How often (in the winter) and for how long should I drive on the highway, to get the water and other contaminants out of the oil? I drive less in the winter and can go weeks without driving on the highway for any distance, but don't like the idea of all these short trips. My daily drive is about 2 miles of 30-35 mph, one way, so the car hits "warmed up" just as I get there. Work is even closer. So, how long and how often? (Winter temps can hit-20, are generally in the teens)
Car gets to operating temp when arriving-shorttrip
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My guess is at -20 you have to drive for 25 minutes or more. AT 40F about 15 minutes.
Your engine is not even warmed up in your short hop to work. My Chevy HHR DIC indicated would not get to 110 in my short run of 5 miles with a cover on the radiator. We have a weekly run to Alex for groceries of 36 miles and full coolant op temp(150) would be around 10+ miles half were at highway speeds. The aluminum blocks can dissipate a lot of heat. That's why a good oil and change interval is important.
Hope you got things ready for this late weeks winter weather. New tires for transit tomorrow and front brakes for Xterra
Hope you got things ready for this late weeks winter weather. New tires for transit tomorrow and front brakes for Xterra
Consider a longer drive each month. Your temp gauge might read warm but that's coolant, not the oil and the rest of the engine. Running at less the full operating temp is where you'll experience the most wear.
Consider short oil change intervals, too. This is the kind of stuff synthetic oil does a bit better than conventional oil.
Keep it simple.
Consider short oil change intervals, too. This is the kind of stuff synthetic oil does a bit better than conventional oil.
Keep it simple.
Just because your water temp gets in the middle of the gauge doesnt mean your oil is even close to temp.
What you really need for an actual cold climate and short trips is a nice coolant heater, battery blanket AND oil pan heater. I like the Frostheater brand to have nearly instant heat.
I have all three and typically do short trips with a longer trip weekly or biweekly to make sure we get the rest of the condensation out of the oil.
What you really need for an actual cold climate and short trips is a nice coolant heater, battery blanket AND oil pan heater. I like the Frostheater brand to have nearly instant heat.
I have all three and typically do short trips with a longer trip weekly or biweekly to make sure we get the rest of the condensation out of the oil.
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my mom had a nisson frontier which had an actual oil pressure gauge. The oil didn't get up to temp until like 10 minutes after the coolant came up to temp. This is just basing it off the oil pressure at hot idle.
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It depends on car and climate, but I think it takes about 20KM (12.5 miles) for my car to fully warm up.
If I did 25KM (15 miles) every 3rd week or so, I would be OK with that.
If I did 25KM (15 miles) every 3rd week or so, I would be OK with that.
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Originally Posted By: SR5
It depends on car and climate, but I think it takes about 20KM (12.5 miles) for my car to fully warm up.
If I did 25KM (15 miles) every 3rd week or so, I would be OK with that.
The OP is in Minnesota. Even 15 miles isn't good enough in winter. It needs 20-30 miles at least, preferably at speed on the highway.
It depends on car and climate, but I think it takes about 20KM (12.5 miles) for my car to fully warm up.
If I did 25KM (15 miles) every 3rd week or so, I would be OK with that.
The OP is in Minnesota. Even 15 miles isn't good enough in winter. It needs 20-30 miles at least, preferably at speed on the highway.
Originally Posted By: jayg
Originally Posted By: SR5
It depends on ...... climate
The OP is in Minnesota. Even 15 miles isn't good enough in winter. It needs 20-30 miles at least, preferably at speed on the highway.
Yeah, double it to 20 - 30 miles.
Originally Posted By: SR5
It depends on ...... climate
The OP is in Minnesota. Even 15 miles isn't good enough in winter. It needs 20-30 miles at least, preferably at speed on the highway.
Yeah, double it to 20 - 30 miles.
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
Originally Posted By: jayg
Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
If that was a common thing then the OP wouldn't be worried about never doing trips longer than 2 miles would he?
And why do people in the US only have 'random outings?' The same you just said could apply to anyone in the world and you arent going to walk to work if you know you have to pick up kids later.
Walk - it's good for you.
(yes i have lived in the US and the reliance you guys have on cars is incredible)
Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
If that was a common thing then the OP wouldn't be worried about never doing trips longer than 2 miles would he?
