How to effectively warm up a car even with a cold engine

Car heating in winter remains a serious problem for drivers because the cabin temperature sometimes rises too slowly.

Experienced mechanic Valery Harkavenko shared his thoughts on this matter in a comment.

He explained that a standard car heater uses the heat that antifreeze extracts from the engine; if the antifreeze temperature is below 20 degrees, you should not expect heat in the cabin. According to him, there are two effective ways to speed up the warming-up process.

1. Electric heater or fan heater

This compact device is mounted on the front panel and connected to the car’s 12 V electrical network. It does not depend on the engine’s heat, so warming up begins immediately after turning it on.

2. 220 V preheater

If you have access to an electrical outlet, you can purchase a special device that preheats the antifreeze before it’s needed. This not only allows you to warm up the cabin faster but also reduces the effort required to start the engine.

Recommendations

Don’t rush to turn on the heater; let the engine warm up to operating temperature first.
If you leave your car outside, try to park it facing east so the sunlight can partially warm it before you return.