Why do you need to warm up your car in winter? Warming up a car engine - do I need to warm it up? Warming up the engine in winter on a modern car

Whether to warm up the car before driving or not is an age-old question that causes heated discussions in the circles of motorists with the advent of cold weather, especially winter frosts. In fact, the unequivocal answer is to warm. Another thing is how much time and by what methods - here the decision is made by the driver individually, depending on several factors.

Why is it necessary to warm up the car

During frost, do not forget to check the condition of the battery and the performance of the generator with a voltmeter

Operating a car on the principle of “turn the key and go” even in 40-degree heat will not lead to anything good. Most motors are designed for an operating temperature of +90 ° C, so sultry +40 ° C, at which we are thirsty, are not enough for the engine.

The main reason why it is necessary to warm up the car is to run the engine dry, without lubrication, for the first 30 seconds after starting, regardless of the time of year and air temperature. Engine oil needs time to rise from the crankcase and fill the gaps between moving parts. power plant. And the colder it is outside, the thicker it is and, accordingly, the slower it enters the engine. And it starts to work, having warmed up to those same + 40 ° C.

How long does it take in summer, spring and autumn

The engine warms up faster while driving than when running. Idling

The lower the air temperature, the longer it takes to warm up the car, even the most modern one. Accordingly, in summer, as well as in warm spring or autumn, 1 minute will be enough, after which you can start moving.

In general, you should focus not on the time of year, but on the air temperature outside. The dependency is the following:

• above + 15 °C - 1 minute of warming up is enough;
• +10…+15 °C - about 3 minutes of warming up;
• 0…+10 °C - about 5 minutes of warming up.

It is not at all necessary to rattle the engine while standing in the yard. At positive temperatures, you can start moving after the first minute of engine operation, but at low revs- up to 2000. Do not spin up the motor anymore until it warms up to working +90 ° C. On the move, it will happen faster.

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

Do not forget that parking with a running engine in a residential area is prohibited.

Winter heating - separate story. It starts with starting the engine, and there is a little secret here. IN hard frost don't try to start the first time. Just let the crankshaft rotate and turn off the ignition at about the third turn. So you, firstly, “revive” the battery frozen in the cold, and secondly, at least slightly raise the oil from the crankcase to the engine. After 10 seconds, try to start the car by depressing the clutch.

Winters are different everywhere, even within the borders of Russia, the south from the north is very different climatically, so you need to be guided by the air temperature.

The rule is the following:

• outside to -10 ° C - we warm the car for about 7 minutes;
• at -10 ... -30 ° C - we heat for 10 minutes;
• in frost below -30 ° C - warm up to 15 minutes.

As in the warm season, you can warm up the car without moving for the first 3–5 minutes, and then slowly start moving and give the engine a gentle load (up to 2000 rpm) until the coolant temperature sensor is set at the working mark.

What happens if you don't

Viscosity-temperature characteristic engine oil significantly affects almost all the main engine performance

Starting the movement immediately after the start, you simply shorten the life of the engine at times, or even risk killing it right there:

• without lubrication or with excessively thick oil, the wear of rubbing parts increases many times, they quickly fail;
• thick oil is almost not filtered and goes dirty into the engine through the bypass valve, along with it, garbage, metal chips and other elements unnecessary for the engine get into the engine;
• load on the motor without warming it up leads to damage to both piston, oil scraper rings, and engine cylinders;
• if an oil pressure sensor is installed in a plastic case (often found on new cars), it can fail, unable to withstand the pressure of excessively thick cold oil.

An unheated motor winter frost may simply jam under heavy load in the first 1-2 minutes of operation.

As you can see, it is more expensive not to heat the car, especially in cold weather. And the "cooler" your iron Horse, topics big losses you can incur, quickly killing the motor by operating without warming up. Principle of operation power unit the same for any make and model of car: the oil in any car is in the sump and does not get into the engine instantly. Therefore, the recommendations of automakers to start moving immediately after starting the engine are nothing more than compliance with environmental requirements.

“Frost and sun - a wonderful day” - it is immediately clear that it was not a motorist who wrote these lines. After all, even a novice driver knows about the problems that can be expected from frost, when there is a need to start the engine of a frozen car. This is especially true when a person is late somewhere.

And then the question of how to warm up the car faster in winter rises literally edge-on. In our article, we will provide recommendations aimed at helping those drivers who often have to deal with this problem.

