4 Reasons Why You Need To Let Your Car Warm Up In The Winter
Yes, we all know cars need to be warmed up before you abuse them, but why is that really? I wanted to try out this ‘advanced post editor’ so I decided to pretend I’m Engineering Explained this morning.
Alright, let’s roll.
1. Get the juices flowing
You probably all knew this one already. After your car has been standing for a while, your engine oil will settle in the bottom of the oil pan. It takes around 10 to 30 seconds to get it properly circulating again. If it’s cold, your oil will be more viscous (thick) to begin with so it might take a bit more time than that. Oil plays a crucial role in reducing metal-to-metal rubbing in your engine, so you want to make sure it’s all lubed up.
Most manufacturers recommend driving off after about 30 seconds (in a chilled out manner). This way you will hit operating temperature quicker and reduce the amount of time your engine has to spend in miserable conditions. No need to idle for 10 minutes!
2. Thermal expansion
Solids - like metal - expand as they get warmer. Engineers have to take this into consideration when designing an engine, and be clever with spacings and clearances to allow room for size changes.
E.g.: Your piston and cylinder may have different thermal expansion coefficients, meaning they’ll react differently to changes in temperature. When your engine is not at operating temperature, some bits and pieces in it are essentially the “wrong” size, causing added friction, wear and tear. Not a good time to hit VTEC.
3. The sound of cold starts
When you start your car up, the engine will deliberately run at a slightly higher RPM to warm up the catalytic converter so it becomes effective and reduces emissions ASAP. The process has a distinct sound and provides a good time to get out of the car and listen to the beautiful sound of your exhaust.
4. Your tires
Your engine is not the only thing you need to warm up before you set off on a b-road blast. Cold, hard tires have noticeably less grip so make sure you take that into consideration before you understeer into your local bus stop.
Especially in this cold weather, please wait till your car warms up and don’t drive like a lunatic straight out of the driveway. It will be really grateful for it.
Comments
Instructions were unclear, Got stuck In local bus stop.
My engine runs insanley hot through cold starts and idles at about 3k (its meant to do this don’t worry)
That means I can let it idle for about 2 minutes and its at optimal operating temperature or wait for the RPM to drop after a few seconds and drive it gently. By the time I pull out of my residential area I’m ready to floor it.
Not with your tires and power output! Please no, I’m actually a bit fond of you. :P
Also if your car is turbo, too many cold start will reduce the life of your turbine.
Also, after warm your car dont push it, the transmission it’s cold and need some movment to warm up.
The reason winter annoys me so much isnt anything relating to those points, its that my alternator belt squeals very loudly when cold/wet , ive had the belt changed and regularly get the tension adjusted but no luck fixing it. Guessing its the bearings in the thing running the belt but got no time to get the whole system replaced :/
Maybe just try a squirt if WD-40 into the actuall pulley itself?
I remember trying to explain this to a coworker who was hellbent on the idea that just because a modern car “can” be driven without any warm up it was fine to just hop in and rip out like a hooligan, took a few months but i won the argument after his engine made a rather peculiar knocking sound shortly followed by Mr con rod coming out to say hi.
Same applies to two wheeled things. If cold about 2-7 minutes to get up and going
Yep. Its just like the cranes and air tools at work this time of year. We are a good 6°-10° colder than what the wheather says in the city of Portland. This is because we are about a quarter mile from the Columbia River. All of our stuff aside from some air tools run on internal combustion natural gas engines. Ive gotten there in the dead of night 22° F was the forecast. Plus 15mph winds. Basically it took about a half hour of slowly moving the crane back and forth to get it back working properly.
Reason #1 It is cold
When its really cold, (-20, -25°C) my dad wait 30sec then rev up to 3k rpm. Is it bad for the car?
Yes
2012 ram cummins. . . Start. Cruise control on. . Set. = high idle. . Then load engine by turning on exhaust brake. . Truck is 210 coolant in 10 minutes or less. . Also I do not have a winter front for the grille yet