In order to answer this question, let's imagine that you need to wake up early in the morning in order to start running a marathon right from home. What will be your course of action? It is unlikely that you will immediately run out of the house for a marathon as soon as you wake up, is it? A similar situation with a car, but only partially similar - in fact, it is not necessary to warm up the car engine in the summer on most modern models, at least, their operating instructions tell us about this. But the opinions of auto professionals and experienced drivers on this matter differ when it comes to a warm summer, although in the case of winter, opinions are almost the same - you need to warm up the car in winter.
So is it really necessary to warm up the car engine in the summer before starting the movement in the morning? To answer this question, we will again have to delve a little deeper into the bins of the engine.
The indisputable fact is that the engine takes some time to build up normal operating oil pressure and to expand the aluminum pistons from temperature and form an ideal gap between them and the cylinders. And the engine operating temperature is on average 90 degrees. Thus, it turns out that in the summer we still need to warm up the engine, even if not by 100-120 degrees, as in winter (if it is -30 - -10 degrees outside), but much less, but still required. On the other hand, in summer, the engine warms up much faster than in winter, since the heating process is not evenly accelerated, but exponentially - that is, the higher the initial temperature, the faster the car engine will warm up (for example, it will take 1 minute to warm up from 0 to 40 degrees , and warming up from 40 to 80 degrees - that is, for the same temperature difference - only 30-40 seconds. Therefore, the opinions of the majority agree that it takes 1-3 minutes to warm up the engine in summer. That is, in principle, that time will be enough for you. By which you will dissipate the fogging of the windows, check the mirrors and put on your seat belts, then your engine will warm up and be ready to drive, but only a soft and light ride until you get to operating temperature.
However, all of the above is not entirely true for cars made 20 or so years ago, when cars were not equipped with an automatic choke, they were carbureted. Cars today are all computerized, and the engine warms up in the summer, in fact, for a very short time - just a few minutes - what experts call an "engine fully warmed up to operating temperature", which simply means that the car is in the ideal temperature environment for itself. ...
The question is how to quickly warm up the car, worries many car owners with the onset of cold weather. After all, it is necessary to heat not only the engine itself, but also the interior. There are several effective methods to help you warm up your car quickly in winter. To do this, you can use special inserts in the cooling system, use auto-heating, warm up the engine and / or interior with portable hair dryers, use special heaters, thermal accumulators. Below is a list of methods that will help you warm up the car in the shortest possible time, even in the most severe frosts.
To begin with, we list general recommendations about which a must-know for any car owner living in the corresponding latitudes. First of all, you need to remember that you need to warm up the engine only at idle, so as not to apply a significant load to it. Be sure to keep an eye out. And do not turn on any electrical appliances when the car is not turned on. Let the engine start and warm up normally. For some modern foreign cars, they can be warmed up on the go, but subject to two prerequisites. First, at low engine speeds (about 1000 rpm). And secondly, if the frost outside is insignificant (not lower than -20 ° and subject to the use of engine oil with the appropriate viscosity). However, it is still better to warm up even foreign cars at idle, since this way you can save the resource of the engine, in particular, the crank mechanism.
- the air intake to the stove must be turned on from the street;
- transfer the performance of the climate control to the minimum value (if available, otherwise proceed in the same way with the stove);
- turn on the window blowing mode;
- turn on the fan of the stove or climate control;
- if there is a heated seat, you can turn it on;
- when the temperature of the coolant is around + 70 ° C, you can turn on the warm mode on the stove, in parallel turning off the air intake from the street.
With the above algorithm of actions, the driver will have to endure the first few minutes at a negative temperature, however, the described procedure is guaranteed to accelerate the warming up of both the engine and the interior itself.
As for the time during which it is worth warming up the engine, as a rule, 5 minutes is enough for this. However, there are several nuances here. If you have an old car, the engine of which does not warm up so quickly, then this time may not be enough. But according to the current Traffic Regulations, a vehicle cannot be in a crowded place with an engine running at idle speed, more than 5 minutes... Otherwise, a fine is provided. But if the car is parked in a garage or parking lot, then this requirement can be neglected. And while the engine is warming up, you can also side mirrors.
