At what point does cold idling outweigh mileage?

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How about cardboard in front of the radiator? Bypass the oil cooler? Put a thermostat on the oil cooler?
 
Originally Posted By: mcrn
How about cardboard in front of the radiator? Bypass the oil cooler? Put a thermostat on the oil cooler?


I've heard of this before and I've never understood why this would work to tell you the truth. If the thermostat is closed upon startup anyway then the radiator is already taken out of the equation. Interesting suggestion but I don't think it works?
confused.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam
Originally Posted By: Doog
No wrong...the engine heats up in the same amount of time no matter what thermostat you use.


"Uniue Weir valve technology allows for a smooth and gradual flow of coolant so the engine reaches its optimal temperature more quickly, resulting in improved performance, including better fuel efficiency."

http://www.stant.com/consumer-products/superstat-thermostat


Selling gimmickry, a T-stat that stays fully closed(I mean slam tight shut) till the engine is near operating temp will give the quickest heat(these have been OEM for several years now)... You don't want ANY coolant circulating into the radiator till is approaching normal FULL operating temp... That's the reason most new T-stats no longer have a weep/burp hole in them and there is usually a vent in the intake to open when flushing/refilling... Also no doubt related to emission & CAFE concerns as well, the quicker the engine warms, the less emissions and higher the fuel economy... CAFE is also why driving off when cold is recommended these days, has nothing to do with benefit of the engine...

The bright star that owned my F-150 had drilled three holes in the stat to allow it to circulate a bit at all time, took 20 min for it to warm up vs six or eight with a new OEM type stat... No I'm not talking zero temps but more like 35-40F...

To find out if the stat is holding the coolant in the block as it should, all one has to do is feel radiator where upper hose connects, if it's warm after five minutes of running you need a new stat...
 
OP: our Tahoe has the same type of severe service, and has since new in 2004-it has an OLM though. Right now at 9XX miles on the OCI, we have about 65% oil life remaining which will project to less than a 3K OCI. You are going in the right direction with a max of 6 months--- I change ours 3 times a year though.IMO the biggest culprit is your oil cooler. Depending on its configuration block it off- put a large sock, pillowcase, cardboard etc to cover it till May
 
Originally Posted By: steve20
OP: our Tahoe has the same type of severve service has since new in 2004-it has an OLM though. Right now at 9XX miles on the OCI, we have about 65% oil life remaining which will project to less than a 3K OCI. You are going in the right direction with a max of 6 months--- I change ours 3 times a year though.IMO the biggest culprit is your oil cooler. Depending on its configuration block it off- put a large sock, pillowcase, cardboard etc to cover it till May


Thank you for the legitimate response. This is what I was looking for, not the "suck it up and walk to work" riff raff.

The oil cooler is built into the radiator. Maybe I can duct tape a strip of cardboard over its general area (between the span of the feed and return line lines) but I can't just get rid of the cooler like somebody else suggested. Maybe covering it could help slightly.

Thank you for your OLM info, that definitely reinforces my plan and I appreciate that.
 
Originally Posted By: bigt61
Just buy a 12 volt car heater. Let your car warm up a minute or two and go. Dress warmer, wear gloves. Change your oil once a year, it will be fine.

Coleman Powermate PMF8360 12-volt Ceramic Heater
P945789.jpg


How did the heater work for you? I bought one of those and it was a joke. I'd have to duct tape it to my face to feel anything.

Also I have one the Katz magnetic oil pan heaters 200w. I've very disappointed in its ability to heat the oil. Feeling the oil on the dipstick it might be room temp. Luke warm at best. I should have got the 300w model. It definitely feels very hot to the touch when not attached to the pan.

The best answer is to idle the car. Get a club and additional set of keys to lock the car up. Nobody's going to mess with it when they see the club on it.
 
Originally Posted By: cheesepuffs
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Does the OP leave the car running, unattended on a public highway? Isn't that illegal, if not highly dangerous?

(And an insurance void if its stolen)


Did you even read my post? The truck idles in the parking lot of the apartment where I live. I refered to nothing even resembling a public highway.


Um, yes, yes I did.

Public highway/ Public space/ space where people other than you can go.

I image the apartment block has families in it? Not good leaving a car running in that situation, at least I wouldn't be happy with it. My question wasn't a dig either, just an honest question.

I think if you have to leave a car unattended, running for 1/4 hr whilst you have your breakfast so that its warm enough to drive 2 miles to work, you have the wrong car.

Again, not a dig. Just sayin'
 
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Originally Posted By: cheesepuffs
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Does the OP leave the car running, unattended on a public highway? Isn't that illegal, if not highly dangerous?