And why do people in the US only have 'random outings?' The same you just said could apply to anyone in the world and you arent going to walk to work if you know you have to pick up kids later.
Walk - it's good for you.
(yes i have lived in the US and the reliance you guys have on cars is incredible)
I have a 2 mile (3km) commute, I used to ride a bike, but now have a 50cc scooter. With the good idea, but bad execution PCV on the Volvo, short runs are not good for it, and I have to look after my $500 investment.
Can skew the warmup by holding a lower gear.
Not rev the freckle out of it, but hold a gear lower...it will use a little bit more juice.
(Or, as has been suggested recently, the SAE papers regarding improved warmup and oil friction are merely pseudo science, bit a few BITOGERs have been using that technique to speed warmup before hitting the highway for instance).
Not rev the freckle out of it, but hold a gear lower...it will use a little bit more juice.
(Or, as has been suggested recently, the SAE papers regarding improved warmup and oil friction are merely pseudo science, bit a few BITOGERs have been using that technique to speed warmup before hitting the highway for instance).
Originally Posted By: jayg
Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
Well i guess you're right.
Originally Posted By: FordCapriDriver
2 miles? Just walk or ride a bike, it's good exercise in winter you just need to get dressed properly.
I see stuff like this often from people who don't live in the US. Heres the thing, some people drive 2 miles for work but they may need to run 6 miles away at lunch for an errand or go pick up the kids. Or whatever, its not that simple unfortunately.
I have a 2 mile commute but my job requires me to run across town or 40 miles away when something comes up. I can't pedal my [censored] home then pick up the truck and go back out again. Sometimes short commutes are inevitable for some jobs.
Well i guess you're right.
Originally Posted By: JoelB
Even a 2 mile walk isn't an option when temps hit -20 and wind chill is below -40.
Yeah, a guy living on a Mediterranean island is not going to comprehend what winter means in the upper Midwest of the US!
Not many people know that Minnesota means "my rear end just froze off" in Chippewa!
I can't provide the translation for Minneapolis, as it refers to frostbite in an even more private region....
;^)
Even a 2 mile walk isn't an option when temps hit -20 and wind chill is below -40.
Yeah, a guy living on a Mediterranean island is not going to comprehend what winter means in the upper Midwest of the US!
Not many people know that Minnesota means "my rear end just froze off" in Chippewa!
I can't provide the translation for Minneapolis, as it refers to frostbite in an even more private region....
;^)
Originally Posted By: CT8
Frequent oil changes.
This!
Many are quick to suggest taking extra long trips etc. but to me the master becomes the servant at that point. Unless it's a joy ride, I'm not going to go out of my way to suit the thing that is supposed to serve me.
Use it the way you have to, but adjust maintenance accordingly. And when it comes to oil contaminants, NOTHING beats changing the old oil with fresh oil.
Frequent oil changes.
This!
Many are quick to suggest taking extra long trips etc. but to me the master becomes the servant at that point. Unless it's a joy ride, I'm not going to go out of my way to suit the thing that is supposed to serve me.
Use it the way you have to, but adjust maintenance accordingly. And when it comes to oil contaminants, NOTHING beats changing the old oil with fresh oil.
Off topic for this thread, but another thing to consider is the battery.
I have a friend who used to drive 2 miles to work in northern VA and his battery would die of sulfation every 2 years.
Those short trips are not enough to fully charge the battery.
I commute to work ~2 miles to work by bike. With heavy snow or ice I walk. Thankfully it rarely gets below 20F.
I drive ~5000 miles per year, 2-3 times per week, almost always 30 minutes or more.
Every 3 months I charge the battery overnight 12+ hours.
The original battery in my Matrix was going strong at 9 y.o., but I changed it because I didn't trust it for a 10th winter.
I have a friend who used to drive 2 miles to work in northern VA and his battery would die of sulfation every 2 years.
Those short trips are not enough to fully charge the battery.
I commute to work ~2 miles to work by bike. With heavy snow or ice I walk. Thankfully it rarely gets below 20F.
I drive ~5000 miles per year, 2-3 times per week, almost always 30 minutes or more.
Every 3 months I charge the battery overnight 12+ hours.
The original battery in my Matrix was going strong at 9 y.o., but I changed it because I didn't trust it for a 10th winter.
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