How to properly warm up a car in winter. How to properly warm up the "automatic transmission" in winter

Many drivers, under the influence of generally accepted misconceptions, continue to kill engines by warming their cars for a long time in the cold at idle. At the same time, these same motorists often forget about such an important process as automatic transmission warming up. We have already considered why it is not worth warming up modern gasoline ICEs at idle. It's time to talk about how to properly warm up the gearbox automatic torque converter type.

WHY SHOULD THE AUTOMATIC GEARBOX HEAT UP?

For normal gear shifting in cold weather, at least 2 conditions must be met:

the valve body channels are filled with ATF;
the system is pressurized with oil.

Failure to comply with these factors leads to kicks, bumps when shifting gears, accelerated wear of the clutch packs. Due to insufficient pressure, the friction and steel discs close with a delay, so there is a more intense abrasion of the friction layer. Subsequently, a suspension of wear products is transferred with oil to the channels of the valve body.

Acting as an abrasive, friction dust accelerates the wear of solenoids, channels, and also clogs lines. As a result, if you do not change the ATF fluid in time, you will soon feel bumps when shifting gears, delays when changing stages, and other signs of a malfunction. Warming up the automatic transmission reduces the harm of negative factors and extends the service life.
DESIGN FEATURES

The need to warm up the automatic transmission is determined by the features of the device and the principle of operation of the automatic transmission. Recall that in an automatic transmission, transmission oil plays the role of a working fluid. ATF is used not only to lubricate and cool transmission elements, but also to transmit torque between the input and output shafts, and to close clutch packs.

The automatic transmission control unit controls all processes, which, through communication with the engine ECU (Engine Control Unit), decides which gear to turn on. But inside the automatic transmission case, only solenoids are subject to the control unit. By supplying/disconnecting power to the solenoids at the right time, the control unit closes or opens the channels for oil circulation through the hydraulic plate. It is the redirection of the ATF fluid flow that makes it possible to close the clutch packs corresponding to the gear ratio required in this mode.

WHAT HAPPENS TO OIL IN THE FROST?

The need to warm up the automatic transmission is primarily due to the negative impact of negative temperatures on the viscosity of the ATF fluid. Most likely, in the winter after the start of the movement, you have repeatedly observed how already at -15 ° C the steering wheel on a car with a hydraulic booster becomes heavier. But inside the automatic transmission is oil, which is extremely close in basic composition and additive packages to the fluids used in the power steering.

The oil pump is responsible for the pressure in the system, which, with the onset of frost, is forced to pump a thicker liquid. Now you understand that the main purpose of warming up an automatic transmission is to stabilize the pressure in the oil system. Also, do not forget about the planetary gear and other rubbing pairs, which are lubricated with the same ATF fluid during movement. With this view, automatic transmission warm-up is needed for the same reason that many drivers warm up a manual transmission, transfer case, rear axle gearbox while driving.

HOW TO DO EVERYTHING CORRECTLY?

The automatic transmission should be warmed up in winter in 2 stages:

before the start of the movement. Start the engine. While holding the brake pedal, move the automatic transmission selector first to position D, then to N, P, R. For proper warm-up, it is necessary to pause in each of the positions. The duration of the delay depends on the temperature outside. For example, after 15-20 hours of inactivity at -25ºС, it will be enough to linger for 50-60 seconds in each of the selector positions, after which you can start moving. The essence of such a warm-up is only to completely fill as many channels in the valve body as possible with oil before the start of the movement by changing modes;
warm-up mode. When operating a car with an automatic transmission in cold weather, you should take into account that the automatic transmission warms up much more slowly than the engine. Therefore, when the coolant temperature gauge on the dashboard approaches 80-90°C, the automatic transmission will still be cold. That is why experts advise in the cold for the first 15-20 minutes to refrain from sudden accelerations and move at a speed of no more than 70-80 km / h. As it warms up after the start of movement, it is possible to exceed the recommended limit, but for the safety of the automatic transmission, refrain from overcoming the border of 100 km / h. Of course, as the frost decreases, the box will reach operating temperature faster, which allows for a reduction in warm-up time.