Why you need to warm up the engine

unequivocal opinion as to whether pressing need V preheating car engine until it reaches operating temperature or not, does not exist in nature. However, we tend to be of the opinion that this procedure is necessary. And to substantiate our opinion, we present the following arguments.

1. It is common for any engine oil to thicken at sub-zero temperatures, and this negatively affects its lubricating characteristics, which can lead to premature wear components and parts of the engine. This statement is doubly true when the car immediately starts to work in high speed mode. Warmed up to the optimum temperature, the oil again becomes optimally viscous and qualitatively lubricates all components and parts.
2. A frozen engine has gaps between separate details do not meet the standards. And this again leads to their accelerated wear. The gaps are normalized only after reaching the recommended temperature level.
3. The operating mode of a cold engine is not stable. And this is noticeable on almost all brands of cars, regardless of whether they are equipped with carburetors or the most modern systems fuel injection. As a result, the engine begins to “sneeze”; it has a decrease in dynamics and injectivity index.
4. When driving with an underheated engine, increased consumption fuel, which is due to insufficient high rate temperature air-fuel mixture.

The car needs to be warmed up properly in winter

When the engine warms up, it should work in idle mode, that is, without applying loads to it that are created during the ride. In order to start the car in winter, it is necessary to set the gearshift lever to the neutral position and depress the clutch pedal, which is slowly released after car engine will start working.

After that, you need to wait a certain time, required by the engine to reach operating temperature. To speed up this process, you can connect maximum amount energy-intensive consumers, such as high beam headlights and interior heating. This increases the load on the generator, which also contributes to the acceleration of the heating process.

This time can be used to clear snow from the surface of the car, its windows and headlights. But waiting for temperature indicator the engine reaches the working indicator, you should not move sharply from a place, but you should do it smoothly. The need for this is explained by the fact that the oil in the gearbox is also in a cooled state and it will be better if it gradually reaches the operating temperature.

How to warm up your car faster in winter

To ensure efficient and quick warm-up cars in winter time It is recommended to use the following devices:

1. heating element;
2. electric preheater;
3. thermal accumulator;
4. fuel line heater;
5. prelaunch liquid heater;

heating elements

Finding an oil heating element in the oil pan is quite difficult, since it is already a rarity. It was the first to be mounted on military vehicles, and it worked from onboard battery. With its help, before starting the engine, they heated the oil in the oil pan. True, it must be said that at the same time a rather serious discharge of the battery occurred, which is already quite weakened by exposure to negative temperatures.

Starting electric heaters

The use of a pre-start electric heater, which is connected to power through an ordinary household outlet, will allow heating the engine coolant to required level temperature. True, for this he will need at least three hours, during which the device is not recommended to be left unattended.

Thermal accumulators

Installing a thermal accumulator on a car will save time on warming up the car engine for those who have to use the car all the time. During the operation of the engine in special device, which is commonly called a thermos, there is an accumulation of antifreeze having a working temperature. At the time of launch, this antifreeze is pumped into the cooling system, due to which general temperature the liquid in there rises fifteen degrees. And this, of course, provides easier engine start and accelerated warm-up.

Automated fuel line heaters

Due to automated fuel line heaters, the fuel flow improves, the flammability of the air-fuel mixture increases, as well as its volatility. It removes the frost formed in fuel system in the process with gasoline, especially if it is not of very high quality. Very good result can be achieved if you use this device in conjunction with a thermal accumulator.

Prestarting liquid heaters

The use of a pre-start liquid heater makes it possible to heat up the antifreeze due to the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in its chamber. The heated liquid using the pump enters the system, which allows for sixty minutes, or even faster, to warm up the car in winter. It is possible to program the start time of the system, as well as to control it remotely.

After reaching a temperature of about 85 ° C, the system starts to work in standby mode. As soon as the temperature drops below set parameter, the heating is switched on again. The negative characteristics of this system, some include the presence of additional fuel consumption. But they do not take into account the fact that the system will need no more than one liter per hour, while in order to start and then warm up a cold engine, it will take about two liters.

How long does it take to warm up the engine

Ambient temperature indicator (degrees Celsius)	Vehicle warm-up time	Rationale
		At this temperature, the car windows are not coated yet, so there is no need for long-term warm-up
		This time is quite enough to reach the operating temperature of the engine in such a frost.
-10 to -20		Such frost covers the windows of the car with ice, which must thaw for safe movement.
		Normal warming up of the car in such a frost occurs depending on which technical condition the car is located.

