After starting, how long before driving?

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: xxch4osxx
Wow, my g/f listened to me right from the first time I told her about starting technique. Guess I have it lucky!


Yeah, but I think you're giving questionable advice. ZERO mpg and prolonged time to warm up.
I have been using this technique for many years and never have had any engine troubles. I think it helps using Amsoil

 

[mechtech2]

In summer, I start it and drive it right away.
[I don't red line the engine immediately.]
In winter, I let it idle while I clear off snow and ice.
But I pretty much drive it as soon as a can.
I see no advantages to a slow warm in addition to accompanying wasted time and fuel.

 

[RTexasF]

30 seconds max if it's 10º or 100º. Easy does it for five miles or so.

 

[Aquaticentipede]

Guess this debate will never end. Both sides show valid points. There isn't any factual data (that I know of) to prove that warming up vs. immediately driving a car causes any harm. So it all comes down to personal preference apparently. I will agree however that excessive idling is bad for an engine and wasteful. Half an hour every day is way too long; that's crazy. I'll always continue to allow the engine to reach operating temperature before driving it. Perhaps this is a logic aquired from driving big rigs for 10 years, lol. As for the wife, she can do whatever she wants, lol. If it breaks, I fix it

 

[Falcon_LS]

Start and go. Only time my engine idles is when I'm stuck in traffic or at a set of lights. I just take it easy until the engine reaches operating temperature, and find it warms up quicker under load.

 

[marc1]

Originally Posted By: Patman
No matter how cold it is out, I always start and go almost immediately. Idling to warm it up is just wasting fuel. I just make sure to drive very gently for the first few minutes of operation.


+1

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: Aquaticentipede
Guess this debate will never end. Both sides show valid points. There isn't any factual data (that I know of) to prove that warming up vs. immediately driving a car causes any harm. So it all comes down to personal preference apparently. I will agree however that excessive idling is bad for an engine and wasteful. Half an hour every day is way too long; that's crazy. I'll always continue to allow the engine to reach operating temperature before driving it. Perhaps this is a logic aquired from driving big rigs for 10 years, lol. As for the wife, she can do whatever she wants, lol. If it breaks, I fix it


I have read in the past that it was better to gently drive a car right away. I don't remember the source or the specifics, but it makes sense to me. An idling car is a slower warming and less well lubricated one than a lightly driven one. It's kind of like the fast vs. slow break-in argument where a fast break-in done properly is better, but it's not the end of the world if you let your car warm up some or don't. As long as you are gentle on the car until it warms up, that's what matters most.

 

[HTSS_TR]

If you idle for any amount of times, the only fluids get warm up are coolant and engine oil. If you drive gently first 2-3 miles after started then other fluids such as differential and transmission ... get warm up too.

 

[LS2JSTS]

I'm firmly in the start it and drive it soft until fully warmed camp.

I'm curious if those who like to idle a long time are also in the start a car in storage camp? I never run my cars in storage once they are put up unless I can actually get them out on the road for a good long run. Do those of you who like to idle their cars for warm up also agree with the thought of idling a car in storage for a length of time sufficient to dry the exhaust system out, say 15-20 minutes?

 

[Carzzz]

Summer: 10 secs or less
Winter: 30sec - 2 minutes on average

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
I'm firmly in the start it and drive it soft until fully warmed camp.

I'm curious if those who like to idle a long time are also in the start a car in storage camp? I never run my cars in storage once they are put up unless I can actually get them out on the road for a good long run. Do those of you who like to idle their cars for warm up also agree with the thought of idling a car in storage for a length of time sufficient to dry the exhaust system out, say 15-20 minutes?


When I store the mustang away for the winter,It's put away with a fuel tank filled full and add some Stabil and drier sheets inside the interior,and remove the battery

I never start it up until it's time to hit the streets

Done this for years now.

