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As the outside temperature drops, the debate over whether to warm up your car has resurfaced.
Different “experts” offer conflicting advice. Some even cite the owner’s manual, insisting that warming up is unnecessary because the manual explicitly states it’s not required. Yet another camp insists warming up is essential. Drivers in Northeast China, in particular, argue that without warming up, the transmission won’t shift gears properly, turning your car into a moving roadblock on the road.
Should you warm up your car?
Today, let’s discuss whether warming up is necessary and what the correct approach is. First, let’s summarize the main arguments and reasons surrounding engine warm-ups. The first viewpoint argues that warming up isn’t necessary, primarily citing the owner’s manual as evidence. Proponents contend that idling wastes fuel, promotes carbon buildup, and damages the engine. Over time, accumulated carbon deposits can reduce power, increase fuel consumption, and potentially lead to engine repairs.
The second viewpoint argues that warming up the engine is necessary, believing that without it, the three-way catalytic converter cannot function properly, making it less environmentally friendly. The third viewpoint similarly advocates for warming up the engine, contending that without it, the engine oil fails to adequately lubricate the engine, leaving internal components in a dry-running state that accelerates engine wear.
Let’s break down the credibility of these three claims one by one.
First, the argument that manuals state no warm-up is needed. This is a one-sided view—like someone who can handle chili claiming it’s healthy, without mentioning that those who can’t will suffer from diarrhea and discomfort. Some manuals explicitly state no warm-up is required, while others mandate it. The reason for this discrepancy is straightforward: different car engines are manufactured using varying production processes, and the materials used for internal components like cylinder liners and pistons differ. Both piston and liner materials are graded—some vehicles use cast iron liners, while others employ high-grade cast iron liners. Similarly, the alloys used for pistons vary; even within aluminum-magnesium alloys, there are premium and ultra-premium grades.
You can simply understand it this way: the manufacturing process and materials directly determine whether an engine needs to be warmed up. Engines made with higher-grade materials experience less wear and tear. Moreover, engines operate in high-temperature environments, and different materials perform differently under such conditions. It’s like how different people feel the cold differently in winter. A heavier person might withstand the cold without a down jacket, while a thinner person might still feel cold even fully bundled up. Would you argue that just because heavier people don’t need down jackets, no one should wear them in winter? Therefore, whether an engine needs warming up depends on its manufacturing materials and processes. Even for engines that don’t require a warm-up, it’s not that they never need one. It simply means you can start and drive away immediately. However, before the engine coolant reaches its optimal operating temperature, you should drive gently at first. Keep the RPM below 2000 for the first mile or two. Once the RPM stabilizes, the warm-up is complete. Does that make sense?
The claim that warming up the engine allows oil to fully lubricate it is also rather one-sided. The moment the engine starts, the oil pump begins working, pumping oil to all parts of the engine. It takes only a few seconds for oil to be drawn from the oil pan to the highest point in the engine, though some vehicles may take slightly longer—around 10 to 20 seconds. This principle is similar to how a household water pump draws water from a well. Once powered on, water emerges within seconds—a remarkably swift process. Therefore, the notion that idling for minutes, or even ten-plus minutes, allows oil to lubricate the engine more thoroughly is fundamentally unfounded.
The third point is the environmental argument: the three-way catalytic converter needs to be heated up to function. There’s no denying this—the catalytic converter does require heating to activate. Therefore, during cold starts, engines typically operate with a richer fuel mixture. The engine management system controls fuel injection to increase it, accelerating engine warm-up and thereby heating the catalytic converter faster. Consequently, after a cold start, engine RPMs are usually higher—some vehicles can even reach 1800 RPM. Friends in Northeast China mention that without warming up, the car lacks power and struggles to move, with even gear shifts becoming difficult. This phenomenon does occur in certain models. The primary cause is thermal expansion and contraction between the oil and components. The term “oil” here refers not only to engine oil but also transmission fluid. Both engine oil and transmission fluid become less fluid at low temperatures. Since our transmissions rely on oil to transmit power, reduced fluidity lowers transmission efficiency. The colder the weather, the more crucial it is to thoroughly warm up the vehicle for smooth gear changes.
The clearances between various components inside the engine are also affected by thermal expansion and contraction. As mentioned earlier, engines operate in high-temperature environments, right? During winter, the internal clearances shrink, increasing internal friction resistance. This is why the engine feels sluggish, performs poorly, and consumes more fuel at this time. Only after the engine warms up and the internal clearances return to normal can it resume normal operation. Having read this far, I believe everyone understands now?
Warming up your car is essential, but what constitutes the correct method? As mentioned earlier, the “start and go” approach involves driving gently until the engine reaches operating temperature before proceeding normally. If your vehicle requires idling to warm up, keep a close eye on your tachometer.
The tachometer indicates the engine’s operating condition, and the engine’s state during a cold start is determined by the onboard computer. When you start the car and observe the tachometer needle drop for the first time, it confirms that the engine’s internal components have warmed up. The engine management system has begun adjusting fuel injection settings. Although the RPM won’t immediately drop to normal levels, the vehicle is now ready for use. This process typically takes just a few dozen seconds, though it may require one or two minutes in extremely cold conditions. However, avoid aggressive driving until the coolant temperature reaches normal levels—take it easy. So, regarding whether to warm up the engine and how to do it correctly—does that make sense?
