How to warm up the car in winter. Preheating the engine in winter

02.04.2019

So, it’s minus 30 outside, your car is frozen and won’t start, all the ritual dances around it have been performed, and there’s no strength to waste any more time. Most likely, due to frost and due to the rare use of the car, your battery is quite discharged. Follow our tips to understand how to start a car in the cold quickly and correctly.

The car may not start due to bad contact terminals and battery. This can happen not only in severe frost, but also in any other weather. Anyway, better first case to check the contact of the connections. To do this, open the hood of the car and with wrenches (usually a 10 open-end wrench is suitable), alternately tighten both battery terminals to the limit. If these manipulations were enough to start the car - luck is on your side! But if the car still does not start when you turn the ignition key, then your battery has really sat down.

If time suffers (if not, read tip number four) you can unscrew the battery and take it to a warm room to “warm up”. Depending on room temperature, it will take between 30 minutes and three hours to thaw a frozen battery.

Attention! Never attempt to heat the battery with heat sources forcibly, as this is dangerous to your health and battery performance. Only gentle warming under the influence of room temperature is suitable here.

Tip 3. Recharge the battery from the charger

Again, if you have at least an hour of time, we recommend putting the battery on charge. Either take the battery home, or charge it locally, of course, if you have an outlet and charger handy.

To recharge the battery, you need to disconnect from the battery automotive terminals, and connect clamps in their place charger. Plus to plus, minus, respectively, to minus. A half hour charge might be enough.

To start a frozen car without removing the battery, try to cheer it up. To do this, turn on the dipped headlights or high beam. And only after that turn the key in the starter. The engine of the car should start, and if this did not happen immediately, wait a couple of minutes and repeat the manipulations with the high beam headlights. If the car does not start from the 3rd approach, it is a serious matter, the battery is completely discharged and you need to change the strategy.

Take off your gloves, raise your right hand parallel to the ground and bend your thumb. Catch a passing car and ask the savior to give you a "light". To correctly and safely light one car from another, you need to take three simple steps:

Remember: The black battery terminal is negative, the red terminal is positive.

Using wires with lighter clips, first connect the positive terminal of the discharged battery and the same positive terminal of the charged one. With the second wire, connect the negative terminal of the charged battery and, attention !!!, ground ( metal part car engine). Do not connect negative terminals to each other.
First you need to start the car with a charged battery. Let it run at 2000 rpm for 20 minutes. This time will be enough for your frozen battery to recharge from the donor to the level necessary to start the engine on its own.
Start your car and, if the start is completed, let both cars work together for another 5-10 minutes. Disconnect the wires from the batteries in reverse order.

There are no other cars in the area, and the previous advice did not fit? Nothing, we will help you start your car in this terrible frost in a different way.

Attention! This way to start a car is only suitable for owners of a car with a manual transmission and, preferably, with a carburetor.

In our case, we can not do without outside help. You'll need another pair of hands. One steers, the other pushes. We start the car from the pusher. Basic Rules:

The one in the cabin turns the ignition key and, keeping the clutch pressed, puts the gear lever on II or III speed.
The one who is less fortunate and who pushes the car in the cold accelerates it at least to a speed of 10 km / h. This is the speed of a leisurely run.
Slowly release the clutch and the car should start. Let the car warm up for at least 10 minutes.

Tip 7. Start the car using special equipment

If there is a car service nearby, they can quickly help you with starting the car engine. Nowadays portable starter chargers. This is the simplest and safe way start the car in the cold.

Watch a video about various start-up chargers:

This is the most expensive way to start a car in cold weather. Buy new battery, and high power. All new batteries are sold in a charged state and you will start the car with half a turn.

Other reasons why the car does not start in the cold

If the battery is good and fully charged, it is possible that the car will not start in cold weather for the following reasons:

Filled with spark plugs;
Starter defective;
The engine oil is too thick;
The ignition system is misaligned;
Disrupted fuel supply or low-quality gasoline.

Timely prevention will help not to worry about how to start the car in minus 30

The key to a calm winter for drivers is timely preventive maintenance. It is better to change the oil in the middle of autumn, preferring types with an alphanumeric index 5w or 0w. Such oils will not thicken even at -30 degrees. Also in the fall, do not forget to change the fuel, air and oil filters.