Wheel slippage is one of the most traumatic modes of operation of an automatic transmission. Especially, after the moment of blocking the torque converter. Therefore, we recommend adhering to the acceleration technique described in the article “Rules for accident-free driving in winter”.

WARM THE MACHINE COMPLETELY IN WINTER

In the article “Why you shouldn’t warm up the car at idle”, we told why long warm-ups at idle lead to overheating of the piston rings, scuffing in the CPG and a waste of money. In the case of automatic transmissions, recommended by many owners, warming up in P mode without moving will not harm the transmission, but it will not save you money either. The oil inside the box is heated by circulation through the accumulator, oil pump and oil system channels. Properly warming up the automatic transmission in motion, you will save money on fuel, extend the life of the gearbox and engine.

The most reasonable solution in winter is to warm up the automatic transmission along with the engine, transfer case, axles and power steering.

Since the oil in the power steering system also thickens, after starting to drive in cold weather, refrain from sudden maneuvering, turning the steering wheel on asphalt, ground without moving the car.

You will need

- car alarm system with auto start;
- kettle;
- candle key;
- a set of spark plugs.

Instruction

With the onset of the cold season, a serviceable car should start without any effort on the part of the driver. If the thermometer falls below minus 20 degrees Celsius, the car owner will have to take a number of additional measures before he leaves the parking lot. Warm up the car battery before starting the engine. Turn on the high beam for a few seconds. Pause after turning off the light within 30 seconds and start the car. Depress the clutch when starting the engine cold. This applies to vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. Keep your foot on the pedal for a minute and a half if the engine is malfunctioning. This will keep the car from stalling until the engine warms up. A difficult situation can arise with cars equipped with diesel engines if they have summer fuel in the tank. In the fuel system, diesel fuel can turn into a paraffin-like mass in the cold. The surest way to solve this problem is boiling water. Take a kettle of hot water and carefully pour over the fuel filter, high pressure pump and injectors. At the same time, do not allow liquid to get on the starter and generator. Helps with starting the car in the winter without fail. In addition to frost, there may be problems with air humidity. In such conditions, gasoline does not evaporate well, which leads to flooding of glow plugs. Unscrew the candles. If they are wet, put in a spare set of spark plugs. If there are no spares, burn the candle petals on the gas stove and put them in place.

It happens that the car stalled without warming up. Wait two or three minutes, take a break and start.

In severe frost, not only diesel fuel and engine oil can freeze, but also coolant. This phenomenon is also due to the fact that today there are a lot of low-quality products on the market. If the car starts up, and the temperature sensor shows the engine is overheating, then the problem is in the cooling system. Shut off the car for fifteen minutes, and then start it again. If the situation does not change, roll the car into a warm room and change the coolant to a better product. Car alarm systems with auto start are widely used by car owners and are in increasing demand. Set the autorun mode. The engine will warm up every 3-4 hours. As a result, you can easily start the car from the remote control.

How to properly warm up a car in winter?

Hello, dear guests and visitors of the Autogid.ru automotive site. In the article you can learn how to properly warm up the car in winter and use the car in cold weather with maximum efficiency. The onset of winter and cold weather makes the driver look at the thermometer outside the window more often in the morning and watch the news anxiously.

Most drivers park their cars in the yards of houses or in paid guarded parking lots. There are warm heated parking lots, but they are available for motorists in large cities. Often the cost of renting one place is quite high. All this pushes drivers to force the courtyards of multi-storey buildings with transport throughout the year.

Negative temperature makes its own adjustments to the operation of the car. The load on the engine, cooling and heating system increases. All malfunctions climb out like cockroaches from cracks, making the average driver nervous.

The article will help you learn how to warm up the car in winter and properly handle the car at this time of the year. Novice drivers will find a lot of new and hopefully valuable information in the material.

Why do you need to warm up your car engine in winter?

A modern driver in the stream of information falling on him from various sources (the Internet, television, newspapers, magazines, neighbors in garages, etc.) sometimes does not know why you need to know and be able to warm up the car in winter. If you just sat down, started and went.

Sometimes the incoming information is so contradictory that it is difficult to understand the verbal flow and find a sound rational grain. The positive effect of warming up the machine is greater than the possible negative effects.

