The motor is the heart of any vehicle. It is thanks to him that the most basic function of any car is accomplished - movement. Taking care of your engine and using it correctly will preserve its service life. In this article, we will talk about such a phenomenon as warming up a car engine, how long it takes to do this in winter and summer, and what revolutions are permissible during warming up.

Do you need to warm up the engine?

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

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

Aside from the intake and exhaust system, any oil accidentally deposited on engine parts flows down into the sump and does not remain on the tops of the engine.

All this contributes to a decrease in the efficiency of the engine, and reduces its resource during the start-up process. In addition, in winter, not only cooling occurs, but also icing of the intake and exhaust systems, which prevents the normal supply of fuel and the release of exhaust gases. Condensate can be found not only in the collector, but also inside the cylinders. Now is the time to find out what happens while the engine is warming up.

During the start-up process, the motor starts to run almost dry. is gradually restored and the parts begin to be lubricated completely. This means that the crankshaft will rotate much better, as this reduces friction between various parts.

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

What will happen if you do not warm up the engine

What will happen if you drive an unheated engine? First, the engine will immediately receive an unwanted load, which is accompanied by dry friction, ineffective fuel supply and exhaust gas release. Carburetor cars in this mode simply start to stall, so they immediately completely close the air damper on them. As for the injection ones, they may well continue to work in this mode. A ride on an unheated engine is accompanied by dips when you press the gas pedal. In some cases, even lumbago is felt, which can easily knock down the ignition. At the same time, fuel consumption increases, and power is noticeably lost.

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

How long should the engine be heated in winter and summer?

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

For economical and efficient engine warm-up, it is recommended to use the following time. Start the engine with the choke fully closed and retract it until the RPM is stable. Then you can choose two ways for yourself. The first is to start moving after the temperature arrow reaches 50 degrees Celsius. The second is to gradually reduce the suction until the motor starts its normal operation without it. The warm-up time, in this case, is usually the same.

It should be borne in mind that when working with increased suction, the engine consumes more fuel, but it also warms up much faster, and with economical use of this device it consumes less fuel, but it also warms up much longer.

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

In the summer, after the engine speed has subsided, you can immediately start driving. This usually happens within 2-3 minutes. In winter, the operation of the car is permissible, after an exposure of 1-2 minutes after the revolutions have subsided. This will be considered the engine warm-up time.

Permissible rpm when the engine is warming up

It is impossible to give a load to an unheated engine. That is why, you need to know exactly what revolutions are allowed to be used during the preparation of the engine for operation. Most often, this is true for carburetor cars, since the injection engine "knows" itself when and how many revolutions should be.

So, before starting the carburetor engine, the suction is completely pulled out. As soon as the engine starts, the rpm will be at 2000 rpm. Now you need to reduce this value to 1500. Gradually reduce the suction and if the speed is unstable, then close the damper to the required level. As soon as the tachometer needle rises slightly, and the revolutions increase, then the damper must be opened until the revolutions begin to be on the verge between unstable and stable. It can be 1200 and 1300 rpm.

Disputes about engine warming up have been going on for a long time. Someone claims about the need to warm up the power unit, and someone claims the futility of this venture. Some sit down and drive right away, while others warm up the engine to operating temperature and only after that they start moving.

A car engine cools down very quickly in winter, and when it is parked for a long time, for example, overnight in an open area, its temperature becomes identical to the ambient temperature. Moreover, the difference between the starting values ​​and the optimal ones for functioning most often exceeds a hundred degrees.

The biggest problem with cold starts is engine oil. Its viscosity is highly dependent on the ambient temperature. In cold weather, the consistency of the oil becomes thicker, which worsens the lubrication of the rubbing elements of the engine. This entails increased wear and tear.

Heavy cold start

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

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

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

Motor start button

Do I need to warm up the engine in winter

It should start with the fact that the technical manual for most modern cars says that there is no need to warm up the engine before driving. Manufacturers indicate that engine oil and other technical fluids heat up evenly when driving at low speeds. That is, ICE manufacturing technologies and high-quality technical fluids make it possible to start driving in a sparing mode, without causing much damage to the engine's service life.

The main purpose of such statements is the desire of manufacturers to convince car owners not to warm the engine. This was done, first of all, not for the sake of increasing the service life of the motor, but for the sake of the environment. It is a well-known fact that any engine in motion heats up faster, and with an increase in temperature, the catalyst begins to function. It is obvious that warming up the internal combustion engine at idle takes longer, and fuel consumption increases when the engine warms up in winter. For these reasons, it is suggested to warm the engine on the move in order to reduce the toxicity of the exhaust gases as quickly as possible.

