The operation of the car in the cold season has a number of features, the knowledge of which will ensure complete trouble-free use vehicle. In cold weather, technical fluids and various moving parts of a car engine may not work properly, which in turn leads to increased wear. That is why before you start moving. it is required to preheat the car, which will solve problems with a low engine temperature.

To warm up or not - that is the question

There is no consensus among car owners whether it is required to pre-heat the car in the winter season. If previously old carbureted cars required such preheating without fail, today, thanks to the use of high-quality modern synthetic lubricants and fully automated injection engines There is no need to preheat the car.

That is why most engine repair specialists and ordinary car owners note that warming up cars for 5-10 minutes in winter is no longer required. Literally 1-2 minutes of idling will be enough, after which you can immediately start driving the car.

Preheating the engine in winter

If you have already decided to warm up the car engine in the cold season, then you should remember that such warming up should be performed exclusively at idle. You should not sharply gas and raise the engine speed above the 2000 mark, since in this case the car will not only not heat up, but the engine will also show increased wear, which will subsequently lead to the need for expensive repairs.

The duration of such a winter warm-up of the car engine will directly depend on the temperature in the yard. If the overboard is about zero, no long warm-up is required. One minute of engine idling will suffice.

But at temperatures down to minus 10 degrees, two minutes of engine idling is enough. During this time, the oil will warm up slightly and will provide quality lubricant moving elements.

At ambient temperatures below minus 20 degrees, let the engine run at low idle for about 5 minutes. During this time, the car heater will heat up and the car interior will become warmer. Remember that with such low temperatures you should not immediately turn on the stove for heating after starting the car engine, since in this case the car will warm up much longer. It is necessary to let the engine run for about 3-4 minutes, which will allow the stove radiator to heat up, after which you can turn on the supply of warm air, and in the few remaining minutes the engine will finally warm up, and the temperature in the cabin will rise to a comfortable level.

Whether it is worth using a car in extreme frosts, each car owner decides for himself on an individual basis. Someone constantly operates a car in winter, regardless of the weather on the street, but someone still decides to refuse to travel in such hellish cold. It should be said that at extreme negative temperatures, all systems and components of the car have an increased load. Therefore, even with a high-quality warm-up of the car before driving, increased wear is still noted, which can lead to failure of various components and assemblies. Especially in winter, at temperatures below minus 30, the car engine, battery and various suspension elements that use rubberized parts and gaskets will suffer.

In some cases, after a long parking of the car in the winter season, there may be certain difficulties with starting the engine. The problem can be a dead battery, which does not hold a charge well in the cold, and does not provide the necessary starting current to start the car engine. In this case, it is best not to try to somehow start the car from a pusher or start it with a light, you should dismantle the battery, charge it at home in the warmth, which will solve the existing problems with the operation of the car in the winter season.

When warming up the car engine in winter, try to pay attention to the idle speed power unit. Usually, automation independently raises idle speed on a cold engine and, as it warms up, lowers it to 600-800 rpm. That is why, as soon as the idle speed has dropped to its minimum, you can fearlessly start moving.

We operate the car in winter without preheating the engine

Indeed, high-quality synthetic lubricants common today retain all their performance characteristics and viscosity indicators even at deep minus. That is why any additional heating of such oil is not required. Modern cars use an appropriate injector, which is fully electronically controlled. At negative temperatures, electronics simply increase enrichment fuel-air mixture and the car keeps high revs until it is fully warmed up. That is why such modern cars that use quality oil no additional warm-up is required.

Just remember that when operating such a car with a cold engine, you should not immediately increase the engine speed. During the first 3-5 kilometers after the start of the movement, certain accuracy should be observed, slowly and smoothly accelerating the car, without spinning the engine more than 3000 crankshaft revolutions. During the first few kilometers, the engine, gearbox and other components will fully warm up, after which it will be possible to use the car in full mode.

Conclusion

Proper operation a car in winter will allow you to guarantee trouble-free operation of the vehicle, avoiding any serious breakdowns, which in turn will reduce your costs for servicing and maintaining the car. To warm up or not to warm up the car engine is the decision of each car owner. Remember that this procedure is recommended for vehicles over 10 years old. But on modern and well-maintained machines, such additional engine warm-up is no longer required.

