On winter mornings, there is a common practice among drivers to wait for the temperature gauge to rise before engaging first gear. The custom, passed down between generations of drivers, is based on the belief that the vehicle needs to reach the ideal heat to not “choke” or suffer damage.
However, with the evolution of automotive engineering, the need to warm up a stopped car’s engine has become a technical myth. What the vehicle really needs when starting on a freezing day is not immediate heat, but time for the oil to complete its protection cycle.
According to Nicole Ronzani, a mechanics specialist, current technology has eliminated the need for prior heating. “No, it doesn’t get hot. But waiting a few moments before leaving is recommended so that all moving parts of the engine are cooled”, he explains.
According to the expert, the old habit originates from vehicles from decades past. “It came from carbureted cars; they had a choke and you needed a richer mixture until the car warmed up. Mainly alcohol engines, which were more difficult to start”, he explains.
The difference between old and modern engines
The big change lies in the way the fuel is mixed with air. In old systems, this process was mechanical and often manual, whereas today everything is managed by sensors and on-board computers.
“Modern cars calculate the percentage between air and fuel electronically, and adjust according to temperature, pressure and type of fuel needs,” says Nicole. In carbureted models, the use of the choke enriched the mixture with more fuel to ensure starting, returning to normal only when the engine reached working temperature.
Currently, this compensation is instantaneous. However, the physics of fluids remains the same. During the night, the lubricant is acted upon by gravity.
“The oil always ends up in the engine crankcase, which is the bowl that holds the oil. On a cold morning, some viscosities may take longer to reach the top, taking more time to lubricate all moving parts”, observes Nicole.
The risk of haste: wear and tear when starting from cold
The moment of ignition is the critical point for the useful life of any propellant. Leaving immediately and accelerating hard can compromise vital components that have not yet received the protective layer of oil.
“This happens when starting from cold. Accelerating an engine that is not yet lubricated can cause premature wear of the valve control, which is the part furthest from the crankcase”, warns the specialist.
To avoid long-term losses, the recommendation does not involve minutes of waiting, but rather seconds of patience. “There is no maximum time, but I would say at least 30 seconds, for both motorcycles and cars”, advises Nicole.
According to her, the most common mistake drivers make is lack of patience when turning the key. The ideal is to turn on the contact, wait for the electronic systems to charge for a few moments and only then start up.
How to drive in the first few minutes
Even if the driver doesn’t need to sit still, the way he drives the vehicle in the first few kilometers makes a difference. The rule is progressiveness. “It is not necessary to wait for the car to warm up, but it is important to wait for it to reach working temperature before stepping on the accelerator. So yes, start slowly in the first few minutes, always, even on hot days”, advises the mechanic.
This precaution applies to all types of vehicles, including. For models equipped with a turbo, the specialist adds extra care, but when the trip ends: “In some cars with an oil-cooled turbo, it is recommended that you wait a while before turning off the engine so that the oil can circulate and cool the turbine.”
However, if the car has persistent difficulties on cold mornings, it could be a sign that maintenance is out of date. Nicole points out three main symptoms that indicate the need for a service: “When it takes a long time to start, even if the tank is full of gasoline; when the engine presents faults or oscillations as soon as the vehicle is started; and when it dies shortly after starting”.
