at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.
Going straight to the point, Chiati explained that when idling in the cold, the car not only consumes more fuel, but also during this flushing occurs, cleansing of oil, critical components by which the engine actually works, namely from the cylinders and pistons.
At this point of reading, it became clear that this theory is something new, and it is worth listening to it. So I continued reading and found out interesting points.
Theory. Why it is not advisable to warm up the engine in winter
Under normal conditions, it runs on a mixture of air and fuel vapors, gasoline in our case. When the mixture enters the cylinder, the piston compresses it, at a certain moment, a spark jumps, which ultimately leads to the combustion of fuel, setting the engine in motion.
But when it's cold outside, it will evaporate worse. The car itself initially compensates for this by adding more gasoline to the air mixture - which as any experienced motorist knows is called a "rich fuel mixture", and this is where the problems begin.
"This is a problem because you are actually adding extra fuel to the combustion chamber to burn it, and some of it gets on the cylinder walls, more than is necessary," explained mechanical engineer Stephen Chiati. "Gasoline is an excellent solvent and will easily wash off a thin film of oil from the cylinder wall if left idling in cold conditions for extended periods of time."
Over time, the cleaning properties of fuels can "have a detrimental effect on lubricants and the life cycle of things like piston rings and cylinder liners," which are critical to the performance of the cylinder-piston group, to the proper operation of the engine.
Outcome: Contrary to popular belief, warming up your engine and idling in cold weather will shorten the life of your engine.
As can be seen from a short theoretical excursion, gasoline, when certain conditions are created, is a serious enemy of some engine elements. In fact, there is a grain of reason in this. In theory, everything is correct. But what practical advice would an American mechanical engineer give?
Simple solution for engine protection
Fortunately, your car is not running on a rich mixture throughout the winter. This only happens when the engine is cold. As soon as your engine warms up to +4 degrees Celsius, the car returns to its normal fuel consumption rate.
Are you probably confident that you are effectively and safely warming up the engine at idle speed? , the engine is still cold.
"Idling will take too long to warm up the engine to operating temperature, and until that happens, the engine's brain will continue to send a rich mixture of fuel into the cylinders to ensure that there is enough fuel in the cylinders for proper vaporization and fuel combustion."
The quickest way to warm up an engine is to use it for its intended purpose, in other words, drive it!
Many will object, but how can you immediately drive in a cold car ?! In subzero temperatures, all lubricants, oils and technical fluids (transmission oil or fluid in the hydraulic booster, for example) are very cooled, therefore they cannot perform their working functions or protection functions at 100%.
As an example, the article describes the operation of the hydraulic booster on an unheated car. They say that the liquid in it is cold, which means it is thick, which means that the hydraulic booster will not work correctly and may even fail. Is not it? To which Stephen replies, everything will be fine and here's why ...
You will warm up the oil faster when it starts to "work" and overflow in the system, if the car starts to drive slowly a short time after starting the engine. Stephen replied that it is enough to warm up for 30 seconds or 1 minute, and you can hit the road.
Unfortunately, no temperature limits were provided. After all, going to -25 is not the same as starting at -5. But most likely the temperatures do not drop below -10, -15 degrees, so the authors of the article did not have any questions about this.
Yes, you will feel that the car will behave a little differently, it will be all too smooth in its operation, "rubber". But the same feeling will arise with the usual long warm-up of the car in the cold.
Again, it is logical that a car does not only consist of an engine, it also contains a lot of useful and important parts. All rubbing or rotating surfaces are lubricated, which, like the oil in the engine, thickens and, in a cold state, temporarily loses some of its protective capabilities. These parts also have to get the job done to disperse the lubricant. It can only be done in motion.
Thus, the beginning of the movement in advance (MAIN IMPORTANT AND ACCURATE MOVEMENT) will be able to warm up the engine and accelerate the oil in the gearbox, grease in the CV joints, hubs and other parts of the car.
Stephen Chiati's conclusion: the time for warming up the engine should be given exactly as much as you need to clean the windows of your car from snow and ice.
Don't drive the horses!
This point in the American article is highlighted. As we said, a little higher, the load should NOT be given on an unheated car.
Be careful with the operation of the gas pedal immediately after leaving. Your engine will take a certain amount of time to warm up to operating temperature. It usually takes 5 to 15 minutes while driving a car to reach the working range. If you immediately press the gas pedal to the floor, nothing good will happen to the engine, it will experience serious loads, which, if systematic occurrences, can lead to premature breakdowns.
Plus, a warm engine will increase fuel consumption and overall your car will run at least 12% less efficiently.
Therefore, do not try to rush a cold car. You will get nothing but increased fuel consumption and wear.
We remind ourselves once again, in warming up NEED ALL CAR ELEMENTS, so even if, as usual, you warm up the engine at idle speed, almost to the ideal operating temperature, the speed of your movement for the first few kilometers on the road should ideally not exceed 40 km / h - 50 km / h. It is especially important to keep an eye on the gear changes to avoid damage to the gearbox.
The roots of the myth about "compulsory warm-up of the engine in cold weather"
Some myths are tenacious, the obligation that the car needs to be worked out in cold weather is no exception. The myth originated in the days when car engines were powered by carburetor systems.
Until 1980, carburettors were the primary fuel supply system for the engine. A little later, more sophisticated electronic fuel injection systems began to develop.
The key difference between power systems is that electronic fuel injection has a sensor that constantly supplies the correct air / fuel mixture to the cylinders. The carburetor machines did not have this important gauge.