In conclusion, we can say that the most the best option operating a car at low temperatures is one in which the driver warms up the engine for three to five minutes. After that, a smooth movement begins, excluding sharp accelerations and engine spin-up above 2000 rpm. And you should move in this mode until the temperature level reaches 80-90 degrees.

Russian climatic conditions are such that drivers have to operate the car not only in summer, but also in winter, when the temperature drops well below zero. In winter, it is recommended to warm up the car engine before driving. But is it really necessary to do this in modern cars? If so, how to properly warm up the car in winter.

Why did the question arose about the expediency of warming up? The reason is that in the operating instructions of modern cars you can often find information that an engine with a fuel injection system does not need to warm up. As a result of this, the car owner is faced with the question of whether it is necessary to warm up injection engine winter or is it just a relic of the past. The problem really exists, so we will tell you about the various aspects of this issue.

What is the danger of driving on a cold engine?

The instruction manual for the vehicle is created one for different markets. Accordingly, the manufacturer does not always take into account the climatic conditions of a particular country or region. Failure to warm up the car before the trip leads to premature wear of engine components and this is no longer a secret. Let's analyze in more detail why it should be done?

Engine oil

All drivers understand how important it is to change engine oil regularly. Without high-quality lubrication, the engine will not be able to work for a long time and without fail. After the driver turns off the engine, the oil gradually enters the sump, and a minimal film remains on the engine components. The more time the motor is not used, the smaller this layer of lubricant will be.

In the summer, when it is warm outside, engine oil quickly disperses through the channels and provides high-quality engine lubrication. It takes no more than 30-45 seconds. In this regard, we advise you to warm up the car not only in winter, but also in summer. True, in the summer 30-60 seconds are enough for this. But in cold weather, after a long period of inactivity, the oil thickens, which is why it is not able to lubricate the parts of the power unit with high quality immediately after it is started.

Piston rings

Piston rings are located in special slots on the outer surfaces of the pistons. They are in constant contact with the surface of the engine cylinders and are subjected to significant loads. The cylinder block is made of metal, so when cooled, the cylinders narrow.

On a cold engine, the cylinders clamp the piston rings more tightly, as a result of which, immediately after starting the engine, it is very difficult for them to move in a vertical plane. But as the metal heats up, the metal expands, and the oil supply is also provided, as a result of which the process is less painful. Warming up the engine makes it easier for the pistons to work.

Oil filter

The filter is a metal part with a filter element inside. liquid oil passes through it without much difficulty, leaving dirt particles behind. But if the oil is cold, it is already much more difficult for it to pass through the filter, as a result of which it may block and open bypass valve. In this case, the oil supply to the engine occurs without pre-filtering.

The closing of this valve occurs only after the oil has heated up to a certain temperature and can pass through the filter. Accordingly, all this negatively affects the operational life of the motor, because more dirt gets into it.

Hydraulic tensioner and hydraulic compensators

These elements are necessary for the optimal functioning of the valves, as well as adjusting the chain tension. For this, oil is supplied to them. Cold oil is not pumped very efficiently because it is still thick. Probably, you have heard more than once how the valves knock on the cold.

Oil pressure sensor

In many cars, oil pressure sensors are made of plastic. Previously, they were always made entirely of metal. Sensors that are partially made of plastic are sometimes squeezed out, as a result of which the indicator on the instrument panel lights up low pressure oils. Also, engine oil may drip from under the sensor. In general, the situation is very unpleasant. Reviews indicate that this really happens in winter, but the problem is solved by simply warming up the engine.

In other words, if you do not warm up the engine, the probability of a breakdown of one of its nodes increases significantly. Even if nothing happens, the life of the motor will definitely be reduced.

The point of view of automakers, ecology and Russian realities

Experts note that driving on an unheated power unit can significantly increase the risk of damage or breakage of its elements. Why do automakers write that it is not necessary to warm up a car engine in winter? They imply long warm-up, which leads to an increase in fuel consumption, and also negatively affects the environment. In fact, this is due to the fact that the number of harmful emissions in atmosphere.