The following arguments speak of the benefits and necessity of warming up the machine:

1.Thick engine oil

Even high-quality synthetic oil, designed for use in winter at sub-zero temperatures, increases its viscosity. It thickens and the first few minutes after starting the engine does not work fully.

This will definitely interest you. Which car pump to buy?

All this affects the efficiency of lubrication and reduces the friction of the working elements of the car engine. Smooth operation of the engine without sharp accelerations at idle allows the engine oil to heat up and thereby reduce viscosity. It becomes fluid and evenly distributed throughout the motor.

2.Safety

A car standing in the yard of the house in the morning may resemble a snowdrift swept up by snow. All glasses are completely frozen and covered with a crust of ice. Many drivers, having cleared a small space of the windshield, go out onto the road.

This is very dangerous, as visibility is significantly reduced and the driver cannot fully monitor the traffic situation. An incompletely cleaned windshield can cause an accident (traffic accident). It is important to completely clean the front side and windshield of the car, and only then hit the road.

3. Motor wear

It is not recommended to use an unheated car engine. In the cold, the metal parts of the power plant are reduced in size. If you start the engine without warming up and give it a load, such actions will lead to accelerated wear of individual elements.

Warming up the engine will minimize the negative consequences associated with negative air temperatures. All elements of the motor will restore their previous dimensions after idling for 5-10 minutes.

4.Fuel consumption

Thrifty drivers who count every liter of fuel will be unpleasantly surprised by the fact that a cold engine consumes more fuel than under normal conditions.

This is due to the fact that under conditions of negative temperatures, the formation of a fuel-air mixture is difficult. This is especially true for diesel engines.

To ignite the mixture, a greater amount of effort will be required from the diesel power plant. She will have to overcome the resistance of viscous fuel and cold air.

5.Car interior

Using a car with a cold interior is a dubious pleasure. Cold seats adversely affect both men's and women's health. It is better to leave the house or apartment in advance and warm up the engine than to pay for laziness with health later in the future.

6.Battery

Warming up the car reduces the load on the battery. Many drivers, instead of gradually heating the windshield and rear window, turn on forced electric heating.

This will definitely interest you. How to check the operation of a car's clutch?

A cold battery begins to actively give off electrical energy to consumption sources. His performance suffers. All this can lead to a decrease in electrolyte density and a decrease in battery life.

According to a survey conducted by the Avtogid.ru website among 130 drivers aged 18 to 65 years, the following data were obtained on the issue of warming up the car engine. Always warm up the car in winter 38.46% of drivers from the total number of respondents. 15.38% of drivers never warm up the engine. Very rarely, 19.23% of drivers do this, and sometimes 26.92% of motorists warm up the engine.

In any case, the vast majority of drivers prefer to warm up the car in winter.

How to warm up the car in winter?

The steps to warm up the car engine and start it properly in winter are simple and do not require special knowledge from the driver. The main thing is not to be lazy and leave the house 15-20 minutes earlier to prepare the car for the trip. This will make it possible to use the car with the maximum level of efficiency in the most severe frosts.

The procedure for warming up the car in winter is as follows:

1.Preparation of the car engine for launch

Before starting the car engine, turn on the dipped beam for a short time. Enough 30 seconds of time to "revitalize" the battery. Squeeze out the clutch of the car and thereby disconnect the starter from the crankshaft and gearbox. Be sure to include neutral gear.

This will help simplify the start of the car's engine, even at high negative air temperatures. If the car is diesel, you need to wait until the coil of the fuel heating plugs goes out. It is recommended to use glow plugs several times.

2. Starting the motor

If the car engine does not start the first time, you do not need to "force" the starter and "plant" the battery. It is necessary to allow the battery to recover (30-40 seconds is enough) and try again.

When the car's engine starts, you can not immediately turn on the heating of the glass. You need to wait 1 or 2 minutes. It is not necessary to take heat from a cold engine from the start.

Directing warm air onto cold glass is not recommended. If there are small cracks, you can provoke their increase. First, air flows are directed to the passenger compartment and only then to the windows. You need to know and be able to properly warm up the interior of the car in winter.

