How to warm up your car in winter: full analysis of scientific methods and common misunderstandings
As the temperature drops sharply in winter, how to correctly warm up a car has become a hot topic among car owners. In recent discussions across the Internet, the controversy over the length of time to warm up the car, operating steps and precautions for new energy vehicles has continued to heat up. This article will combine the popular data of the past 10 days to provide you with practical guidance in a structured way.
1. Analysis of the popularity of hot-car topics in winter across the entire network (last 10 days)

| platform | Amount of related topics | core points of dispute |
|---|---|---|
| 128,000 items | Is it necessary to heat the car in situ? | |
| Douyin | 320 million views | Comparative experiment on hot car duration |
| car forum | 4500+ posts | Differences in hot cars of different models |
| Zhihu | 1200+ answers | The principle of oil fluidity |
2. The four-step method of scientific hot-car heating
According to the latest recommendations of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, the following procedures should be followed when warming up a car in winter:
| steps | Operation | time | Things to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Power-on self-test | 30 seconds | Fuel vehicles need to wait until the fault light goes out |
| 2 | Start the engine | 30-60 seconds | The speed is stable |
| 3 | Driving at low speed | 3-5 minutes | Keep below 2000 rpm |
| 4 | normal driving | - | Warm air can be turned on when the water temperature reaches 60℃ |
3. Reference for warm-up time at different temperatures
| ambient temperature | Fuel vehicle | hybrid car | electric car |
|---|---|---|---|
| -20℃ or less | 2-3 minutes | 1-2 minutes | Need to preheat battery |
| -10~-20℃ | 1-2 minutes | 30-60 seconds | It is recommended to insert a gun to keep warm |
| 0~-10℃ | 30-60 seconds | 15-30 seconds | Turn on battery heating |
4. Analysis of three common misunderstandings
1.Myth 1: It is better to warm the car in place for a long time
Actual measurement data shows that in an environment of -15℃, the engine wear of a hot car in situ for 10 minutes is 18% higher than that of a hot car driven at low speed.
2.Misunderstanding 2: You must wait until the water temperature is normal to warm up your car
Modern EFI engines only need the oil to reach operating temperature (about 30-60 seconds), and the water temperature can be raised while driving.
3.Misunderstanding 3: New energy vehicles do not need to be heated
Although electric vehicles do not need to heat the engine, the battery capacity will drop by 30% at -10°C, and preheating can improve battery life.
5. Precautions for special models
| car model | Key points for hot car |
|---|---|
| turbocharging | Avoid sharp acceleration after a cold start |
| Diesel car | Need to wait for the glow plug to work |
| Old models | It is recommended to extend the warm-up time by 30 seconds |
6. Expert advice
Professor Wang from the Department of Automotive Engineering of Tsinghua University pointed out: "Fully synthetic engine oil is commonly used in new cars in 2023, and can still maintain fluidity at -30°C. Car owners should pay more attention to smooth driving in the first 3 minutes, rather than how long it takes to warm the car in place."
Properly heating your car in winter not only protects the engine, but also saves fuel. remember"One check, two starts, three slow travel"Tips to keep your car warm during the winter. With the development of technology, car heating methods are also constantly evolving. It is recommended that car owners regularly check the latest manual of the vehicle to obtain the manufacturer's recommendations.
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