Most European countries it is forbidden to stand for a long time with the engine idling in settlements. Accordingly, the question of whether it is necessary to warm up the engine in winter before a trip is not worth it at all. But in the CIS countries, the approach is completely different - environmental regulations we have lower ones, and the service life of the engine is of great importance, because the cost of the machine, its maintenance and repair can hardly be called affordable. And the climatic conditions in Europe differ significantly from those in Russia.

How much to warm up the car in winter and summer

Warming up the car in cold weather is very important if you want to run the engine long enough. The warm-up time depends on the outside air temperature:

• from +10°C and above - it is recommended to warm up the engine for a maximum of 2-3 minutes;
• from -10°C to +10°C - it is advisable to warm up the motor for about 5-7 minutes;
• from -10°C to -30°C - a 10-minute warm-up is enough;
• from -30°C and below - it will take about 10-15 minutes to warm up the oil.

How to properly warm up the car in winter - basic steps

Stages of cold start of the power unit:

1. First, it is recommended to warm up the electrolyte in the battery by turning on the high beam for about 10-15 seconds.
2. Turn off your high beam headlights and wait about half a minute.
3. Depress the clutch pedal (if you have a car with a manual transmission), which will remove the load from the gearbox and start the engine. It is recommended to release the pedal only after 2-3 minutes.
4. If the engine start was unsuccessful, a second attempt should be made only after two minutes, so that the battery has time to recover. If several attempts have not led to success, you need to look for a breakdown.
5. After starting the engine, turn on the interior heater.
6. For the first few kilometers after the start of the movement, it is not recommended to accelerate over 40-50 km / h, since the engine has not yet reached operating temperature.

Warm-up pros and cons

Accept final decision about whether it is necessary to warm up the car in winter, a list of the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure will help.

Advantages:

• It's comfortable. Getting into a cold cabin and driving for several kilometers in it is not the most pleasant feeling.
• Stable operation of the power unit.
• Optimal engine oil thickness and extended engine life.

Flaws:

• Increase in harmful emissions.
• Extra fuel costs.

In the yard of the XXI century, the operation of an automobile 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 fluids 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 Sergey Kolchin.

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

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 engines internal combustion have an operating temperature of 90 degrees. But this approach is wrong. For a car enthusiast, he can turn around excessive spending fuel for heating 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 when 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 the 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. Cool cold motor not necessary, 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 flow fuel. Almost all modern cars have on-board computers that 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.

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 are working oil starvation. What leads to them 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 a hole oil dipstick and connects to the car battery. It is assumed that this device warms up the oil, returns it to fluidity and simplifies warming up. But it's just 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 period. 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.

It seems that everyone does this: they start the car in the morning and sit inside while the engine “warms up”. You are probably doing this to protect the engine. This means that they have become a victim of a myth that actually does more harm than good.

For the past 26 years, Chiatti has been studying internal combustion engines, i.e. motors that burn liquid fuel to produce energy. Currently, he even oversees the work of the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.

In short, the conclusion of the expert is as follows:

Running a car engine idling in cold weather not only causes you to waste extra fuel, but also harms the engine.

Because when the engine is running and the car is stationary, the frozen oil does not have time to get to the cylinders and pistons in time. The result is an increased, unacceptable load on them.

How it works:

IN normal conditions your car engine runs on a mixture of air and vaporized fuel - take gasoline as an example. The mixture enters the cylinder, the piston compresses it - and this leads to a micro-explosion, which gives energy to the engine.

But when it's cold outside, gasoline doesn't evaporate well. Initially, your car compensates for this by adding more gasoline, so at first the engine runs on increased speed. And this is where the problems begin.

“The problem is that when too much fuel enters the combustion chamber, some of it remains on the cylinder walls. Chiatti says. - Gasoline is a great solvent and really washes away lubricants from the walls when you start the engine in the cold. This is especially important if the car has been standing on the street for a long time and will not start.

This results in insufficient lubrication. piston rings and cylinder liners. And they are crucial for starting cylinders and pistons, that is, in order to "breathe life" into your car engine.

Let's summarize. the main problem with frost - that because of it the oil thickens. As a result, friction units run “dry”, wear mechanical parts in this case occurs much faster than usual.

But in which case will the engine warm up faster - if you drive or if you stand?

Conclusion: contrary to popular belief, idling the engine does not extend its life, but only shortens it.

By the way, this is exactly what manufacturers of modern cars are talking about: none of them recommends warming up the engine in the parking lot.