Many drivers are sure that long waits for warming up the car in the modern world are absolutely unsuitable, this is required only for older car models. For the new generation, it is enough to sit down and go.

This article will consider the opposite opinion, because there is no fundamental difference in the motors of the last century and the current one. Professional auto mechanics with experience are confident that, as before, the same pistons and rings work in the internal combustion engine, while each part warms up at a different speed. And an unevenly warmed up engine is the work of some parts outside the operating temperature range, which negatively affects the general condition of the car.

Managers at car dealerships often talk about the fact that their engines do not need warming up in winter, but this is nothing more than a marketing ploy and empty chatter. More than that, it is even concern for environmental standards, which now impose serious restrictions. During the warming up of the car, the actual amount of toxic elements produced may exceed the permissible limits.

Therefore, let's move on to the question of how to properly warm a car in winter conditions. Most importantly, warm-up should take as little time as possible. When operating in winter conditions, the car in any case wears out more than in warm weather. The transmission and suspension suffer the most (first of all, all their rubber components). Shock absorbers also lose their qualities, because of this, more stress is placed on the car on bumps.

If you have a remote engine start system installed, then everything is simple, the first thing you need to do is start the engine. But if you do not have such a system, then there may be a problem with penetration from a frozen car.

The first step is to get rid of excess snow with a brush (it is advisable to store it at home). You need to start with the driver's door. After the snow is swept away, we proceed to open the door. If it froze along the contour, then first you need to try to press it harder against the opening several times, after that we try to open the door again. In some cases, applying a lock defroster along the entire contour of the door helps. If you can't open the driver's door, try the same steps with other doors. It is strictly forbidden to water the door hot water from a teapot. In this case, there is a high chance that the glass will crack, or, even worse, the water you poured out will eventually freeze, and the problem with opening the door will be even worse.

Once you have managed to get to driver's seat, you should immediately make sure that the glass cleaner switch is in the off position, because they may be frozen to the glass, which will adversely affect the drive. If by car automatic transmission gears, the engine must be started with the clutch depressed and the brake pedal depressed. Now the process of warming up the car begins.

Immediately turn on the heated mirrors and rear window. If the configuration has a heated windshield, it is worth using it. But often the car does not have this function, in this case it is possible to heat the glass only with the help of a heater. We turn it on at low speed, while the heating temperature is in the maximum position, and the air direction is only on the glass. If you have other heaters, such as those for the steering wheel or the wiper parking area, it's a good idea to turn them on as well. The usefulness is that the engine will start to work not quite on Idling, and the greater the load, the faster the warm-up will take place. The amount of time that will be taken to clean the entire surface of the machine from snow is enough. But if there has been no snowfall lately, then take yourself some time with no less useful things - check if the wipers are frozen, disperse the fluid in the power steering system by turning the steering wheel left and right. If you have an electric booster, then these actions will also become useful - an increased load on the engine will be created. If the gearbox is automatic, then it can also be stimulated to warm up: with the brake pedal depressed, move the gear selector from position D to position R. For mechanical box transfers of such actions do not exist.

Once you've completed the steps above, you can begin your journey. In this case, it is not recommended to immediately tear from the spot, since such actions are harmful to the motor. But they happen, are inevitable if there is a huge amount of snow in front of the car. In this case, it is recommended to warm up the car a little longer.

When driving, the first time should not be allowed sudden movements and squeeze all the power out of the car, because if the engine and gearbox are already warmed up, then the shock absorbers, rubber elements and the body are still in the ice.

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All motorists are interested in the question: how long does it take to warm up the car in summer and winter, and in general, is it necessary, and, if so, what other features of this process can be noted? Let's try to answer it together.

Why is this needed?

Why warm up the engine at all? The fact is that the oil that is in the crankcase of the unit is initially in a cold state (especially in winter). It begins to flow into the channels of the motor only after the power unit is started. When you turn the key and start the "engine", there is a very strong friction between the parts and their subsequent wear. As they heat up, as well as the oil warms up, friction decreases. Thanks to this, the already heated oil passes through all channels, lubricating them. As a result, the engine runs more smoothly, the units of the unit are easier to set in motion.

