An engine system and method for preheating a fuel for a cold startup of an IC engine are provided. The engine system may include an IC engine coupled to a source of fuel and configured to receive and combust a fuel from the source to rotate a shaft. The engine system may also include a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the source of fuel and disposed upstream of the IC engine, and a preheat circuit. The preheat circuit may include a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, a motor coupled to the pump and configured to drive the pump, and a preheater in fluid communication with the pump. The pump may be configured to pressurize a heat transfer medium and the preheater may be configured to preheat the heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium being introduced to the heat exchanger to warm the fuel.