(And an insurance void if its stolen)


Did you even read my post? The truck idles in the parking lot of the apartment where I live. I refered to nothing even resembling a public highway.


Um, yes, yes I did.

Public highway/ Public space/ space where people other than you can go.

I image the apartment block has families in it? Not good leaving a car running in that situation, at least I wouldn't be happy with it. My question wasn't a dig either, just an honest question.

I think if you have to leave a car unattended, running for 1/4 hr whilst you have your breakfast so that its warm enough to drive 2 miles to work, you have the wrong car.

Again, not a dig. Just sayin'


The truck is within view of my kitchen window and I am not the only car idling to warm up in the morning. I have no idea why you feel this is such a problem but I assure you it isn't. As for telling me I drive the "wrong" vehicle, that's for me to decide here chief, not a stranger across the Atlantic. Lots of armchair quarterbacking on this forum lately...
 
Originally Posted By: cheesepuffs
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Originally Posted By: cheesepuffs
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Does the OP leave the car running, unattended on a public highway? Isn't that illegal, if not highly dangerous?

(And an insurance void if its stolen)


Did you even read my post? The truck idles in the parking lot of the apartment where I live. I refered to nothing even resembling a public highway.


Um, yes, yes I did.

Public highway/ Public space/ space where people other than you can go.

I image the apartment block has families in it? Not good leaving a car running in that situation, at least I wouldn't be happy with it. My question wasn't a dig either, just an honest question.

I think if you have to leave a car unattended, running for 1/4 hr whilst you have your breakfast so that its warm enough to drive 2 miles to work, you have the wrong car.

Again, not a dig. Just sayin'


The truck is within view of my kitchen window and I am not the only car idling to warm up in the morning. I have no idea why you feel this is such a problem but I assure you it isn't. As for telling me I drive the "wrong" vehicle, that's for me to decide here chief, not a stranger across the Atlantic. Lots of armchair quarterbacking on this forum lately...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...tside-home.html

Link to someone who was fined for doing what you do.
Nobody is getting upset here BTW. I see you are quite happy those more "local" to you to tell you stuff, rather than a foreigner.

Like I said, I'm just shooting the breeze on the issue.
 
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Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Originally Posted By: cheesepuffs



The truck is within view of my kitchen window and I am not the only car idling to warm up in the morning. I have no idea why you feel this is such a problem but I assure you it isn't. As for telling me I drive the "wrong" vehicle, that's for me to decide here chief, not a stranger across the Atlantic. Lots of armchair quarterbacking on this forum lately...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...tside-home.html

Link to someone who was fined for doing what you do.
Nobody is getting upset here BTW. I see you are quite happy those more "local" to you to tell you stuff, rather than a foreigner.

Like I said, I'm just shooting the breeze on the issue. Sorry you decided to fling your knickers at the issue.


Posting a link to an instance where a ridiculous fine was issued in the UK has no bearing on my situation whatsoever. In North America, idling is normal practice. No disrespect to the UK but I couldn't care less about what their policy may be on idling.

My "knickers" aren't in a twist either, but if you're telling me I drive the wrong car because of my driving pattern then I'm gonna tell you that you live in the wrong country if you need to worry yourself about simply idling a vehicle in which you rightlfully own.

I asked a question about fuel dilution thresholds pertaining to my idling and driving habits, not for your concern regarding the non-existent legal and safety issues that you seem to think surround my idling pickup truck.
 
I think in general my (and others) points are valid. Your 22 year old tank is sat in public, chugging away whilst you are so far away, you have no hope of doing anything. Old cars are known to jump gear when idling (iianm)
Again, perhaps not mowing down someone in front of the car, but it can easily go off on its own and bury itself into someone's bedroom etc.

Regarding a new car, as someone pointed up above, you can get cars with block heaters built in. Also, modern cars are much, much better at keeping out the cold and heat up much more quickly due to improved all round design. Get one with heated seats and stearingvwheel and windscreen and you are much, much better off. Your car won't be a risk to the neighbourhood, you will be much warmer and safer and save a heap on oil and fuel. Win-win IMHO. OK, I appreciate that cost wise you might not be able to do that, but its all valid options.

No hard feelings eh! :thumbup:
 
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Link to someone who was fined for doing what you do.
Nobody is getting upset here BTW. I see you are quite happy those more "local" to you to tell you stuff, rather than a foreigner.

Like I said, I'm just shooting the breeze on the issue.


Buick, or one of the GM brands had a commercial showing a guy starting his car from his cell phone.