How long does it take to warm up a car in summer?

Now let's go directly to the question: how long does it take to warm up the car in summer and winter. To begin with, we note that the operating temperature of the engine should be equal to 90 degrees Celsius. It will take a different amount of time to achieve this. So, in the summer, when the average air temperature is + 20-25 degrees outside, there is practically no need to warm up the car. 1-2 minutes is completely enough, during which you can wipe the windows, open the garage door and conduct an external inspection of the tires. However, there is also a small nuance here: it is not recommended to sharply gain momentum after the start of movement, you need to gradually pick up speed, not exceeding the mark of 2000 rpm and allowing the engine to reach operating temperature. But we will talk about this in more detail below.

Winter heating of the engine

How long does it take to warm up a car in winter? This question is of the greatest interest among motorists. There are several options response. One of the easiest is to use the remote engine start function. This is one of the most optimal and economical (in terms of time) options, because, imagine: you are still finishing your breakfast, putting on your coat, fixing your hair, and the car, thanks to modern high-tech tools, is already warming up with might and main. You come and almost immediately you can move. But not everyone has the opportunity to use this option, since not everyone installs a modern car alarm with the function presented above on their own car.

The second scenario is that if the car has been standing all night in a cold garage, it will take some time to warm up all the engine components and provide it optimal performance. In this case, it is better to warm up the car for at least 5 minutes - this is the minimum time that the car will need to warm up. Of course, if the car was left all night or remained outdoors for a long time during the day, and the air temperature was -10 and below zero, then it is better to warm up the engine for 10 minutes or even more, and then slowly move off, gradually gaining turns.

What is bad for a long warm-up of the power unit

In fact, how long to warm up the engine is up to the driver. Two main disadvantages of this process can be noted: prolonged warming up of the power unit implies high flow gasoline, as well as environmental pollution. Thus, reaching consensus on this issue is very difficult. But, despite this, it should be noted that in no case should you immediately start moving sharply, instantly driving the tachometer needle into the red zone. It is better to gradually gain momentum. This will allow the engine to easily pick up its operating temperature. As a result, such a reasonable and practical approach will positively affect the operation of the entire car.

Hello, dear guests and visitors of the automotive site Autoguid.ru In the article you can learn how to properly warm up the car in winter and use the car in cold weather with maximum efficiency. The onset of winter and cold weather makes the driver look at the thermometer outside the window more and more often in the morning and watch the news anxiously.

Most drivers park their cars in the yards of houses or in paid guarded parking lots. There are warm heated parking lots, but they are available for motorists in large cities. Often the cost of renting one place is quite high. All this pushes drivers to force the courtyards of multi-storey buildings with transport throughout the year.

Negative temperature makes its own adjustments to the operation of the car. The load on the engine, cooling and heating system increases. All malfunctions climb out like cockroaches from cracks, making the average driver nervous.

The article will help you learn how to warm up the car in winter and properly handle the car at this time of the year. Novice drivers will find a lot of new and hopefully valuable information in the material.

A modern driver in the flow of information falling on him from various sources (the Internet, television, newspapers, magazines, neighbors in garages, etc.) sometimes does not know why you need to know and be able to warm up the car in winter. If you just sat down, started and went.

Sometimes the incoming information is so contradictory that it is difficult to understand the verbal flow and find a sound rational grain. The positive effect of warming up the machine is greater than the possible negative effects.

The following arguments speak of the benefits and necessity of warming up the machine:

Thick engine oil

Even high quality synthetic oil designed for use in winter period at negative temperatures it increases its viscosity. It thickens and the first few minutes after starting the engine does not work fully.

All this affects the efficiency of lubrication and reduces the friction of the working elements of the car engine. Smooth motor operation sharp accelerations at idle allows engine oil heat up and thereby reduce the viscosity. It becomes fluid and evenly distributed throughout the motor.