In addition, in order not to worry about how to start the car at minus 30, it does not hurt to check the level and density of the electrolyte before the onset of cold weather, if necessary, change the washer and antifreeze, check spark plugs, armored wires, generator tension and charging.

“To warm or not to warm? - that is the question". The modern Shakespeare, who would certainly be a car enthusiast, might also be worried about this problem. Drivers with thirty years of experience, who can disassemble and assemble a carburetor with their eyes closed, will answer that it is necessary to warm up a car in winter in without fail until operating temperatures are reached. The younger generation will demonstrate the operating instructions for a brand new Japanese or german car, in which it will be written in black and white that the engine should not be warmed up while the vehicle is stationary.

Cold start

In winter, the car engine cools down very quickly, and when long-term parking, for example, spending the night in an open area, its temperature is compared with the temperature environment. The difference between the starting and optimal values for work often exceeds a hundred degrees. The most the main problem cold start - oil in the engine. Its viscosity is not a certain constant, but, on the contrary, strongly depends on temperature. In cold weather, the oil acquires a thicker consistency, which worsens the lubrication of moving parts of the motor. This, in turn, leads to their increased wear.

The following factors also affect the operation of the engine at low temperatures:

type of fuel - a car equipped with a diesel engine without fail requires winter diesel fuel;
type of fuel supply - older cars with carburetor injection in most cases require manual throttle control;
the presence of an automatic or mechanical box gears - in any case, there is oil in the gearbox, which also changes its viscosity when low temperatures;
computer control of engine warm-up - the on-board controller selects the optimal supply of the mixture to the cylinders, while the engine enters the operating temperature regime in the shortest possible time.

When approaching the operating temperature range, the viscosity of fluids returns to normal and problems with lubrication and increased mechanical wear of engine and gearbox parts fade into the background. Warming up the car engine in winter has another goal - bringing the car interior to a comfortable state and defrosting the windows.

Warming up a car with a carburetor engine

Modern Automotive industry refused to equip engines with such fuel supply systems. However, on our roads you can often meet old Zhiguli and Moskvich cars, which continue to surf the vast expanses of our snow-covered Motherland. To start a cold engine, the driver has to play the role on-board computer and independently regulate the supply of fuel to the cylinders. For this, a suction handle is provided at his disposal. With its help, the required degree of enrichment of the mixture is achieved. It does this by controlling the position throttle valve carburetor.

Warming up the car in winter in this case has the character of a kind of ritual:

need to warm up first battery- for this, the dipped beam is switched on for a short time, thirty seconds is enough;
all unnecessary consumers of electricity are turned off - fans, headlights, etc .;
the clutch is pressed - this is necessary in order to remove the additional load in the form of input shaft frozen gearbox;
suction is pulled out required level– the maximum overlap of air is not always required, it depends on the ambient temperature and the condition of the engine;
the ignition key sends a command to the starter - if the engine does not start immediately, try again in 30–40 seconds, during which time the battery capacity will be restored;
after the engine has started, it is necessary to adjust the idle speed - they should be about 1200 rpm, this is done using the choke handle;
the clutch pedal is released very coldy the engine may then stall, as the viscosity of the oil in the gearbox can be very high;
after a while, the stove fan turns on and the interior starts to warm up - it is not recommended to immediately direct the hot stream onto the glass, you can get a crack from the temperature difference;
as the engine warms up, the suction is gradually removed - enrichment of the mixture is not required in the operating temperature ranges;
after warming up, the suction is removed completely.

Some cars imported production With carbureted engines equipped with automatic suction. In this case, the throttle control occurs without the participation of the driver.

Warming up a car with fuel injection

If you left without waiting for the engine to reach the operating temperature range, then do not forget about the following rules:

do not accelerate the first few kilometers - the lubricant has not warmed up yet and the engine is running in oil starvation mode;
the gearbox is also still frozen - you should not operate it like Formula 1 racers;
the oil in the shock absorbers and pillows under the engine is still very viscous - these units should slowly come to their working state, you should not sharply load the suspension.