And further. If you have automatic transmission gear, then you need to warm it up. Of course, the only way to do this is to drive slowly with gentle throttle control. A couple of tens of seconds is enough for this: just as much is usually required to leave the yard.

A simple solution

After your engine warms up to 4.4 degrees Celsius, the rpm will start to drop. And you will see it on the tachometer scale. Along the way, you will notice that the salon began to enter warm air. But don't confuse heat from the radiator with engine heat!

“Idling will cause the engine to warm up more slowly than usual. This means that the electronics of the car will continue to actively saturate the cylinders with the fuel mixture,” says Chiatti.

So the fastest and The best way warming up the car - wait 30–60 seconds after you have started the engine, and calmly start moving. Or maybe not wait at all.

The main thing at the same time is not to press the gas pedal too actively in the first minutes of movement. “Be gentle with the car for the first 5-15 minutes of driving. So you save the motor from unnecessary stress, ”recommends the expert.

Plus, it's just plain unprofitable. An insufficiently warmed up engine spends at least 12% more fuel than usual. If you press hard on the gas pedal immediately after entering the road, then you are just wasting extra fuel without getting any benefits. A mechanical engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology assures us of this.

The roots of the myth

Some myths are very tenacious, and this one is no exception. The basis for it was the era when all gasoline engines were carbureted. But back in the 1980s, they began to use electronic injection fuel, which made this "five minute rule" irrelevant.

The key difference here is that electronic fuel injection itself regulates the composition air-fuel mixture that enters the cylinder. The carburetor did not know how to do this: it did not have a special sensor for this. But since cars with carburetors are no longer made, there is no need for idling.

A car can be called a living being: it “breathes” air, “eats” fuel, runs and has a “heart” − . How else does she look like a person? In the cold, people begin to live differently: dress warmer, take care of their health, take care of their lungs, and the car may need special engine warm-up. This is very important in order to preserve life and beautiful technical qualities engine.

And now the cold has already arrived, which means that the question has become more topical: do you need to warm up the engine or is it not necessary. Why did we raise this issue? A few decades ago, the roads of the country were predominantly. There was enough fuss with them: open the throttle valve, at the same time make sure that the engine does not “choke”.

But now drivers prefer, which are somewhat different from carburetor ones. Therefore, on the eve of frosty days, a dilemma arises: whether to warm up the engine or is it enough to turn the key in the ignition, turn on the gear and move in the right direction. Now we will analyze this issue, and note that it will significantly affect the safety of travel, the reliability of the engine and, as a result, you will get significant savings in the operation of the car.

To warm up or not - that is the question

Let's look at what happens when the ignition is turned on. Gasoline and required amount oxygen in the form of a combustible mixture enters the combustion chamber. electrical system engine supplies current to the spark plug. As a result, ignition occurs combustible mixture, which significantly increases the pressure inside the cylinders, this contributes to the movement piston group engine, and they, in turn, through the details and mechanisms rotate the wheels.

Another important factor affecting quick launch engine, this is the temperature of the oil in the crankcase. Oil enters the engine only after it is started. But in the first minutes, quite intense friction of the parts begins, this contributes to their wear, but the more the temperature rises, the faster the oil heats up to the required performance. Oil is spilled between the parts, friction is reduced, productivity is increased, and as a result, the engine runs evenly and stably.

To understand this principle more simply, imagine jelly and hot oil. In jelly, even a spoon turns with difficulty, and in the second version, even a potato bounces in a pan.

Time required for warm-up

We already at the beginning of the article analyzed the seasonal changes in the operation of the car. It is necessary to change not only rubber, but also to warm up the engine in a different way. Let's take the operating temperature of the motor as a base, it is approximately 90 ° C, and we will build on this. If it is +20 degrees outside, you can reach the desired temperature much faster than at -10 °, and even more so -20 ° C.

Of course, it is difficult to combine the temperature regime and the warm-up time. Each car has its own characteristics, its own power, and even individual parking spaces. Which also affects the period of readiness of the motor to move.