Security

A car standing in the yard of the house in the morning may resemble a snowdrift swept up by snow. All glasses are completely frozen and covered with a crust of ice. Many drivers, having cleared a small space of the windshield, go out onto the road.

This is very dangerous, as visibility is significantly reduced and the driver cannot fully monitor the traffic situation. Not fully cleaned windshield may cause an accident (traffic accident). It is important to completely clean the front side and windshield of the car and only then hit the road.

It is not recommended to use an unheated car engine. In the cold, metal parts power plant decrease in their size. If you start the engine without warming up and give it a load, such actions will lead to accelerated wear of individual elements.

Warming up the engine will minimize Negative consequences associated with negative air temperatures. All elements of the motor will restore their previous dimensions after idling for 5-10 minutes.

Fuel consumption

Thrifty drivers who count every liter of fuel will be unpleasantly surprised by the fact that cold engine consumes more fuel than under normal conditions.

This is due to the fact that under conditions of negative temperature, the formation of a fuel-air mixture is difficult. This is especially true for diesel engines.

To ignite the mixture, a greater amount of effort will be required from the diesel power plant. She will have to overcome the resistance of viscous fuel and cold air.

Vehicle interior

Using a car with a cold interior is a dubious pleasure. Cold seats adversely affect both men's and women's health. It is better to leave the house or apartment in advance and warm up the engine than later in the future to pay for laziness with health.

Battery

Warming up the car reduces the load on the battery. Many drivers, instead of gradually heating the windshield and rear window, turn on forced electric heating.

A cold battery begins to actively give off electrical energy to consumption sources. His performance suffers. All this can lead to a decrease in electrolyte density and a decrease in battery life.

According to a site survey Autoguid.ru among 130 drivers aged 18 to 65 years on the issue of warming up the car engine, the following data were obtained. Always warm up the car in winter 38.46% of drivers from the total number of respondents. Never warm up the engine 15.38% of drivers. Very rarely do it 19.23% of drivers and sometimes warm up the engine 26.92% of motorists.

In any case, the vast majority of drivers prefer to warm up the car in winter.

How to warm up the car in winter?

The steps to warm up the car engine and start it properly in winter are simple and do not require special knowledge from the driver. The main thing is not to be lazy and leave the house 15-20 minutes earlier to prepare the car for the trip. This will make it possible to use the car with the maximum level of efficiency in the most severe frosts.

The procedure for warming up the car in winter is as follows:

Preparing the car engine for starting

Before starting the car engine, turn on the dipped beam for a short time. Enough 30 seconds of time to "revitalize" the battery. Squeeze the clutch of the car and thereby disengage the starter from crankshaft and gearboxes. Be sure to include neutral gear.

This will help simplify the start of the car's engine, even at high negative air temperatures. If the car is diesel, you need to wait until the coil of the fuel heating plugs goes out. It is recommended to use glow plugs several times.

If the car engine does not start the first time, you do not need to "force" the starter and "plant" the battery. It is necessary to allow the battery to recover (30-40 seconds is enough) and try again.

When the car's engine starts, you can not immediately turn on the heating of the glass. You need to wait 1 or 2 minutes. It is not necessary to take heat from a cold engine from the start.

Directing warm air onto cold glass is not recommended. If there are small cracks, you can provoke their increase. First, air flows are directed to the passenger compartment and only then to the windows. You need to know and be able to properly warm up the interior of the car in winter.

While the engine is running and the interior is heated by warm air currents, you can start cleaning the car windows and headlights from the outside. This saves a lot of free time.

Attention should be paid to cleaning the windshield and side windows of the car. The level of visibility and traffic safety by car depend on their cleanliness. The optimal time for warming up the car in winter depends on the air temperature and the activity of using the vehicle. On average, 15-20 minutes is enough and you can hit the road.

Start of movement

In the yard of the XXI century, work car engine has long been controlled by a computer that regulates the supply of fuel and ignition depending on external conditions. But most motorists did not have time to rebuild after the progress, making mistakes when warming up the engine in the cold season. Methods of starting and warming up in frost, relevant 20 years ago, for modern engines useless and sometimes harmful.