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

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

All these, of course, useful "bells and whistles" help the driver quickly leave the parking lot after a frosty night. However, do not forget that ten minutes of cold engine operation can be equated to a hundred kilometers. Wear piston group due primarily to the fact that the piston, made on the basis of an aluminum alloy, heats up faster than a steel cylinder liner. At the same time, the gaps are significantly reduced, and the viscous oil does not provide necessary lubrication. Rings, liners, gearbox bearings suffer. Of course, modern additives smooth out the sharp dependence of oil viscosity on temperature. However, no one has yet repealed the laws of physics.

In many ways, manufacturers' recommendations for warming up modern engines connected with environmental requirements To exhaust gases cars. The point is that when warmed up Idling release harmful substances far exceeds allowable norms. Even the catalyst that our motorists have adapted to cut out of exhaust pipe due to its high cost. The engine really warms up faster during the ride, this is due to the work it does. Unfortunately, this also wears out faster.

Features of warming up a diesel car

The usual morning problems with starting a diesel engine are due to the fact that fuel that does not correspond to seasonal operating conditions has got into the tank of the car. winter diesel fuel differs from summer themes that it contains special additives that prevent thickening at low temperatures. Is it necessary to warm up the car engine in winter if it is diesel - a rhetorical question. Diesels are characterized by all the same problems that prepared their owners gasoline engine. Plus, in the cold season fuel filters clogged with hardened paraffins, which reduces their permeability. In conditions of lack of fuel, it is quite difficult to start the engine.

There are several ways to deal with these phenomena:

winter additives- the easiest way is to add 5-15% low-octane gasoline to the fuel;
electric filter heating- this tool allows you to melt paraffin deposits on the grids;
return of warm fuel to the tank through the "return"- this is how the fuel is preheated;
glow plugs- they help to heat the fuel to operating temperatures.

electric cars

Novelties on electric traction generally do not require preheating before operation. These machines do not even have a gearbox in which it is necessary to bring the oil into working condition. The transmission is carried out using angular gear, which transmits torque from the motor shaft to the axle shaft. Morning preparation for leaving the parking lot consists in warming up the cabin to comfortable temperatures and providing the necessary visibility through the frosted glass. There are no special recommendations here on how to properly warm up a car in winter. Climate control provide a warm atmosphere in the cabin, and power unit does not require any pre-training. The only thing to consider is the condition of the oil in the shock absorbers and engine and body mounts. You need to warm it up gradually, a few kilometers should be driven at low speed.

To heat or not to heat

The question is probably understandable. Warming up the car in winter is necessary to extend the life of the engine and gearbox. How long to do this depends on the type power plant and gearboxes. With a slight frost, 3-5 minutes will be enough to warm up the oil enough. It will take a little longer to clear the glass from frost. It is recommended to use special sprays that prevent icing. This will reduce the parking time, save fuel and reduce the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. A separate word must be said about engine preheating systems. These fantastic devices will allow you to pick up your car in the parking lot just a few minutes before leaving. Despite their high cost, the effectiveness of such equipment has been proven by many years of operation in harsh conditions. winter climate. Of course, all this is of little interest to residents of sunny California and Miami.

Strong winter frosts mercilessly show themselves to people and vehicles. Sometimes because of this, a job vacancy in a company or even life is at stake if you are stuck outside the city and there is no one to wait for help from. We will figure out how to quickly and effectively solve winter troubles.

Why won't my car start in winter?

There are cases of "frosty disorder" that happen in the car:

a frozen engine (it also happens that not only diesel, but also gasoline freezes);
battery (it can be discharged even from a strong sub-zero temperature);
pads (do not rotate);
door lock (this problem is frequent, as the locks will get stuck);
power windows (due to which it will not be possible to use the windows).

To cope with this problem, according to the masters who have been working at the stations for a long time Maintenance, you can, if you store " iron horse» in a warm brick garage. But not everyone has one, so they start from the daily realities of life.

So, if the battery has reduced power, the starter has not rotated, and it was more than minus 25 degrees Celsius outside, then you can cope with the help of your neighbors. It is not recommended to torment the car in this way every day, it is better to warm up the car for a long time before going to bed.