 

[jstutz]

I think my wife and i are pretty hard on our trucks. We live on a highway and both of us work west of where we live. Problem is there is a hill that is probaby 1/8th of a mile as soon as you pull out of driveway. Both of us usually try to drive easy as we leave, but if traffic is comming, i feel guilty holding them up so i get moving a bit. I think about it every time but so far all has been well. Im sure it is not best practice but im not sitting in the driveway for 5 mins for the truck to get slightly warmer than it was when it was cold. Heck it takes almost 15 mins of driving to get my oil hot, i doubt a min or two idling will make much difference. If it is really cold out, say less than 30F, then ill let it warm a bit first.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: Jakegday
in the winter time i let it sit until the heater has warmed up the inside. my 1 year olds health is more important to me then gas


I never had a problem with the kids, just put them in a snowsuit. In fact since they were 6 months I took them out in a kid sleigh in the winter. Nice rosy red cheeks when they came in. To this day they love winter and are not bothered by the cold.

 

[crazyoildude]

Mine listens also

 

[SevenBizzos]

Originally Posted By: DragRace

When I store the mustang away for the winter,It's put away with a fuel tank filled full and add some Stabil and drier sheets inside the interior,and remove the battery

I never start it up until it's time to hit the streets

Done this for years now.


Yes, I do the same thing. I don't see the point in running it.

As for the idle time, it probably ranges from a minute at 40F to 20 minutes at -20F. I got a lot of practice last winter.

 

[mechtech2]

Aqua - No factual data? Wasting fuel and my time while idling is enough.

 

[ecotourist]

I live in Edmonton, Alberta where we have snow on the ground for up to 6 months of the year and occasionally see -40 temperatures (either F or C, it's the same thing at -40).

I currently drive a BMW I6 and a Honda V6. Previous vehicles have been a Volvo I4 Turbo, a Toyota V6, a Toyota I4, a GM V8, a GM I6, a Ford I4, a Ford V8 and like that.

I now keep my vehicles in an unheated garage where it never gets much below freezing. Summer and winter, I start and go. I take it easy for the first half dozen blocks when it's cold.

My rule for the Volvo Turbo was no boost until the temperature gauge was off the pin and then gentle on the throttle for a bit. It was in fine running shape and still had the original Turbo after 18 years and 285,000 Km (about 180,000 miles) when I sold it. I know the new owner and I'm told it's still running fine 7 years later.

The first 3 years of the Volvo's life were in Saskatoon (where it's even colder) and without a garage.

If I park outside in very cold weather overnight I plug in the block heater (but I've never used the block heater on the BMW or the Honda - so that hardly ever happens). If I park outside for a few hours in very cold weather I let it idle for minute or two then drive gently until it warms up.

I would immediately replace a thermostat that I even suspected was malfunctioning.

I'm getting very good results with virtually no warm up in what most people would say is a very cold climate. The theory is that idling just wastes fuel. If you're driving gently, the rest of the driveline and various bearings are getting loosened up at the same time as the engine is warming up.

Ecotourist

 

[Aquaticentipede]

Quote:
Aqua - No factual data? Wasting fuel and my time while idling is enough.

Typical routine at work, I'll pull up along side my POV in my work vehicle, off load my stuff, and start it up (during Winter). It's in a secured parking lot. Park the work vehicle, go inside & change clothes. 5 min. later I come out and drive off. Pretty much everyone at work does this.
At home, I'll start the car (garage), make myself a cup of coffee, then drive off. I drive a '95 Subaru 2.2L so fuel consumption is very minimal; relatively speaking.

 

[esco]

If you take a look at many vehicle instruction manuals it's often stated that you can gently drive off(in some cases like my recent mazda manual they actually state "should") as soon as the engine runs smooth. So unless you live in a below freezing temps and use conventional oil, you really don't have to let your engine warm up at idle. Just drive gently for a while.

Anyone that does research will know that idle-ling isn't good for engines, it means increased carbon build up and fuel dilution in the oil so it's something you wanna keep to a minimum.

You can throw away the wait till rpm settles along with the engine blowing up at redline and oil changes at 3k miles

I don't expect everyone to agree with this ofcourse!

 

[demarpaint]

Not sure on the effect of an engine that was just started up and is idling at about 1700 rpms being tossed into reverse to back out of the driveway. I let mine idle down to just under 1000 rpms before I put it into any gear.