driving off immediately after startup

[The motor guy]

This question isn't about warming up the engine. I start my truck up and let it idle for about 10 seconds and then go. The question was about people who go for the gear shifter right after they start the vehicle. By the time you put your seat belt on and put your coffee down the engine has been running long enough to get oil pressure to every last crevice of the engine.

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
Me too. Warm up time equals the amount of time it takes me to fasten my seatbelt, put down my coffee, get the heater right and turn on the radio to a station I like.

In really cold weather I worry more about the diff and gear oils than the engine, so I try and drive slowly. I drive to the next block over and turn with the light instead of going to the end of my block and gunning it to get on the road.


Ditto. By the time I back out of the garage and drive 1 1/4 mile out of the subdivision (never exceeding 2000 rpm), my Hyundai 1.6 engine is good to go.

 

[HTSS_TR]

"driving off immediately after startup" is exactly how I did. Garage door is opened before I get in the car, put on seat belt then start engine then shift to reverse then back out of the garage. Normally the car should be moving forward in less than 3-5 seconds, but I drive easy the first 2-3 miles.

 

[The_Jake]

Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
Me too. Warm up time equals the amount of time it takes me to fasten my seatbelt, put down my coffee, get the heater right and turn on the radio to a station I like.


+1 I also then slowly back down the driveway and stop before backing onto the street then idle 200 feet to the stop sign. Then drive away normally. So by the time I hit the gas it has been 1-2 minutes.

 

[The_Jake]

Originally Posted By: KitaCam

...of course, we're talking about a Florida parking lot

LOL....gee thanks a lot....

 

[david_ES2]

When im running.late in the morning when theres no time to waste.....it goes from engine start to reverse in like 3 seconds, putting seat belt and adjusting radio happens as i back out, no wide open throttles or anything till atleast a few mins.

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Question is an oldie but goodie carnoobie.

 

[Cristobal]

Originally Posted By: SS1970chrysler
I let mine run a minimum of 30 seconds before engaging a gear.




I always do this too. Usually it is about 20 seconds. I am in a sloped parking space, put in neutral, and coast out. This gives time for the oil to get to the galleries.

 

[gathermewool]

My entire commute to or from work is 6.3 miles. Tonight, it was 15F.

After work tonight, I started the car and let out the clutch within 10 seconds. I then idled in 1st gear to the stop sign just outside of my parking lot (~10 seconds.) I then drove gently all the way home, doing approximately the speed limit (30-35 MPH for 1 mile, 55-60MPH on the highway for 1.8 miles, and then 25-30MPH for the remaining 3.5 miles until I arrived home.) Since I tend to bundle up according to the weather and don't mind the cold so much, I keep my heater off and on recirc (unless my windows begin fogging,) which I can only suppose helps, since the dummy gauge read normal operating temp (>160F) 2/3 of the way home.

I know this isn't enough to maintain the oil condensation-free, but I do believe it's better for the engine than the days I put the heat on AUTO, which prevents the dummy gauge from ever even reaching normal operating temp before arriving home.

 

[L_Sludger]

I beat mine like it owes me money. It was 8 degrees this morning, started it and immediately started beating on it, I was on the highway about 1 and a half minutes later. My car was made to serve me.

 

[Hokiefyd]

My father-in-law always does this. He has a 1995-1/2 Toyota Tacoma. Engine start and immediately into reverse with the brake on. Only *then* does he put on his seatbelt and adjust anything. I cringe when the truck groans against the brakes while in gear at fast idle. But it has something like 230,000 miles, so it must not hurt anything.

Compared to most other people, I'm overkill. Both of our vehicles park in a warm garage and I still let them come off fast idle until I move into a gear. This is usually 10-20 seconds.