Battery power is stored in other ways. If you take it off and bring it home at night, because of which you don’t let it cool down, you can easily start the car in the morning.

How to warm up a car in cold weather

On frosty days, it doesn't matter what engine you have in your car. Anyone can freeze at minus weather conditions. In order for you to succeed in launching it, you need to heed a few tips:

the main thing is to warm up the battery. Here we need simple steps- turn on the ignition, then the dipped headlights for about a minute, then the rear ones for a couple of seconds (while depressing the clutch so that the starter does not turn). Be sure to turn off the tape recorder, stove and other appliances;
turn the key in the ignition to engage the starter for no more than five seconds. It may also happen that the car will not start, so the procedure will have to be repeated several times with an interval of 5-7 minutes. This time is enough for the gasoline that has entered the cylinder chambers to turn into a combustible fuel mixture.
after a couple of minutes, try to repeat the startup procedure. If necessary, increase the running time of the starter by a couple of seconds. Such an attempt must be made several times;
in a situation where it was not possible to start the engine on its own, one of the ways would be a “car warm-up service”. It is necessary to tow the car to warm boxes, where high temperature it will heat up, after which the engine should start without problems.

Every car owner needs to remember that even when you managed to start the engine, you do not need to immediately take off and go. It's better to move with minimum speed not exceeding 40 km/h. Then you will be sure that both the oil and other mechanisms under the hood (shock absorbers, axles, differentials) are working properly.

How to avoid such problems

The mass of emerging problems with frosty weather created many obstacles for motorists. But thanks chemicals, minimal problems can be avoided. For example, in the morning you needed to urgently go, and door locks they don't want to open up. Therefore, it is worth lubricating the locks in the evening before going to bed. special tool and they open easily in the morning.

The main advice of experts in order to avoid this kind of problems: you need to make sure that the machine is in winter period time stood in the garage.

Features of warming up the machine

Each process takes some specific time. Therefore, it is important to know such nuances with which you can harm your own vehicle even more:

in no case do not turn the starter and do not keep it in this state for more than ten seconds in a row. This will only lead to the fact that you again discharge the battery, and even fill in the candles;
adhere to and maintain the time barrier when starting the engine. Remember that you need to take breaks, at least one minute, so as not to spoil the entire car system.
if you repeated the process more than five times at once, then you should urgently stop. Each subsequent attempt to start the engine can end badly for other parts of the car. Even if the battery can still crank the starter, your spark plugs will get wet. Under such circumstances, it will not be possible to start the engine.

It is worth noting that after several unsuccessful attempts to start in cold weather, a lot will become clear from the first minutes. If the candles have become "abandoned", then even with a positive temperature regime your car won't start.

Everyone should know the options for warming up a car. After reviewing the advice of experts, it becomes clear that these are the only correct options:

to warm up, drag the car to a warm place (boxes, garages, car services, etc.).
warm up in a car wash.
call a service that will warm the car directly in the parking lot.

Precautionary measures

Make sure that the windshield washer tank is filled with antifreeze that can withstand a particular minus temperature. The safety of the trip lies only on your own shoulders, so take care of this before the onset of severe cold.

Outcome

Thus, by following these simple guidelines, you can for a long time rejoice good work your car, even in severe frosts. Competent operation let you forget about possible malfunctions and as little as possible to seek help from neighbors or to a service station.

The coming winter threatens to be the most severe in the last 10 years, and cold start problems cannot be avoided. Understanding the difference between remote start and preheater, and we are wondering if we can do with an auto-blanket ...

Change tires to winter tires, change working fluids, candles, treat locks with silicone, do not forget about changing pads and oil, and most importantly, put a shovel in the trunk - this is the set of actions a typical neat driver has when winter approaches.

In order not to freeze ourselves, we take out hats, gloves, coats, scarves from the pantries, wrap ourselves in warm clothes. We run out into the frosty air, skipping to the car in anticipation of heat and ... we sit in the car that has been frozen overnight. But we can also “dress up” our “swallows” in warm “fur coats” in order to save fuel and time in the morning.

What are some ways to warm up a car faster?