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

But supporters of the refusal to warm up say that the car manufacturer would never indicate in the manual that you can go right away, warming up the engine on the go. The main argument is concern about brand reputation and warranty obligations to the buyer. One can agree with this opinion, but only partially. The generally accepted practice today is a guarantee for a new car, which, on average, is 100-150 thousand kilometers. Such an indicator nurtures virtually any modern engine without serious damage. That is, the safety margin assumes such use without heating, taking into account the observance of a number of additional conditions. However, not every car owner in the CIS changes his car for a new one at the end of the warranty period and is not ready to make major repairs after 100-150 thousand kilometers traveled. Considering all of the above, it becomes clear that neither modern oils nor technologies are able to significantly affect the features of the ICE operation and the laws of physics. If you want to maximize the life of the engine, then the engine needs to be warmed up.

whether it is necessary to warm up the carburetor engine

The modern auto industry has abandoned the equipment of engines with such fuel supply systems. But, on our roads, you can often meet old "Muscovites" and "Zhiguli", which continue to drive through the endless expanses of our country. To start a cold engine, the motorist has to play the role of an on-board computer, that is, independently adjust the fuel supply to the cylinders using the choke knob. Thanks to it, the required degree of enrichment of the mixture is achieved, which occurs by controlling the position of the throttle valve of the carburetor. In this case, warming up the car in winter has the character of a certain ritual:

Choke lever

• First warm up the battery - for this you need to turn on the dipped beam for a short time (for about 30 seconds).
• Turn off all unnecessary consumers of electrical energy - headlights, fans, and so on.
• Squeeze out the clutch.
• Pull the suction to the required level - it is not always necessary to block the air as much as possible, it depends on the condition of the engine and the ambient temperature.
• Give a command to the starter using the ignition key - if the engine does not start immediately, you need to try again after about 30 seconds, since the battery capacity will be restored during this time.
• When the engine starts, adjust the speed of XX - they should be about 1200 rpm. This is done with the suction handle.
• Release the clutch pedal - in cold weather, the engine may then stall, since the viscosity of the oil in the gearbox can be very high.
• After a while, turn on the stove fan and warm up the interior - it is not recommended to direct the hot stream directly onto the glass, since a crack can be obtained from the temperature drop.
• While the engine is warming up, gradually remove the suction - no mixture enrichment is required in the operating temperature ranges.
• Remove the suction completely after warming up.

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

whether it is necessary to warm up the diesel engine

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

There are several ways to deal with these phenomena:

• Glow plugs- the fuel is heated to operating temperatures.
• Winter additives are the simplest way - adding 5-15 percent of low-octane gasoline to the fuel.
• Returning warm fuel to the gas tank through the return line- this is how the fuel is preheated.
• Electric filter heating- melts paraffin deposits.

whether it is necessary to warm up the injection engine

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

If you drive out and do not wait for the motor to reach the operating temperature range, observe the following rules:

• Do not accelerate for the first few kilometers - the lubricant is not yet warmed up and the engine is operating in oil starvation mode.
• The checkpoint is also still frozen - it does not need to be exploited like Formula 1 drivers.
• There is no need to load the suspension sharply - the oil in the pillows under the engine and shock absorbers is still very viscous, these units should gradually come to a working state.

Modern cars are equipped with various devices that facilitate the operation of the car in the cold season.

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

• Heated steering wheel.
• Heated seats.
• Heated front and rear windows.
• Heated mirrors.
• An air conditioning system that heats up the cabin earlier than a classic stove is triggered.

Of course, all these "bells and whistles" help the motorist to quickly leave the parking lot in the morning after a frosty night. But do not forget that 10 minutes of operation of a cold engine can be equated to 100 km. mileage. The piston group wears out, first of all, due to the fact that the piston, made of aluminum alloy, heats up much faster than the steel cylinder liner. At the same time, the clearances are significantly reduced, and the oil does not provide the required lubrication due to its high viscosity. Liners, rings, gearbox bearings suffer. Of course, modern additives are able to smooth out the strong dependence of the viscosity of oils on temperatures, but the laws of physics have not yet been canceled.

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

An exciting question for all motorists for many years to warm up or not to warm up the engine. The debate on this sensitive topic will continue as long as there are cars with internal combustion engines on earth.
There are two diametrically opposed camps who defend their innocence hoarsely. We will try to consider the arguments of each side and bring our reasoning to a common denominator.

