The process of cylinder charge – air sucked into the cylinder – transformation during engine start-up phase is characterized. Heat exchange and air flow through piston-cylinder group leakage processes are described as factors influencing the gas thermodynamic parameters. The Woschni formula based on similarity theory was finally used as equation describing heat transfer in combustion engines cylinder. The computational model for cylinder charge parameters in the whole engine cycle during its starting at low temperature is presented. Some taken assumptions and characteristics of partial processes resulting from the computations are shown. There are indicated the possibilities of using the model at internal combustion engine diagnostic process.