1. Remote start

I feel how the wealthy part of the readers shouts into the monitor: “There is a remote engine start system!”. That's right, it exists. Sometimes even included in the "base" of the car.

Pros:

Very comfortably! The alarm rang in the morning, checked the mail and news on social networks, looked out the window, started the engine, washed, had breakfast, dressed, left the house and sat in warm car- an infinitely convenient scheme.

Minuses:

The car can leave without you. Do not leave the car "in gear"! If you plan to start the engine in the morning from the apartment, then leave the gearbox in the "Park" or "neutral" position at night.

Autostart does not solve the problem of cold starts, which are harmful to the engine. One cold start and warming up is a multiple of approximately 100 km! After such a figure, you will involuntarily think about the reasonableness of using a car in winter.

Not cheap. Installing autorun will cost an average of 20 thousand rubles.

2. Preheater

The first question from an ignorant person: “What, is there a difference with remote start? There is, and quite fundamentally.

Pros:

A car with a pre-heater turns into a car superior comfort. We set a timer for the time when you leave the house in the morning, and the “swallow” will welcome you with cozy warmth.

The device warms up the antifreeze, and the engine does not start “cold”, which means that there is a problem with increased wear in the cold partly solved.

Minuses:

A complex system. Install an autonomous start only in proven car services from professionals! Mistakes in the installation lead to a fire!

Expensive. Quality installation similar system will cost no less than 50 thousand rubles.

3. Insulation for the car "Avtoteplo"

Thing for Russian market not new, but still unusual. We decided to test it on own car our correspondent Hyundai Getz and form their own opinion.

A blanket for the engine will help it warm up faster and not cool down for a long time. At an air temperature of about 0 °, as now in the morning, the car warms up without additional devices for about 10-15 minutes. And in about 40 minutes the car cools down.

By the way, Avtoteplo has already acquired a considerable number of unscrupulous competitors producing cheaper fakes that do not correspond to the level of quality. They, of course, should be avoided simply for security reasons - we will talk about this in more detail below.

Pros:

Cheap! "Avtoteplo" costs less than 2 thousand rubles. Great gift idea for any fall/winter holiday!

When using "Avtotepla", the engine warms up in 5 minutes, and complete cooling occurs after 5 (!) Hours.

Quick installation. This method is wonderful at least in that absolutely all actions can be performed independently. Even girls can do it. You just need to spread a blanket over the engine under the hood, fold the edges and close the hood. And let it lie until spring.

"Avtoteplo" works like a thermos - a material made of a metal alloy, inflated with very hot air to a fibrous state. Such an "iron blanket" is not afraid of any technical fluids No oil, no brake fluid.

"Avtoteplo" partially solves the problem of cold start - the engine cools down slowly, which means that after short stops, starting is not as destructive for the engine as without a blanket.

The noise level in the cabin is reduced - the filler absorbs sound. On idling the effect is not noticeable: both without a blanket and with it, the noise level in the cabin is 49 dB. If we raise the speed to the working 2,700, then here we measured 67 dB without a blanket, and 61 dB with a blanket. On the device, and by ear - a tangible difference!

Does not let the cold through - such a blanket can be used even at a winter picnic.

Unlimited service life.

And this item will be especially useful for girls - White color in winter is always relevant.

Eliminates the possibility of fire! Does not melt when heated to 1200 degrees! When set on fire, gasoline and the threads with which the blanket is sewn burn out - we checked this from our own experience. A black spot remains, but the burning does not spread outside the area sprinkled with gasoline. The filler remains intact after that. IN counterfeit products use a combustible insulation that does not withstand such loads and can ignite right under the hood.

1 / 9

2 / 9

3 / 9

4 / 9

5 / 9

6 / 9

7 / 9

8 / 9

9 / 9

Minuses:

If the parking lot is long-term, then miracles from Avtotepl should not be expected: it is physically impossible for a blanket to fully replace the pre-heater.

4. Homemade insulation

“If you can just cover the motor with a blanket, then why buy a special one? Is it possible to get by with improvised means? - you ask. We tested analogues - felt and isolon with foil. And compared the characteristics.