Why is it necessary to warm up the car engine?

First of all, you need to find the starting point from which it all began. No, we will not seek the truth in the days of the first internal combustion engines. Let's go back literally 30 - 35 years ago. Times of progressive ideas and designs in the automotive industry. And although the innovative multipoint injection system has already been actively implemented by major car manufacturers. Yet the overwhelming majority of cars of those years were equipped with a carburetor power system, especially in the territory of the former USSR. Probably not many will remember, but many will appreciate these wonderful devices with mechanical air damper adjustment. A poorly adjusted carburetor caused a lot of trouble for the car owner, and especially in the winter period of operation.
It is from those times that there has been a steady opinion, to this day, supported by many craftsmen and motorists, that warming up the engine is necessary. Because the choke-regulated air damper directly influenced the number of engine revolutions, and in winter, on such cars, while the speed drops to stable operating values, which means the engine warms up, it is not advisable to start driving. The load on the engine and the box of the car will be too great.
And now a reasonable question arises: - "It was so long ago, but now, in our time, what has changed?" A generational change has taken place, new electronic injection systems have been successfully implemented and introduced, which, without human intervention, independently regulate the flow of the fuel-air mixture into the cylinders. Thus, reaching a stable operating speed of the engine is much faster and less painful for the engine as a whole. This means that the beginning of the movement can occur much earlier.
Moreover, almost all manufacturers of modern cars strongly advise against warming up the engine in the vehicle operating instructions. Focusing on indicators such as an increase in toxicity at the time of warming up, as well as an increase in fuel consumption.

Warming up the car engine in winter.

It would be possible to agree and completely trust the car manufacturers, if the factor that our cars are operated not only at a positive air temperature outside the window was not taken into account. The winter period of operation is additional time for preparing the car for movement. While the snowdrifts are being dug out after the grader and the snow is swept away from the body, the engine threshes at idle - this is the winter warm-up. At the end of all work, we already sit in a relatively warm interior and observe the coolant temperature arrow almost at our legal workplace, we can move. But what happens inside the engine during this period, what does the engine experience when it warms up without moving, i.e. without load. From the very first moment of start, the engine control system raises the speed, enriching the mixture well (you probably noticed that the exhaust smells strongly of fuel at this moment), naturally, part of the fuel, not having time to burn, flows down the cylinder walls into the sump where it mixes with the engine oil. Along the way, the fuel, flowing into the pan, washes off the oil film from the cylinder walls, the result is dry friction in the cylinders. Naturally, wear increases sharply. The rich mixture will also give an increased load on the catalyst and create ideal conditions for the formation of deposits on the injector nozzles and inlet valves. Thus, closer to spring we will get a well-formed layer of carbon deposits, which will greatly change the behavior of the engine.

For a final understanding of the scale of this event, let's break it down into pros and cons.

The advantages of warming up the engine:

⦁ During the warm-up period, the vehicle interior has time to warm up slightly.
⦁ The car windows are partially defrosted.

Cons of warming up the engine:

⦁ The engine is running with increased catalyst load.
⦁ A rich mixture at idle without load contributes to the increased formation of deposits on valves, nozzles, and the bottom of the piston.
⦁ The resulting deposits will affect dynamics and power over time.
⦁ The increase in carbon deposits worsens mixture formation over time.
⦁ Unburned fuel flowing down the cylinder walls reduces the lubricity of the engine oil, which causes increased wear.
⦁ Unburned fuel, falling into the sump, oxidizes the engine oil, which leads to its degradation.

In the dry residue, we get that there is no practical need for heating, only additional fuel is spent. Warming up the car on the spot is harmful to the engine and the environment, the instructions of the automakers are correct. It is necessary to warm up the engine while driving. It is quite natural that warming up in motion occurs much faster than in a stationary car. Consequently, the total wear is less. Much less harmful substances are emitted into the atmosphere. Hot oil begins to perform its functions faster and in full.

Warming up the diesel engine.

The situation with warming up a diesel vehicle is slightly different. And the main difference is that the engine does not heat up at all when the engine is idling. To warm up, a diesel engine needs a load that can only be obtained while driving. Prolonged warming up will not add warmth to the passenger compartment, nor will it increase the operating temperature of the engine. But it will increase the load on the particulate filter due to the suspended formation of soot. Engine oil will also suffer from more fuel entering the sump.