1. Consider an interesting innovation that makes it easier to warm up the motor: remote start engine." A wonderful high-tech feature, perfect in every way. You calmly go about your morning routines: gymnastics, picking up the kids for school or shaving, browsing the mail on the Internet, in fact, do not build your life according to the needs of your beloved car. It is enough to go outside, get into the car and calmly move along the desired route. But in order to make the preparation for the trip more comfortable in this way, it is necessary to install a modern and reliable car alarm on your car, which has the function of starting the engine remotely. In this case, the engine speed during warm-up becomes stable.
2. More affordable option normal warm up. It would seem, what is the difficulty? However, at low temperatures there are some nuances. It's one thing if the car spent the night, even in an unheated garage. 5 minutes is enough to stabilize the speed. This is provided that the temperature did not fall below -5 degrees. At lower temperatures, not only the warm-up time increases, but the driving mode should also be somewhat different. It is necessary to start slowly, not to overdrive, to pick up speed as if with "laziness".

These moments will give a positive result if you take care of the winter version in advance, and fill the cooling system with high-quality liquid.

Warming up the engine in warm winters and at positive temperatures

Let's talk about the fact that there are not always frosty winters, and spring is just around the corner, what experts advise in this case, whether it is worth warming up the engine, or "sat down, turned on the ignition and it's great." There is no single answer. On the one hand, this procedure is not entirely positive for the environment. Let's be frank, we mostly use not environmentally friendly cars.

But there is another more significant side of this issue: the long-term operation of the motor. Agree, constant "shock" loads will in no way contribute to the normal operation of the "heart" of the car. Therefore, “gentle” warming up helps to stabilize the speed at any time of the year. And as a result, the engine starts to work without stress and overload.

Expert opinion

Most designers and car makers recommend using high-quality ("Tosol", etc.), good oil. Most of the tests showed interesting results. On a cold engine, wear is not observed, but under the condition of a small load.

Engineers explain this feature by the fact that a small load helps the engine to slowly, but at the same time more efficiently reach the required operating temperature of the motor. To put it simply, don't throttle hard at the moment you turn on the ignition and forget about fast starts.

But at the same time, to the question of whether to warm up the engine in winter, specialists give an unequivocal answer: yes. It is necessary to warm up for at least 30 seconds, and carburetor about 1-2 minutes.

Low air temperatures now and the coming frosts in the near future make us think about proper preparation car for the trip. You can choose the option that suits you best: install "smart" electronics or properly warm up the car after parking in the cold. But in any case, it is worth listening to the above tips, this will save the motor for a long time, and you will be spared from problems.

The question of the need to warm up the engine in winter is still open; driving with an unheated engine reduces its wear resistance. Low temperature conditions lead to thickening of the oil, which prevents its access to parts and leads to a decrease in the quality of the running gear.

Warming up the car in winter required condition, if you want to long service auto.

Do I need to warm up my car in winter?

Cars manufactured ten years ago need a long warm-up, and modern models vehicles are dispensed with a few minutes to improve engine performance. Allocate the following reasons arguing the need to warm up the engine in winter:

• the dependence of the density and useful properties of the oil on temperature regime;
• in the cold, the gaps wear out faster;
• loss of dynamics, throttle response at low temperatures;
• the possibility of increasing fuel consumption;
• reduced visibility and increased risk of accidents as a result.

Excessive density of engine oil adversely affects the life of mechanisms - when parts are lubricated worse, and the speed is high, wear resistance decreases. After warming up, the oil gains the desired consistency, restoring beneficial features. In this case, the engine has enough lubrication, the service life increases.

Clearances on a supercooled motor deviate from the established norm, which leads to the risk of rapid wear at high speeds. After the engine warms up, they return to normal. The instability of work is expressed in the loss of driving dynamics, the “sneezing” of the mechanism.

This nature of the movement leads to excessive fuel consumption as a reaction to the difference in the temperature of the air-fuel mixture and environment. You are unlikely to get the pleasure of driving in a cold car, and frosted windows reduce visibility, which increases the risk of getting into an accident.

How to properly warm up the engine

If you warm up the engine incorrectly, its resource decreases. A competent approach to knowing the procedure for warming up the car will save you unnecessary trouble and extend the life of the vehicle. It will be right:

• start with the battery so that it does not lose its properties under the influence of cold - load it by turning it on for 15 seconds distant headlights. This time is enough to warm up the electrolyte;
• turn off the high beam to restore the battery within 30 seconds;
• close the radiator from the outside to speed up the process (or throw felt on top);
• start the engine;
• if the gearbox is manual, press the clutch pedal to unload the crankshaft, gearbox and hold for 2-3 minutes to warm up the oil;
• when the car does not start, we take a break for 2-3 minutes to restore the battery. It is necessary to ensure that the starter rotates no longer than 20 seconds. If the car still won't start, it's time to move on to troubleshooting;
• after the engine has started, turn on the stove to warm up the interior - the air will go first into it, and then to Windshield. This will avoid the appearance of microcracks between the glass and the body;
• go on the road to minimum speed(40 km/h) to allow the engine to warm up more.

