Drive easy when cold...how easy is easy?

[Nate1979]

Originally Posted By: gregk24
We have all heard that most engine wear occurs at start up and while the engine is below operating temp. The recommendation is to drive easy until fully warmed up, but how easy is easy? I try and keep it under 2250 rpm for the first 2 miles or so then under 2500 ish for another couple miles. After about 5 miles Ill let it rev out to 3000 miles if necessary. Is this "easy" enough or should it stay below 3000 for a longer period of time? What do you all do?


Can you actually have a cold start in Florida, the land of Sunshine?

 

[dishdude]

OP is always talking about how great Honda is and always recommending them. I didn't realize they were so fragile.

 

[The Critic]

My guess is that avoiding full throttle and redline would be a good idea. But for me, I have never obeyed the rules (since I live in a fairly warm climate) and I have never experienced issues as a result of my behavior.

 

[yvon_la]

nha usually the rule of thumb is 100 f . when you see the needle start moving or you see a bar appear you can move it isnt race time but you progressively go like you usual and you dont hit the variable valve timing ( usually around 4000 rpm so you try to keeit just below the variable valve timing and not lower then 2000 rpm ( its a gas car not a diesel lol)

 

[Olas]

I always felt that avoiding load is more important than avoiding RPMs when cold. Not the case?

 

[Subdued]

don't flog the thing to start off and you'll be fine

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
You are way overthinking it IMO.

Use as much gas as you need. Just drive normal. If the car needs to be treated like a piece of Waterford Crystal, get a car that doesn't so you don't have to worry about it.


+2. Where I work it's a left out of the lot, stop light, and left onto a flat, straight 55 mph highway. After that it's .5 mile to the next light and then 2 to the next. Warm or cold if I'm the first car at the 2nd light and want to punch it, I do. Hasn't hurt anything.

Look up how they torture test these engines. You are not going to hurt anything.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Just get in and drive it normally. You're way off the deep end with obsessing and fussing over your car.

 

[demarpaint]

I start it up and wait until the rpms drop below 1K rpm, at that point I take off. The drive to the highway is about 1 mile away with a few lights, I'm typically stopped by two of them. Total run time to get to the highway is about 4-5 minutes from start up. The acceleration ramp is nice and long so with a little common sense flooring it is never needed. At that point I cruise at about 60-65 mph, conditions permitting, which is under 2,500 rpm. I won't exceed 3,000 rpm for at least 12 miles, and exceeding 3K rpm is only if I feel like getting on it.

Honestly those conditions are near perfect and the way most people would normally drive under the conditions w/o giving it any special consideration.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: Olas
I always felt that avoiding load is more important than avoiding RPMs when cold. Not the case?


That is the case, which is why transmissions hold lower gears and delay TCC lockup. (The delay also helps you not notice slight misfiring.)

 

[Silverado12]

^^^I do the same. Once the idle drops (like 30 sec or so), drive normally.

 

[gfh77665]

Unscientific, but I have seen youtube videos of oil beginning to circulate within seconds, unless in brutal cold temps, of course. I think the 20-30 seconds of idling is perfect, then driving away unhurriedly is all you need for longevity.

Cars are much tougher than we give them credit for.

 

[saltyroads]

i fire mine up, let it idle 30 seconds (plug in phone, set up music,etc) then hit the freeway at 80 mph for 45 minutes.

 

[KrisZ]

I believe OP should be using an oil and coolant heater. Cold starts in Florida are nothing to sneeze at...

 

[AuthorEditor]

Since I live in the middle of a small city with lots of stop signs and lights there is no way to drive more than 30mph for at least several miles before one could possible (safely) step on it. So, I typically start the car, let it run 30 seconds or so unless it is very cold, when I will let it run for several minutes. I then just go easy on the stops and starts until the engine is up to temperature by the time I could get on a highway or a country road where I could get over 30mph. I think you are safe to just start and go as long as you accelerate gently until warmed up enough for the heat to come on.

 

[Dyusik]

Originally Posted By: CT8
Originally Posted By: Dyusik
62rpm before redline. I have to drive 10 miles at 3k rpm home at times, with cold 40wt because the entrance to the fwy is 200 yrds away.

You live in Florida, a state where the cars are PERPETUALLY warmed up

You are trying to make it seem like you run a straight 40.


No intentions of such, just making a point that the oil quite a bit thicker than the 20s of today used and everything is well.