For a quick warm-up, it will be more efficient to use additional devices and devices designed to accelerate the heating of the vehicle's power unit.
Why bother to warm up the car
Before we move on to considering the question of how to quickly warm up the car, it is necessary to find out why it is necessary to perform this procedure at all. There are a number of reasons for the answer to this question. Among them:
- At negative temperatures, process fluids poured into different systems of the car thicken and cannot fully perform the functions assigned to them. This applies to engine oil, bearing lubrication (including), coolant, and so on.
- The geometric dimensions of individual engine units in a frozen state change. The changes, although minor, are quite enough to change the gaps between the parts. Accordingly, when working in cold mode, their wear will increase and the total resource of the motor will decrease.
- Cold engine runs unstable, especially under loads. This applies to both old carburetor and more modern injection engines. There may be gaps in its work, a decrease in thrust and a decrease in dynamic characteristics.
- Cold engine consumes more fuel... This is due to the fact that in a short time it is necessary to significantly raise the temperature of the metal unit and its individual parts.
Thus, even a short warm-up of the engine at negative temperatures will significantly extend the life of the engine and other machine mechanisms.
How to speed up the warm-up of the engine
The list of devices that help speed up heating includes 4 main ones:
- electric heating pre-heaters;
- liquid pre-heaters;
- thermal accumulators;
- fuel line heaters.
They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, from this list, we will consider only the first two types, since the rest are not very popular due to various reasons, including low efficiency, complexity of installation, operation, and also the harm that they can bring to individual parts of the machine.
Electric heaters
There are four types of these heaters:
Electric heater
- block;
- branch pipes;
- portable;
- external.
This type of heater is the most optimal, since it can be used even in the most severe frost, and these devices do not lose their effectiveness. Their only significant drawback is the need for an external household outlet with a voltage of 220 V, although there are also autonomous electric heating plates, they are very expensive, and their efficiency is extremely low, especially in severe frosts.
Liquid heaters
An example of an autonomous heater
Their second name is fuel, since they operate on fuel. The circuit uses a ceramic pin that draws less current to warm up than a metal pin. The system's automation is configured in such a way that the heater can be turned on at any time, even when the driver is not around. This makes it convenient to warm up the car before leaving.
The advantages of autonomous heaters include high efficiency, ease of use, direct autonomy, wide customization and programming options. The disadvantages are dependence on a storage battery, high cost, installation complexity, some models depend on the quality of the fuel used.
On modern cars, there are even systems such as heating with exhaust gases, but this is too difficult and it is impossible to order installation on cars that are not provided for such systems.
Which heater is better for the engine: electric or autonomous
Let's consider different types of engine heaters - electric and autonomous. We will learn the strengths and weaknesses of Start M, Alliance, Webasto, Eberspasher and other heaters. Which one is better to put
There are several low-cost and effective methods that you can use to simplify the winter start of the motor, and faster to warm it up to operating temperature. Despite their simplicity, they are really effective (albeit to varying degrees), since they have been used for more than a decade by car owners in different parts of our country.
So, remember that to quickly warm up the engine, you can:
One of the methods is to insulate the radiator.
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.
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.
With all the openness of the question of the need to warm up the engine in winter, it should be noted that an unheated engine decreases such an important indicator as wear resistance. Also, at low temperature conditions, oil thickens. This naturally makes it difficult for the oil to access the parts. As a result, the chassis starts to work with lower quality.
It turns out that the car should be warmed up in winter. Then it will serve for a long time. Cars that are 10 years old or more also require a longer warm-up period. Modern models take just a few minutes for the engine to achieve the required performance. In order to finally close the question of the need for winter heating of the vehicle, we summarize the arguments for:
- oil abruptly loses its useful properties at low temperatures. Since it thickens, there is no high-quality lubrication of the parts;
- fuel consumption increases. It is a natural reaction that the air-fuel mixture and the environment differ greatly in temperature;
- cold causes wear and tear on the gaps. They deviate from the norm and wear out at high speeds;
- visibility is reduced. This is not surprising, because the glass is covered with a layer of frost, and, therefore, the risk of an accident increases.