After driving 5-6 kilometers of the road, the vehicle will restore its functions and will be ready for operation in normal speed mode.

Popular misconceptions

Among motorists, myths associated with warming up a car are common. Some of them are unfounded or exaggerated. Let's look at common misconceptions.

• Myth one: if you warm up the car at idle, more fuel will be consumed. Excessive fuel consumption takes place, but this is noticeable only if the car warms up for 20-30 minutes. In 2-3 minutes of warming up gasoline will be used up less, but the mechanisms will work properly.
• Myth two: warming up the engine is harmful. This is due to the formation of resin deposits on the valves. They can stall due to a loose fit to the seat, but the engine will not fail completely. In return, turbines can break if the car is not warmed up. It is more harmful to do without preheating.
• Myth three: in winter you can do without warming up the car. In fact, if you do not limit yourself to at least a slight warm-up for a period of 2 minutes, the piston machine will become unusable. The fuel will not evaporate well, and condensation will form on the mechanism, which will cause wear due to corrosion. When such condensate with sulfur content and excess water will fall machine oil, the filters will clog along with the channels.

You should not take seriously the misconceptions about warming up the car, but you can pay attention to some details.

Important Features

From how the fuel is supplied, using an injector or a carburetor, the heating scheme does not change. The engine starts the same way, but there are features that should be considered.

If the vehicle is running diesel fuel, then remember that it comes in three types - with different octane rating, ignition temperature:

• summer - for temperature conditions within +1 degree and above;
• winter - used at temperatures from 0 to -30 degrees;
• arctic - used in northern latitudes.

Problems with starting the car can be the result of using summer fuel in winter.
Watch the video on how to warm up the car:

Outcome

With an on-board computer, you can easily determine the end of warm-up. In the absence of electronics and the presence carburetor engine the temperature of the oil is indicated by the arrow of the temperature sensor for the coolant when it moves and the idle speed drops. The process will end when the temperature rises to 50 degrees. It is not recommended to immediately increase the speed. After warming up the coolant to 80 degrees, you can gain acceleration.

Thorough warming up of the car in winter will extend the service life by slowing down the wear of the mechanisms. It is important to warm up the engine, but you should not be too zealous either - everything needs a measure.

As the soul tells any motorist - it is necessary to warm. It was laid down by our fathers and grandfathers.

Instructions for new foreign cars say otherwise. Sit comfortably in cold car, turned on the ignition - and you can get under way. Whom to believe, and how to do it right? The search for an answer leads to several factors: ecology, engine life, fuel economy, climatic conditions.

Warm-up Features

The motor will be fully warmed up as soon as all the working fluids reach the operating temperature, that is, they stop heating up further. Antifreeze gets the temperature faster than the others. With it, the upper elements of the motor begin to thaw - the head, the pistons.

But with the oil in the sump, the situation is quite different: it heats up much more slowly. How to see it? Anyone who pays attention to the on-board computer may notice that even after the cooler is fully heated, fuel consumption at idle may decrease. Therein lies the answer: it's the cold oil. The neutralizer takes the longest to heat up. After that, the toxicity of gases goes to its usual level. The operating mode of the motor greatly affects the warm-up rate.

Warm up or not: pros and cons

Those who talk about the usefulness of warming up argue that a cold engine wears out much faster under load. However, numerous tests have shown the inaccuracy of this assumption. Prolonged heating with the appearance modern cars has become an excess of the past. However, is it possible to answer this question so unambiguously?

When overheated, candles are especially affected. At this point, the air-fuel mixture is quickly enriched, the candles are filled and wear out quickly.

Driving with a cold engine

Modern cars with an integrated injection system that allows you to independently change the parameters of the power unit, do well without warming up. It is replaced by the work of electronics. One rule that must be observed when driving a cold engine is that you should not spin it up to maximum speed. It takes some time to wait for the heating of the working fluids.

