Avoid hard acceleration when the engine is cold
Many drivers rely on their car’s temperature gauge to determine when the engine is hot enough to hit full throttle. However, this can be a dangerous misconception. This is because the temperature gauge does not measure everything needed to know whether your engine is ready for maximum load. By accelerating hard too soon, you can cause serious damage to the engine. Read more about it here.
Fuel, Tips
What does the temperature gauge actually measure?
The temperature gauge in your car mainly displays the temperature of the coolant. Not the gauge of the engine oil. While the coolant can reach the right temperature after a few minutes, the oil often takes much longer to reach the optimal temperature. And it is precisely the engine oil that is crucial to know when you can accelerate more without risk.
At normal outside temperatures, the coolant can reach 90 degrees after just five minutes, which can give a false sense of security. However, the oil temperature, which is at least as important, usually takes a lot longer. Especially in sporty cars, which often use a lot of engine oil, it can take up to 15 minutes or more for the oil to warm up enough to protect the engine from damage.
The dangers of hard acceleration when the engine is cold
A hard acceleration when the engine is cold can lead to uneven heating of engine parts. This causes certain parts to expand too quickly, which can cause damage to fragile engine parts. For example, cylinder head bolts may break or the crankcase may crack due to the sudden pressure and heat. This kind of damage is not only costly to repair, but can also significantly shorten the life of the engine.
Electric cars and hot running
For electric cars, this problem is less relevant. An electric motor does not need oil to warm up and can deliver full power immediately after starting. Still, there is one more factor to consider: tyres. Electric cars often have high traction, which allows them to get up to speed quickly. With cold tyres, you can lose grip, so it is wise to warm up the tyres a bit before going full speed. In addition, the batteries of electric vehicles perform best at temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, which increases their range.
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