 

[Eddie]

Here in Florida, I let my engine idle long enough to lower the idle as I put my seat belt on and go, or about 10 seconds. When I lived in IL. I let the engine idle for 30 seconds or so in the winter before pulling out. In all cases I drive easy till I see the temp gage start to move up. Ed

 

[demarpaint]

These threads come up often. I start my vehicle up, when the tach hits about 1,000 rpm I drive. I have one stick and two AT vehicles. I do not want to let a clutch out when an engine is running at 1,500 rpm or higher. I'd rather not pop an AT into drive or reverse when an engine is racing either. The total warm up time to 1,000 rpm is about 1-3 minutes in cold weather, give or take. This morning it is about 10°F where I'm parked, the 00 Buick was ready to roll in less than 2 minutes. Opinions vary, as does temperature, and warm up time for different engines.

 

[rjundi]

My wife drives right off if she is leaving. I tend to also.

I tried to start & warm up the car for her due cold(for us 5F) took video. She walked out and drove off like it was normal 30 seconds latter.

This Subaru turbo flat-motor is using 5w30 Mobil 5000 with 4k OCI. Motor sounds really no different than a 50F day:

 

[KrisZ]

It was -20C this morning. I started up the car, fastened the seatbelts, turned on the heated seats and put on my gloves. I directed the vents for defrost and off I went. It all took less than a minute as I was not willing to sit in a -20C car waiting for it to warm up.
The stick shift was very stiff and the P/S pump loud. I kept the RPMs below 2k on small suburb streets and once I hit the major road I kept it below 2.5K until the water temp got to normal, at which point 3K RPM is all I need for normal acceleration.

No drama.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
It was -20C this morning. I started up the car, fastened the seatbelts, turned on the heated seats and put on my gloves. I directed the vents for defrost and off I went. It all took less than a minute as I was not willing to sit in a -20C car waiting for it to warm up.
The stick shift was very stiff and the P/S pump loud. I kept the RPMs below 2k on small suburb streets and once I hit the major road I kept it below 2.5K until the water temp got to normal, at which point 3K RPM is all I need for normal acceleration.

No drama.


Oh yeah? Well it was -24C here and my car went "GROOOOOOAAAAAAN... click click". Apparently the original battery wasn't keen on that temperature. I'm off to get a new one now......

 

[rslifkin]

Once the oil pressure gauge stops climbing, I figure it's safe to put in gear. The Jeep's idea of high idle is 900 rpm (instead of 720) until the coolant temp exceeds 40* F, so putting it in gear at elevated rpm isn't a concern.

 

[The_Jake]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
I beat mine like it owes me money. It was 8 degrees this morning, started it and immediately started beating on it, I was on the highway about 1 and a half minutes later. My car was made to serve me.


Unfortunately your relationship will change to where you become the subservient one...

 

[Clevy]

In the cold we experience idling for long periods for warm up is pointless. Engine temp gauge will barely move.
I get in,start it. Some mornings it might get a few minute warm up,others I just get in and drive. I can get onto the freeway and to achieve highway speeds never rev it above 2000rpm. So it doesn't get abused when cold and to be honest I have yet to floor the pedal,no need. The hemi makes gobs of torque real early so there isn't any real need to put a dent in the floor.
Ideally I'd like to let it warm up before driving it but at -38 its not going to warm up.

 

[Klutch9]

I pretty much never wait anymore, no matter how cold out it is. I wait maybe 10 seconds, MAX. My Focus is a PZEV, so the high idle on a cold start is higher than most cars, in order to heat up the catalyst system more quickly. A high idle for me on a really cold day is like 2200 rpm (yikes, I know!). I usually wait for it to drop below 2000 rpm, then set off. I don't mash the throttle or anything. Usually 3000 rpm is my limit, sometimes lower if traffic is light and I don't have to merge.

My parents live on a main road with a 50 mph speed limit. Meaning, no slow driving allowed. In order to merge, you'd better be willing to move 'briskly' so as to not get hit. I had to do this the other day. It was 10 degrees out, car had been sitting for most of the day. I started the car, and no more than 15 seconds later I was at 3000 rpm making my way up to 50. IMO, as long as there is sufficient oil pressure and you don't drive the car like a goon, you'll be just fine. It's a car, drive it!