While the engine is running and the interior is heated by warm air currents, you can start cleaning the car windows and headlights from the outside. This saves a lot of free time.

This will definitely interest you Proper car battery care

Attention should be paid to cleaning the windshield and side windows of the car. The level of visibility and traffic safety by car depend on their cleanliness. The optimal time for warming up the car in winter depends on the air temperature and the activity of using the vehicle. On average, 15-20 minutes is enough and you can hit the road.

3.Start of movement

A cold engine runs at high speeds, even when not idling. After starting it, the tachometer can show 1200-1300 rpm. The engine in a warm state produces a crankshaft speed in the region of 1000 rpm.

If the engine speed has dropped, then you can already start moving. Driving the car for the first 10-15 minutes is not recommended at high speed. It is desirable to overcome the first kilometer at a speed of 40-60 km / h. After that, you can smoothly gain the required speed.

Such a tactic will allow the car's engine to reach operating temperature and avoid increased engine load, increased wear of its working elements.

Conclusion

Properly warming up the car in winter is a must. Each driver will learn to determine the specific warm-up time of the engine independently and without outside help. This knowledge comes with driving experience. The rush in the morning winter hours will adversely affect the operation of the engine and the entire car as a whole.

www.avtogide.ru

How to warm up your car in winter

Many car enthusiasts know that in the cold season it is imperative to warm up the car engine before starting to move. But not everyone knows how to do it right. But this issue is very important, because with improper heating, the engine resource is significantly reduced. Therefore, if you value your car, then you must read this article to the end.

So, you went out to the snowy yard and found your car on it. Do not rush to clean the "iron horse" from the snow. This can be done after starting, while the engine is warming up. So, for starters, it is very important to properly warm up the battery, which loses some of its properties in the cold. To do this, you need to load it, for example, turn on the high beam for 10-20 seconds. During this time, the electrolyte has time to warm up, which brings the battery into full "combat" readiness.

Next, you need to turn off the headlights and let the battery recover a little (no more than 30 seconds). After that, you can start the engine. If the machine is equipped with a manual transmission, then you need to press the clutch pedal so as not to force the starter to turn the frozen elements (crankshaft and gearbox). After the engine has started, do not immediately release the pedal - hold it for several minutes. During this time, the oil in the gearbox will warm up a little.

If the car does not start the first time, you need to take a break for a few minutes so that the battery recovers a little. In this case, it is necessary to limit the starter rotation time (it should not be more than 20 seconds). If everything is fine with the car, it must start up to -10-20 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, you need to look for a malfunction.

What can cause a bad start? The most common malfunction is a current leak or a malfunction of the ignition system. It is necessary to carefully inspect the wires extending from the ignition coil, and wipe the dirt on them. Candle electrodes may be oily. In this case, they must be carefully cleaned (but such work should not be delayed until winter). Starting problems can occur due to incorrect setting of the carburetor starting element (in a carbureted engine) or clogged nozzles (in an injection engine). It will not be possible to start the car if the battery is dead, therefore, in order to avoid such troubles, it must be recharged on its own in a garage or workshop.

As soon as the engine is started and warmed up, you can turn on the stove to heat the passenger compartment. In this case, the air will be more correctly directed first to the passenger compartment, and then to the windshield. In this case, the likelihood of unnecessary microcracks between the body and glass is reduced. Has the glass been cleared of frozen water and snow? Then hit the road. The engine heats up much faster while driving.

It is important to remember that it is desirable to overcome the first distance at a minimum speed (up to 40 km / h). This approach allows the motor to warm up well to the desired temperature. If you close the radiator from the outside, then the warm-up process can be significantly accelerated. You can also throw felt on the engine (this material is absolutely non-flammable). Slow movement is very important for shock absorbers and tires, which also had time to freeze. Once the car has traveled a few kilometers, all machine functions will be restored.

How to warm up a car quickly

You will need

Instruction

Sit in the driver's seat and start the engine. Start a cold engine only at low speeds, if your car is equipped with a carburetor fuel supply system, slightly increase the flow of the combustible mixture by pulling the “choke” knob.

Turn on the stove in your car (do not forget that the operation of the stove in your car is the same gas consumption). Switch it to internal circulation in the cabin at medium speed.