I looked up the law in Mass. It's OK to idle to clear your windshield and rear glass.
 
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Old cars are known to jump gear when idling (iianm)
Again, perhaps not mowing down someone in front of the car, but it can easily go off on its own and bury itself into someone's bedroom etc.



Setting the parking brake nearly eliminates that concern.
 
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
I think in general my (and others) points are valid. Your 22 year old tank is sat in public, chugging away whilst you are so far away, you have no hope of doing anything. Old cars are known to jump gear when idling (iianm)
Again, perhaps not mowing down someone in front of the car, but it can easily go off on its own and bury itself into someone's bedroom etc.

Regarding a new car, as someone pointed up above, you can get cars with block heaters built in. Also, modern cars are much, much better at keeping out the cold and heat up much more quickly due to improved all round design. Get one with heated seats and stearingvwheel and windscreen and you are much, much better off. Your car won't be a risk to the neighbourhood, you will be much warmer and safer and save a heap on oil and fuel. Win-win IMHO. OK, I appreciate that cost wise you might not be able to do that, but its all valid options.

No hard feelings eh! :thumbup:


My truck is not parked in public. Its a private parking lot shared by multiple apartment units. My truck is manual and idles in neutral with the parking brake engaged. Thank you for your concern but I think your fears are irrational. Nothing is popping into gear and burying itself in somebody's bedroom. That's some serious sensationalism to say the least.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
Old cars are known to jump gear when idling (iianm)
Again, perhaps not mowing down someone in front of the car, but it can easily go off on its own and bury itself into someone's bedroom etc.



Setting the parking brake nearly eliminates that concern.


Good point.

A few years ago, we used to live at the bottom of a steepish hill. One day a young boy got into his dads car and whilst messing took of the handbrake. The car hurtled down the hill and crashed into our front garden. How the young lad wasn't killed I don't know. I've heard stories of kids getting into car which are idling and getting into trouble. It happens. Cars are dangerous.
 
Originally Posted By: Warstud
Letting it idle for 10 minutes so you have heat for less than a 2 mile drive is a waste. Tough it out or get an electric heater.


A waste of what?
 
Originally Posted By: BertieBlue
I've heard stories of kids getting into car which are idling and getting into trouble. It happens. Cars are dangerous.


I use my second remote to lock the keys in it. Any kid would have to smash the window to get in.
 
Another story that doesn't apply to my situation as this is a flat parking lot and none of my neighbors nor myself have children. You're a cautious person, that's fine. But stop grasping at straws to condemn what I do because so far every reason you've given to display that my idling is dangerous is completely inapplicable to me and is uncalled for.
 
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Those little heaters that run on 12V are pretty worthless. The cigar lighter jack usually has a 10 amp fuse. 12 volts x 10 amps = 120 watts. Not much heat. If you have an electric blanket/throw that plugs into the 12 V you will be able to feel that.

In this really cold weather it can make a difference how you are parked. Facing into the wind is not good. Maybe you could cover it up somehow since you don't have a garage.

When I had an old truck that I parked outside, I changed the oil 3 x a year whether it needed it or not. Right around the end of winter ( March) to get rid of the build up of contamination, in the middle of summer, for good measure and maybe to a thicker grade, and then again in the last days of fall, around Thanksgiving, so there would be good oil for those cold starts.

I was probably only driving 5-6K per year, so pretty low miles. I wouldn't do that now because oil is a lot more expensive (*maybe better, too).
 
Originally Posted By: datech
Those little heaters that run on 12V are pretty worthless. The cigar lighter jack usually has a 10 amp fuse. 12 volts x 10 amps = 120 watts. Not much heat. If you have an electric blanket/throw that plugs into the 12 V you will be able to feel that.

In this really cold weather it can make a difference how you are parked. Facing into the wind is not good. Maybe you could cover it up somehow since you don't have a garage.

When I had an old truck that I parked outside, I changed the oil 3 x a year whether it needed it or not. Right around the end of winter ( March) to get rid of the build up of contamination, in the middle of summer, for good measure and maybe to a thicker grade, and then again in the last days of fall, around Thanksgiving, so there would be good oil for those cold starts.

I was probably only driving 5-6K per year, so pretty low miles. I wouldn't do that now because oil is a lot more expensive (*maybe better, too).


My plan now is to run a schedule similar to what you used to do. I wanna change it every March and September. In March to get the potentially fuel and moisture contaminated oil out of there and again in September to have fresh oil for the start of winter. Using a good dino like Mobil Super or Quaker State Conventional (lower cost but great products) combined with a PureOne or similar filter from now on and I'll be good to go.
 
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