The question of the need to warm up the engine in winter is relevant even today. At the same time, car owners are divided into two groups. Some drivers are sure that it is necessary to warm up, others say the opposite. Let's try to figure out whether it is necessary to warm up the car in winter.

Engine oil

The very first reason why there is an urgent need to warm up a car engine in winter is engine oil. The fact is that at negative air temperatures outside the window, the oil thickens, and then oil pump quite difficult to download it on the system. This means that some friction pairs can remain without lubrication for some time, and in no case should they be loaded. Therefore, for some time the car engine must run idle to warm up the oil. Then it will gain its working viscosity, as a result of which all rubbing parts receive their portion of lubrication.

Despite the fact that modern multigrade oils designed to work at low temperatures, they thicken anyway, and it is oil that is the first argument in favor of warming up the car.

Safety

The second reason for warming up is safety. Often the car, after standing all night in the cold, is covered with a crust of ice. Drivers usually clear only a small part windshield from ice and snow and then ride. At the same time, the rest of the glass remains frozen, which is dangerous when driving. In this case, you need to wait for the car to completely thaw and start driving. It takes a little time if you turn on the stove in the car.

Motor wear

Warming up the car engine in winter is also necessary to prevent early wear of parts of the power plant. The fact is that cold parts decrease in size and the gaps between rubbing parts become larger. If you start the engine and immediately give a load, then these parts will wear out faster. Warming up the motor will allow the metal to expand, and all elements will restore their size. As a result, their work will be more efficient, and wear - less.

Gasoline consumption

Warming up the car in cold weather is also necessary in order to save fuel. Everyone knows that a cold engine consumes more fuel due to the fact that the formation air-fuel mixture difficult in cold weather. Therefore, the first 10 minutes on a cold engine, the engine will consume more fuel to overcome the resistance of viscous fuel and too cold air. It is advisable not to load the engine for these 5-10 minutes, which will save gasoline.

cold saloon

Driving in a cold car is a dubious pleasure. In general, sitting on a cold seat is unhealthy, so you can warm up the car, among other things, to ensure comfortable driving conditions.

Battery

Warming up the engine reduces the load on the battery. Some drivers, instead of gradually heating the cabin, immediately turn on the electronic glass heating. As a result, the energy of a cold battery can be used. Its performance suffers as a result, and this can lead to a decrease in electrolyte density.

Perhaps now we figured out whether it is necessary to warm up the car in winter. Some masters and owners say the opposite and say that this is not necessary. The reason is environmental damage. Imagine that every driver needslessly burns fuel for five minutes before driving. This will significantly increase the amount of harmful substances in the atmosphere. Hence the debate arises about whether it is necessary to warm up the car in winter. So the driver has a choice: either the environment or greater resource engine. And so it is clear what exactly he will choose.

How to warm up the car in winter?

There is no specific instruction or special knowledge that needs to be followed when warming up. Simply start the engine and let it idle. How much to warm up the car? Probably about 7-10 minutes is enough.

Some car owners recommend turning on the dipped beam immediately before warming up to revive the battery. Then you can turn the key in the ignition. If the engine does not start the first time, then you do not need to try to turn the starter "to victory". It is advisable to give the battery a little rest and recover (about 15-20 seconds), after which you can try again.

Note that problems with starting the engine in cold weather are quite common. This is primarily due to an increase in the density of gasoline, oil, and temperature changes in metal elements. After starting the engine, you need to wait a couple of minutes and turn on the heating in the cabin.

An important point: hot air should not be directed to the cold glass, so you need to turn on the glass heating only after the interior has warmed up. Make sure that the air from the air ducts only enters the passenger compartment, and not on the windows of the car. In the meantime, the car will warm up, you can remove snow and ice from the windows.

Conclusion

So do you need to warm up the car in winter? Of course you do. Do not listen to the stupidity of people who say otherwise. Nobody canceled physics, and even the most best oil and gasoline thicken at low temperatures, and even in the coolest and most wear-resistant engine, the gaps between rubbing parts will become larger at negative temperatures outside the window. Therefore, it is necessary to warm up the engine before the trip.

As for the environment, let environmentalists deal with it. To reduce the amount of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, there are special filters, and harming your engine and reducing its service life is not the best solution.