Leave the car for one or two minutes and use them to check the car for smudges, as well as the condition of the wheels, clean the windows from ice and dust.

After checking the condition of the windows, wheels, as well as the entire car as a whole, return to the car interior and check the engine temperature sensor - at an average winter temperature, the engine should warm up to 50-60 degrees Celsius in 2-4 minutes. Check again if the outside air intake is turned on. If not, enable it; rapid heating of the passenger compartment can lead to deformation of the windows and their fastening systems due to the large temperature difference in the street and in the car.

Before you start driving, make sure that the engine temperature is at least 60-70 degrees Celsius and at high speeds, when you give it a little gas, the engine does not “choke”.

The question of warming up the engine before starting to move was born a long time ago, but has not lost its relevance at the present time. There are as many opinions on this issue as there are people behind the wheel. If you do not warm up the car, then everything is clear: I started it and drove off. But if you still need to heat, then how long, and to what temperature?

You will need

- Synthetic motor oil.

Instruction

We will try to find intelligible answers to these and other questions. The fact that an engine idling is subject to intense wear is evidenced by numerous expert studies. Therefore, modern high-tech engines that use synthetic oils with various additives exclude pre-heating of the engine even in the winter season, not to mention the summer season, while providing for seasonal replacement of engine oil. The only rule for the cold period is that a "sharp start" is not recommended. The movement of the car should be started smoothly, gradually increasing the speed. And as the temperature rises, we proceed to the normal driving mode. As for cars with carburetor engines, which were produced ten or more years ago, their engines still require preheating, which can be done in various ways. Starting with the use of an external heat source (you can use a small-sized, mobile, heat gun), and ending with the banal start of the engine, the speed of which increases slightly, and as it warms up, it decreases. The motor is then considered warmed up when the temperature of the coolant has reached 60 degrees.

Summing up, we can say with some courage that the pre-heating of the engine, as a relic of the past, when the morning began with the ignition of a blowtorch, leads to: intensive wear of engine parts, increased environmental pollution, as well as unjustified costs.

For some drivers, this question may seem frivolous. Like, what kind of science can be here - started, warmed up and drove off. However, the opinions of motorists often differ, where everyone tries to prove their case.

Some believe that warming up the engine is just a waste of time and gasoline, others argue the opposite. They say you won’t warm up, you won’t go, and if you go, then not far.

The question is really not as simple as it might seem at first glance, and the answer to it depends on many factors. At the same time, we will conditionally assume that the cars in question have oil in the engine and transmission that corresponds to the season of operation.

So, if we take into account the geographical location of the car, then there will be an order of magnitude fewer controversial issues. Let's say if you live in an area with a warm climate, then the issue of warming up as such is not relevant at all, unlike those living in the northern regions. In winter, at sharp negative temperatures, sometimes it is not possible to start the engine at all, not to mention its warming up. It goes without saying that in such conditions it would never occur to anyone to get under way immediately after a hard start of the engine. Actually, this will not be done by the engine itself, which simply - simply stalls.

The most relevant question is about warming up the engine in central Russia, where winter temperatures are in the range of - 20 ... - 30 degrees.

It’s worth immediately making a reservation about which cars we are talking about, namely, the carburetor or injector is in the engine power equipment and with what type of transmission it is aggregated -. The issue of warming up here plays an important role.

Let's say on most carbureted engines (not taking into account models like Pierburg 2EE, Solex with automatic starter and the like), start-up and warm-up control is assigned to the driver himself, by closing the air damper of the first carburetor chamber. After starting the engine, the "suction" is partially recessed to reduce the start-up speed and, as it warms up, the air damper is fully opened. The carburetor engine, as a rule, works in conjunction with the "mechanics" and after 2-3 minutes of warming up, you can start moving, sinking the air damper as it warms up. You need to move at low speed so that you can warm up and.

The injection engine is equipped with automatic start and does not require driver intervention, and it will not work right away, as the engine speed will be high and the engine will behave inappropriately. Therefore, most drivers start moving after decelerating the engine, which no longer poses a danger to either the engine or the gearbox. Although full warm-up will be completed when the temperature rises to 80-90 degrees and until that moment it is better not to raise the speed more than 2500 rpm.