Can't warm up

There is a widespread belief that modern car engines do not need to warm up before driving. It's a delusion. Warming up the engine is necessary, driving on a cold engine will not lead to good.

“In service cards for all types of engines and at all times there is a clear indication: warming up the engine is necessary to achieve operating clearances between parts and bring technical liquids to the given viscosity values. The engine is made of different metals, which have different indicators of temperature deformation. The design of the engine is designed for operation in a given temperature range, which is achieved by warming up the engine at idle, ”says engineer Sergei Kolchin.

Running the engine without warming up can cause serious engine damage.

It takes 5-10 minutes to warm up a modern engine. Photo: Elena Ivanova

You can not warm the engine "by temperature"

Traditionally, Russian drivers control the warming up of a car engine according to the readings of a temperature sensor. Most modern internal combustion engines have an operating temperature of 90 degrees. But this approach is wrong. For a car enthusiast, it can turn into excessive fuel consumption for warming up and a significant loss of time.

“It is possible to warm up a car at idle to 90 degrees at a temperature of minus 20. But it will take 30-40 minutes. It is not advisable to waste fuel and time on such warming up, ”says auto mechanic Vitaly Loginov.

Engine oil thickens at low temperatures. Mineral loses viscosity at a temperature of 15-20 degrees below zero, "semi-synthetics" at 25-30 degrees below zero. Thick oil adversely affects the operation of an internal combustion engine.

“The oil in the engine performs three functions at once: lubrication of rubbing surfaces, removal of wear products and cooling of moving parts. In the case of negative temperatures, the last two points are not relevant. It is not necessary to cool a cold engine, and wear in this mode is negligible. But there is not enough lubrication for the engine, because of this, the friction force increases, ”says Vitaly Loginov.

High friction forces lead to high fuel consumption. Almost all modern cars have on-board computers, which display consumption figures. Vitaly Loginov advises heating the car "according to consumption."

"A car with an engine power of up to 100 Horse power idling consumes 0.8-0.9 liters of fuel per hour. When starting a cold engine, this figure is usually 2.7-3 liters per hour. To enter the engine into operating mode, it is enough to warm it up to normal values. Waiting for warming up to 90 degrees is a waste of time and gasoline,” says Vitaly Loginov.

Running "cold" disables the engine. Photo: pixabay.com

Do not "gas" during warm-up

Some motorists try to speed up the warming up of the car by increasing the engine speed. But it is impossible to “gas” with a cold engine.

“All gaps in the engine are designed for a certain oil viscosity, at low temperatures the viscosity of the lubricant increases, and it is not able to flow between the rubbing surfaces. Parts operate in oil starvation mode. Which leads to their increased wear,” says Vitaly Loginov.

Moreover, wear in this case is sharp, almost explosive. The rings on the pistons may fail, and scuffs and nicks form on the cylinder mirror, which can only be corrected during overhaul engine.

The engine must be warmed up at idle, without touching the gas pedal. In this case, the output to the operating mode will pass without consequences.

Oil heaters must not be used

Some motorists use so-called oil heaters to start the engine during the cold period. This device is a heating element that is installed in the oil dipstick hole and connected to car battery. It is assumed that this device will warm up the oil, restore its fluidity and simplify warming up. But this is just a marketing ploy. These devices do more harm than good.

“Oil heaters do not solve the problems of starting and warming up the engine in winter. The power of these devices rarely exceeds 20-30 watts, which is clearly not enough to warm up 3.5-4 liters of oil in a cold engine at a temperature of minus 20. In some cases, the temperature of the heater is so high that the oil on its surface begins to burn, while the entire volume remains cold,” says Vitaly Loginov.

Can't touch hard

There is oil not only in the engine, but also in the gearbox. It also thickens at low temperatures and processes occur in the box, similar to those in the engine. After warming up the engine, the oil in the box remains cold. Therefore, it is impossible to move sharply. Mechanics advise a smooth start and movement at a speed of no more than 10 km / h for the first 300-400 meters. This is quite enough for the oil in the box to begin to perform its functions.