We warm up the engine correctly
Incorrect engine warming up will drastically reduce its resource. That is why the approach to this issue must be balanced and competent. It is necessary to firmly, in the mode once and for all, learn the procedure for warming up the car. The operation algorithm is as follows:
- we always start with the battery. It should not lose its properties due to frost. To load the battery, it is enough to turn on the high beam headlights for 10-15 seconds. During this time, the electrolyte will be able to warm up sufficiently;
- turn off the high beam for 30 seconds to restore the battery;
- the process of warming up the engine, experienced drivers know, can be accelerated if the radiator is closed from the outside, for example, by throwing felt on it;
- now we start the engine;
- with a manual gearbox, "drown" the clutch pedal and hold for 2 minutes to warm up the oil;
- if the car, after the operations carried out, does not start, then we take a pause of 2 minutes. This is necessary to restore the battery. Be sure to control this moment - the starter should not rotate for more than 20 seconds. Excessive zeal in this situation is completely inappropriate. In the event that the car does not start again, you need to go to the troubleshooting;
- if the engine starts safely and quickly, turn on the stove immediately. Warm air will fill the passenger compartment and go to the windshield area. This will save you from microcracks that appear between the car body and the windshield;
- for some time, movement should occur at a speed of no more than 40 km / h. The engine should be allowed to warm up properly. After 5 km. The road functions of the car will be fully prepared for normal speed limits.
Don't fall for common misconceptions in the driving environment
The environment of car enthusiasts gives rise to many harmful myths. They come from nowhere and are very steadfast, one might say that even very smartly, they spread. The issues of engine warm-up, unfortunately, were no exception. We have collected these myths and will try to debunk them:
- Exposure 1. There is a pseudo-correct opinion that warming up the car at idle speed causes a lot of fuel consumption. Nobody argues that there will be an overrun. But only if the car warms up for about 30 minutes. And for 3 minutes of warming up, the consumption is minimal. This will be more than compensated for by properly working mechanisms;
- Exposure 2. A number of drivers are sure that it is harmful to warm up the engine. This forms a tar deposit on the valves. This is not entirely true. And this plaque will not damage the engine. But the turbines of an unheated car break down. The harm is obvious;
- Exposure 3. And without warming up the engine in winter, you can safely drive. Also a harmful myth. Very quickly, with this approach, the piston becomes unusable. Also, poor evaporation of fuel will lead to condensation and, as a result, corrosion. Also, condensate containing a large amount of sulfur enters the engine oil. This will disable the filters.
It is important to remember that, in principle, the engine heating circuit should not change, depending on how the fuel is supplied. Means with the help of a carburetor or an injector.
When the engine of a car is started, which uses diesel fuel as fuel, it should be remembered that it is produced in 3 types:
- summer fuel - ambient temperature from +1;
- winter fuel - ambient temperature from 0 to -30;
- arctic fuel - for northern latitudes.
The inability to start the car is often caused by the use of summer fuel in the winter.
Summing up
A competent, patient and thorough approach to the problem of warming up a car in the cold season certainly significantly extends the life of the engine. This is not surprising, because the mechanisms will not be subject to rapid and ineffective wear. At the same time, it should be remembered that a measure is also needed in this matter. Warming up the engine, do not get carried away, otherwise you can overdo it.
If your car has an on-board computer, then it will not be at all difficult to determine the moment when the warm-up process should be completed. When there is no electronics, and a carburetor motor is present, then the heating of the oil is monitored by the arrow of the temperature sensor. Visually it will be seen how it moves. This will reduce the idle speed. The complete completion of the engine warm-up process is evidenced by a rise in temperature to an indicator of 50 degrees. Do not get carried away and do not try to sharply increase the speed. This is not recommended. Acceleration competently only after the coolant warms up to at least 80 degrees.
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