As winter and colder temperatures arrive, many drivers are wondering whether warm up the engine of the car is still a necessary practice. L
e auto modernequipped with advanced technologies e improved engine oilsthey changed the cards on the table.
Finding out how to best manage your vehicle during the cold can be crucial to preserving the mechanics of the engine. Read on to find out if the age-old advice of letting the engine warm up before setting off is still valid.
Is it still necessary to warm up the engine?
In past years, when the cars were less sophisticatedwarming up the engine before setting off was a common recommendation.
However, today, with modern technologiesit may seem that these practices are no longer necessary. Current engines are designed per start quickly ed effectively even at low temperatures.
This doesn’t mean that abandoning the practice completely is the best choice; Allowing a short warm-up can still help reduce long-term wear.
Aspects to Consider
An important aspect is the engine oilwhich, although improved, circulates better when it has reached its optimal temperature.
Furthermore, although modern cars are equipped to operate in all conditions, a short warm-up can ensure that the engine operates at its optimal level of performance.
Let’s also not forget that a Cold engine generally consumes more fuel.
Beware of Cold Engine Oil
And cold engine oil it is generally thicker and stickier than when it is at the appropriate temperature. This means that when you turn it on, the oil takes longer to move from the crankcase to all areas of engine lubrication.
Accelerating immediately after ignition can lead to a dangerous lubrication deficitgenerating premature wear and potential damage to engine components.
The Importance of Avoiding “Gas Hits” in the Cold
Many drivers don’t know that run a cold engine at high speed can cause a breakage of the oil filmleading to major wear or significant damage.
Wear appears on the pistons and on walls of the cylinderand in the long term this can damage the engine, even causing a piston seizure.
The Correct Warm-up Methodology
The best advice is to keep the engine running for a few minutes after starting, mostly during the colder months. This time allows the oil in the engine to fluidize and circulate correctly.
Simply start the engine, prepare for driving by wearing your seat belt, to give the heat time to spread throughout the entire system.
Conclusion
Decide to warm up the engine whether or not depends on various factors, including vehicle specifications and the weather conditions.