Correct engine care.

Even taking into account all of the above, it is not possible to completely exclude the heating of the car. And the harsh operation of the metropolis and traffic jams will only add a load on the fuel system and the exhaust gas neutralization system. In this mode, neither the engine nor the fuel system will be able to recover on their own. How can you help your car not to accumulate an avalanche of problems, but to maintain the declared characteristics? Liqui Moly has answers to such questions.

Liqui Moly has a wealth of research and practical experience in the use of additives. Technical experts recommend not to bring the car to a deplorable state, but to use preventive measures:
For cars with a gasoline engine, periodic use of additives that cleanse the fuel system is recommended. Effective injector cleaner Injection Reiniger Effectiv art. 7555 will gently remove contamination from injectors and combustion chambers under severe operating conditions and the initial symptoms of fuel system contamination. Removes carbon deposits, tar and reduces the emission of harmful substances

To reduce the load on the gasoline engine catalyst, technicians recommend Catalytic-System Clean Catalytic-System Clean Art. 7110. This is a special agent for cleaning the catalyst system of a gasoline engine. Cleans catalyst, injection system and combustion chamber. It allows you to quickly and effectively remove carbon deposits, tar and deposits. Reduces fuel consumption and harmful emissions.

For cleaning the inlet valves of multipoint injection systems, recommendation for the Ventil Sauber valve cleaner art. 1989. The additive effectively removes deposits from valves. Removes carbon deposits from injectors, carburetor and intake tract. This contributes to the normalization of engine operation: confident start-up and stable idle speed.

For vehicles with a diesel engine, for cleaning the diesel fuel injection system, Liqui Moly technical experts recommend using Diesel Spulung Diesel System Cleaner art. 1912. It is a highly effective agent for diesel fuel, cleansing injectors from carbon deposits and deposits. The use of the additive also protects the fuel system from corrosion, improves engine parameters by increasing the cetane number and improving the fuel combustion process.

To reduce the load on the diesel particulate filter, the use of Diesel Partikelfilter Schutz additive art. 2298 will help reduce soot formation in the combustion chamber and also minimize the amount of soot entering the filter.

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:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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.

Video

In the winter season, common sense tells us that before going on a journey by car, we must first start the engine and let it idle, that is, until the engine warms up. But is it really necessary? On this score, there are many different opinions, about which motorists like to talk for a long time and argue for hours. But in fact, the question is interesting by motorists: is it necessary to warm up a cold engine, and especially in winter? It turns out that, contrary to popular belief, there is a specific answer: the very heating of a cold engine before a trip does not extend its service life in any way. Are you surprised?

After reading this article, you will know that prolonged engine warming up in winter can lead to a lack of lubrication inside the engine block, and as a result of frequent engine warming up in winter, you can significantly reduce its resource due to a decrease in the quality of lubrication of the internal components of the power unit.

In a nutshell, an internal combustion engine uses pistons, which in turn compress an air / fuel mixture (a mixture of air and fuel) to be ignited by a spark plug in the combustion chamber. Fuel ignition is an uncontrolled mini-explosion inside the combustion chamber, as a result of which the energy is released, which just "feeds" and sets in motion the internal components in the engine.

When the engine is cold, gasoline is less likely to evaporate in sufficient quantities. Accordingly, it turns out that with a cold engine (for example, after an overnight parking on the street in frosty weather), the fuel mixture may not be entirely suitable for its optimal ignition.

Modern engines with electronic fuel injection have different sensors that, depending on the engine temperature and the outside temperature, signal the engine control unit for additional fuel injection into the combustion chamber. That is, in fact, if in the cold season gasoline evaporates poorly, then the electronics of a modern car automatically feeds more fuel to the cold engine into the combustion chamber. And this will continue until the engine warms up to + 4-5 degrees.

As a result, it turns out that during warming up at idle speed of the engine, more fuel enters the combustion chamber than is required when the engine is in a warm state. Thus, according to leading automotive engineers, all additional fuel is deposited on the cylinder walls of the engine and can lead to further leaching of the engine oil. We would like to remind you that gasoline, being an excellent solvent, when starting a cold engine, begins to quickly flush out the engine lubricant itself from the cylinder walls. True, we can agree with many here that during a short warm-up of the engine at idle, this process can hardly reduce the resource of the engine itself. But if you regularly warm up a modern car as before, in the old fashioned way, then for a long period of time due to the constant lack of engine oil inside the engine, its service life can be significantly reduced.