Warming up a modern car

Electronic heating systems, which are equipped with many foreign cars, are designed for mild European winters. The harsh realities of Russian cold weather are what the technological models supplied to Russia least expect. If this rule does not work for the southern regions, then the inhabitants of the middle zone will have to regularly perform such an important procedure as warming up. Given this feature, we can say that warming up imported car still needed. However, what are the requirements to be followed? For modern machine 3-5 minutes are enough for all liquids and parts to come into working condition and were able to fully cope with their tasks.

• From 5 degrees to 0 - glass with such a frost is not yet covered with a crust of ice. The engine idling time should not exceed 2 minutes, it is better to wait 1.5 minutes.
• From 0 to -10 - the warm-up time can be increased to 2-2.5 minutes.
• From -10 to -20. You need to warm the iron beast for 3-5 minutes already. During this time, even the interior of the car will have time to get enough heat.
• If the air temperature drops below 20 degrees below zero, you should leave the car to idle for at least 5 minutes.

If there is absolutely no desire to wait for warming up, an alarm with auto start will help.

Fuel consumption and engine wear

When warmed up, fuel consumption increases by about 5%. If the procedure is performed twice a day, there is reason to think about reducing the warm-up time. At long work at idle, the air-fuel mixture is rapidly enriched, which leads to its incomplete combustion in the chamber. This entails the formation of soot on the walls. Subsequently, the engine may require costly repairs. In a diesel engine, long-term warm-up suffers from injectors that quickly coke.

The motor is the heart of any vehicle. It is thanks to him that the most basic function of any car is performed - movement. Taking good care of your engine and maintaining it properly will keep your engine running for as long as possible. In this article, we will talk about such a phenomenon as warming up a car engine, how much time it takes to do this in winter and summer, and what speed is acceptable during warming up.

Does the engine need to be warmed up?

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

To begin with, we will 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 it cools down engine compartment and metal, the car's intake system also loses its operating temperature, in addition, condensation forms in it. The pressure in the fuel system also decreases.

In addition to the intake and exhaust system, any oil accidentally deposited on engine parts flows down into the sump and does not remain on the upper parts of the engine.

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

In the process of starting, the motor starts to work almost "dry". is gradually restored and the parts begin to be completely lubricated. And this means that crankshaft will rotate much better, as this reduces friction between the 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 seriously increases. The motor goes into high speed where it reaches operating temperature much faster. Ice from the walls of the intake and exhaust manifolds begins to disappear, after which the warm-up process accelerates.

What happens if you do not warm up the engine

What happens if you drive on an unheated engine? First, the engine will immediately receive an unwanted load, which is accompanied by dry friction, inefficient fuel supply and exhaust emissions. Carburetor cars in this mode simply begin to stall, so they immediately completely close the air damper. As for the injectors, they may well continue to work in this mode. A trip on a cold engine is accompanied by dips when you press the gas pedal. In some cases, even backaches are felt, which can easily bring down the ignition. Fuel consumption, at the same time, increases, and power is noticeably lost.

Warming up the engine is necessary in order to bring the lubrication system and the fuel supply system to a fully operational state and, thereby, ensure the normal functioning of the engine.

How much do you need to warm the engine in winter and summer?

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 injector ones. This is due to their impossibility of exploitation until idling will not become stable.

For economical and efficient warming up of the engine, it is recommended to use the following times. Start the engine with the fully closed air damper and remove it until the speed is kept at a stable level. Then you can choose two paths for yourself. The first is to start moving after the temperature needle reaches 50 degrees Celsius. The second is to gradually reduce the suction until the motor starts its normal work without him. The warm-up time, in this case, is usually the same.

It is worth considering that when working on an added suction, the motor consumes more fuel, but it also warms up much faster, and when using this device economically, it consumes less fuel, but it also warms up noticeably longer.

injection engine has other heating features. They can be conditionally 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 full readiness motor: signal on on-board computer and lower engine speed. The most relevant is the second feature.

In the summer, after the engine speed drops, you can immediately start driving a car. Usually, this happens within 2-3 minutes. In winter, the operation of the car is permissible, after holding for 1-2 minutes after the speed has subsided. This will be considered the warm-up time of the engine.

Permissible revolutions when the engine warms up

It is impossible to give a load to an unheated engine. That is why, you need to know exactly what speed is allowed to be used during the preparation of the engine for operation. Most often, this is true for carbureted cars, because injection motor“he knows” 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 speed will be at the level of 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 a little, and the speed increases, the damper must be opened until the speed begins to be on the verge between unstable and stable. It can be both 1200 and 1300 rpm.