Cars with automatic transmission must be warmed up to operating temperature, and especially in severe frosts, as the torque converter can be seriously damaged due to cold oil, as well as other automatic transmission elements due to insufficient pressure in the line. This, in turn, affects the wear of the clutches and significantly reduces the resource of the box, which in the end can result in a large number of not.

As a result, it can be summarized that warming up at low temperatures allows minimizing the load on the parts of the cylinder-piston group due to insufficient lubrication pressure, and hence its wear, and also greatly increases the life of an automatic transmission.

Today, by the way, it is possible to remove most of the problems with warm-up time using remote start, which is present in many serious alarms.

With the advent of winter, every motorist asks the question: “Do I need to warm up the engine before leaving?” Definitely needed! But you don't have to do it for a very long time. Typically, a few minutes will suffice.

In Europe, warming up a car for even a couple of minutes is strictly prohibited by law. The reason is that the operation of the machine in vain, according to environmentalists, is unusually dangerous for the planet.

Despite this, Russians should not pay attention to such prohibitions due to the fact that in our latitudes the temperature in winter often drops to -20. An unheated engine in such conditions will suffer greatly.

Improper heating can cause oil starvation. The brand of oil, its quality cannot help in any way, since any of them will thicken when the ambient temperature drops. Because of this feature, both mineral and synthetic will lose the necessary qualities to some extent.

In addition, experts say that due to difficult conditions of use, climate, traffic jams and often poor gasoline, good lubricants have to be changed earlier than the time recommended by the manufacturer.

Experts recommend that drivers change the oil about twice as often as the manufacturer indicates. As for winter, then there is no need to listen to the advice of the manufacturer. Often 5W or 10W are prescribed there, and it is better to fill in 0W.

You can imagine that there is a brand new car and excellent engine oil, but still the engine will not work perfectly. Having thickened thick oil in the cold, it will absolutely lubricate the mechanisms poorly, which is why the friction will be much higher than usual. As a result of this, the entire “organism” of the car will suffer.

Each part of the motor has its own coefficient of thermal expansion. Be that as it may, the smaller the degrees, the larger the gaps, the number of unwanted vibrations is higher. This is what contributes to the rapid breakdown of the engine in the cold season.

Inevitability of breakage

Undoubtedly, progress does not stand still, and modern motors are no longer so demanding in terms of care. It is unlikely that driving with a cold engine will cause serious problems. Although such experiments of the owner may eventually come out sideways. Statistics show that the peak of repairs falls on the summer season. There is nothing strange in this, just then the winter shortcomings of motorists become visible.

It is worth remembering that an unheated engine consumes more fuel. The machine always needs time to warm up all systems.

For this reason, even in a hurry, try to take a couple of minutes to warm up the engine. This will be enough. By gradually gaining momentum, the car will fully acquire the desired temperature. After that, you can safely use all its resources without worrying that something will fail one day.

Also, take some time to study the features of the car and the nuances of using the purchased lubricant. This can insure against many unpleasant surprises.

Expert opinions

Alexey Peshkov, Head of Auto Support Group

High efficiency also plays an important role. Thanks to environmentalists, modern cars use less and less fuel, and a lot of heat is converted not into exhaust, but into efficient work.

There are two sides of the coin here. On the one hand, the benefits for the environment, and on the other hand, because of this, the motors warm up much more slowly. As a result, the desired heat in the cabin does not appear as quickly as we would like. What can be done to speed up warming up? Start driving after two minutes of engine operation (while you are driving, the lubrication system will fill with oil and the car will warm up evenly and quickly).

We must not forget that in the beginning it is forbidden to overload the machine systems too much. In motion, the fuel output will be intense, and it will burn more. The car will heat up very quickly. This way to start the car prevents rapid wear of the motor.

One more thing: do not turn on the heating fan to the maximum. Oddly enough, in this way, the interior will become warm faster.

Conclusion: warm up the car during the trip, after a few moments of work. Such manipulation will heat the car faster and extend the life of the motor.