For example, the piston rings and the cylinder walls themselves suffer from a lack of lubrication in a cold engine. Indeed, due to the fact that excess gasoline, in fact, instantly dissolves, the production of cylinder walls and piston rings increases.

In addition, do not forget that due to the increased fuel supply, when the engine warms up, fuel consumption increases significantly.

This is why most car manufacturers advise in modern cars not to warm up the engine for a long time. For example, many car companies recommend drivers to warm up the car while driving at low revs, and then, as soon as the engine warms up to 4 degrees, the electronics will automatically switch fuel injection into the engine combustion chamber to its normal value. By the way, take a note, it is from this moment that the increased fuel consumption in the car will also decrease, which is usually noted immediately after starting a cold engine.

Note also that idling actually warms up the engine more slowly. The engine can warm up much faster on the move, in motion. Moreover, it should be noted that even if a few minutes after starting the cold engine warm air begins to flow into the interior of the car, this does not mean that the car's engine began to warm up quickly.

According to many engineers, the following algorithm is ideal: start a cold engine, let it run for 1-2 minutes (at this time, you can clear the car of ice and snow) and only then, at low revs, hit the road. True, one must take into account the weather conditions: if there is a severe frost outside (more than -10 degrees), then it is advisable to increase the heating of the engine at idle speed at least twice.

Thus, from all of the above, it becomes clear that you should not unconditionally listen to the advice of automakers, some of which often state in their recommendations that the engine does not need to be warmed up at all. You just need to remember that getting under way immediately after starting the car in winter is fraught with unnecessary load for the motor.

But it is also not worth delaying the idling of the engine during warm-up. We have already said that 1-2 minutes is enough for this (with a slight frost), then you can start smoothly and slowly, moving at low revs. To fully warm up the car engine while driving, depending on the air temperature, it will take only an average of 5 to 15 minutes.

Where did the myth come from that you should always warm up the engine to operating temperature before driving?

In the past, warming up the engine to operating temperature was mandatory for all cars equipped with a carburetor injection system. Recall that the carburetor in older cars mixed gasoline and air, thereby creating a fuel mixture for the engine. Unfortunately, the carburetor did not have the sensors found in all modern electronic injection vehicles today. Accordingly, due to the lack of sensors in carburetor cars, the amount of fuel mixed with oxygen was not regulated during the warming up of the car. As a result, in order to hit the road in the old car in the winter, it was necessary to completely warm the engine to operating temperature.

That is why there is still a persistent myth that all cars (even new ones) must definitely be fully warmed up before operating in winter.

But if you do not own an old carburetor car, then there is no need for you to fully warm up your car before driving. It will be best if, after starting the engine, you give it a few minutes to get a little temperature, and then go on the road.

Will driving on an unheated machine harm the power steering?

But what about the power steering? After all, he also uses grease for the operation of the steering booster, and in the cold it also tends to freeze. What if you can't warm up the car for a long time, and driving with an unheated hydraulic booster is also dangerous?

This is not really a problem as the power steering gear oil warms up very quickly. Yes, of course, in the first minute after starting a cold car in winter, the steering wheel will be very heavy, because in the cold, the oil will be thick in the hydraulic booster. But after you start and drive for just 1-2 minutes, the steering wheel will become light and the power steering gear oil is fully warmed up.

The only thing is that in the first minutes of the movement of the car, you should not make sudden movements with the steering wheel, you must be careful, since the steering wheel will be heavy at this time. By the way, if you warm up the car for a long time at idle speed, then do not count on the rapid heating of the fluid in the hydraulic booster. Especially when you do not move the steering wheel during warm-up. The point here is that due to the lack of movement of the steering wheel, the power steering pump does not pump the required amount of fluid and, accordingly, the process of warming up the power steering transmission oil will go very slowly.

Perhaps advice not to warm up any cars - is it someone's conspiracy?

There is an opinion (especially among many car enthusiasts, and not among professionals) that the recommendations of car manufacturers regarding the optional warm-up of the engine after its start is nothing more than a global conspiracy of the automakers themselves, directed against all car owners of vehicles in order to reduce the time of owning cars from - for premature failure of the power units themselves. Of course, this version does not stand up to criticism.

Think hard, why would car manufacturers need this? Even if we assume that they just needed it, then it is unlikely that in this way they would try to reduce the resource of their car products. After all, there are many other, and less noticeable, ways to reduce the vehicle's mileage.