driving off immediately after startup

[AudiSport]

When your engine is just started and it's cold out, the oil in the engine is not nearly as viscous and doesn't lubricate as well. I've been told that you should get in the car, let the idle drop, and get moving right away. Since the oil pressure is lower at low RPM, and low oil temp = oil not lubricating as well, this is why getting up and moving is better for the engine than letting it sit at idle to warm up.

That seems like a logical explanation that I got from a mechancial engineer when I asked.. He said anything more than that is for creature comfort more than anything since we don't like shivering.

 

[badtlc]

My mazda manual says to let it idle for around 8 sec if it is cold and then go.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: 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...

The car's been beaten for the past 280,000 miles and it still gives great MPGs, so I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

 

[antiqueshell]

Unless it is brutally cold, around 10 F or lower, if possible you should start up the car and not let it idle for more than about 10 seconds.

For more typical weather temps in the 20s and above just get in start, and drive off with in a couple of seconds. If you let the car idle you are actually INCREASING wear since the oil is not being warmed up as quickly as when you are at speed, and not only that you are wasting gas.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
re: "gatherwool"

Does your screen name anything to do with the clothes you are wearing? I had never came across anybody who kept the heater off so that engine won't freeze to death. You are the first one who wants engine to be warm and toasty and are willing to wear thermal underwear rather than putting on the heat! I mean there have been times when I kill the A/C to save fuel or engine power but killing heat seems pretty stupid as it does not really save anything and causes nothing but chattering of my teeth.


I appreciate your sensationally exagerated reply, but please only speak for yourself there, bub.

I think you missed the point where I mentioned the cold doesn't bother me. My drive is < 15 minutes, every minute of which I'm perfectly comfortable - there is no trade off, nor a feeling of, "oh, man I'm soooo cold, but this is totally worth it knowing my engine isn't going to 'freeze to death!'". The benefit is, the coolant and oil get up to temp as quickly as possible and stay there to minimize condensation formation and fuel dilution.

So, while showing up to work all warm and toasty may be a slight improvement for me, shutting the engine down twice/day with the coolant never reaching operating temp is what seems stupid to me.

To each his own, am I right?

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool


To each his own, am I right?

Agreed and is why the two of my vehicles that were driven today were both warmed up 6-8 minutes each prior to leaving the driveway...

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Unless it is brutally cold, around 10 F or lower, if possible you should start up the car and not let it idle for more than about 10 seconds.

For more typical weather temps in the 20s and above just get in start, and drive off with in a couple of seconds. If you let the car idle you are actually INCREASING wear since the oil is not being warmed up as quickly as when you are at speed, and not only that you are wasting gas.


The oil still lubricates even if it is cold. Also Engines run pretty high oil pressure on a cold start running a fast idle. I find it hard to believe it is starving for oil while sitting at and idle,that's just not the case. and if the oil is to thick to get the pressure the engine needs, the filter will go into bypass to ensure pressure is adequate.

also if your assumption was correct, engines would heat up in extremely cold weather because there would be minimal oil lubrication which would equal rapid heat development.

The fact is a cold started car has plenty of lubrication, and continues to do so at and idle, assuming the oil pump is in good shape and the oil is an adequate viscosity.

 

[The Critic]

I drive a Prius. When you start it up, the gas engine does not start immediately. I start driving right away and allow the engine to start-up if/when it decides to.

 

[FZ1]

Not worried about my engine. I worry about my transmission. I wait till it drops to 1,000 rpms before I engage reverse to back outta my garage.