It is advisable to warm up the engine before driving. The reason for this is the density of engine oil, especially in winter. Its increased viscosity leads to excessive fuel consumption, wear of many parts. Experts call this phenomenon oil starvation. Along with the deterioration of lubricating properties and a huge load, engine wear quickly comes. The motor needs to be warmed up.

It is permissible to start driving when the engine is not yet fully warmed up. The main danger of a cold engine is a decrease in resource. This will not cause malfunctions immediately, but will slowly lead to them.

Old motorists taught the young that technology loves heat. And from the physics course, we remember that the engine has a heater and a cooler. Due to the temperature difference, work is done. Otherwise, there is no sense from the motor. Metal structures wear out quickly. But in the rules for the operation of technical means, it is prescribed to start moving without warming up in the fresh air. How to be?

“Indeed, it is not allowed by the manufacturers themselves to warm the car for a long time in the cold,” says automotive expert, founder of the Avtorazum agency Aleksey Simakin. - In Norway and other Scandinavian countries, it is even forbidden by law to warm up a car in residential areas. But these are the northern regions, where the frosts are not weaker than ours.”

The fact is that idle exhausts are considered the most toxic. Without a load on the engine, the fuel does not burn out completely, and its vapors contain a high content of nitrogen oxides, which are considered the most harmful to humans and the environment. If the car also stood overnight in the cold, then the exhaust of the first minutes turns out to be completely dirty. That is why green movements are pressing on automakers in order to protect residents of courtyards from daily gas attacks. As a result, heating was forbidden for environmental reasons. But how to secure the car and ensure the performance of the equipment? Engineers were instructed to come up with technologies for protecting motors during cold start. Over the past 15 years, they have achieved impressive results.

It should be noted right away that carburetor engines must be warmed up. The mixture is prepared there without the participation of electronics, only on the basis of physical principles, and therefore, without the necessary heat, the car simply will not go. In addition, machines of older designs were calculated with different tolerances and do not tolerate loads outside of normal operating temperatures. The oil in them is used of old varieties, it thickens in the cold and also requires a special operating mode.

In modern car designs, everything is different. The electronics prepares the fuel mixture forcibly. The engine starts great, and the car drives almost as hard as it does when it's warm. In addition, the oil is now filled with synthetic, special winter grades. It is quickly sprayed by the mechanisms of the power unit and covers the rubbing parts with a protective film. In general, the motor and gearbox can work in cold weather.

However, no one has canceled the laws of physics, and at increased loads the motor experiences unwanted friction. Therefore, the main thing is not to drive fast after a cold start. He started it, waited for the engine to run at high speed for a few seconds, brushed the snow off the windows, and you can quietly hit the road.

Diesel engines start a little differently. In their design there are glow plugs that forcibly heat the mixture and bring it to working condition. On a cold start, this operation takes a couple of seconds. It is marked with an illuminated yellow spiral on the tidy. In general, I turned the key, waited until the yellow icon went out, and you can start the diesel engine. Then slowly, without unnecessary peregazovok we leave on the road and warm up the engine on the go. Within a few minutes, the cooling system will pump heat throughout the entire line. Until then, you will have to fidget in cold chairs and try not to breathe on the windows, otherwise they will be covered with white frost.

In order not to freeze, many people buy additional air guns for external heating of the car. In the common people they are called hair dryers. Such a device works from the on-board network or from home wiring. But their use comes with risks. If you direct a stream of warm air at the motor, then the metal heats up locally, leaving other parts cold. Part of the parts expands, the engine experiences new loads and wear at startup. But the most unpleasant thing is that when the cabin warms up, the uneven supply of heat can break the glass. Under the flow of hot air, the material expands, and internal stresses arise. Microcracks appear, which strive to shoot an arrow through all the glass.

Therefore, it is better to use devices that do not heat the interior, but the heating system of the car. Due to electricity, the temperature of the antifreeze rises, and it is already being driven along the highway and brings the engine and interior to life. Some automakers put such systems regularly on their models. They are controlled remotely from the remote control or programmed by the on-time. Having started the heater, after half an hour you can approach the already warm car and start the engine. True, they are expensive, but it's better than driving "cold" and freezing in the car.