driving off immediately after startup

[The motor guy]

So often I see people who put their cars in gear immediately after starting their vehicle. Particularly people with manual transmissions cause alot of them leave it in 1st and just let the clutch. Dooesn't this put extra wear on the engine? I know my engine sounds kinda weird for about 3 seconds after startup until oil pressure comes up all the way.

 

[Mr Nice]

I let my engines run for 10 seconds minimum before I drive away.

 

[Roadkingnc]

Start and drive, warmup time left with the carb. It isnt needed anymore. If it isnt working its wasting fuel.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

I let mine run a minimum of 30 seconds before engaging a gear.

 

[GSCJR]

No extra wear. I get in the car, start the engine, put my seatbelt on and away I go. If ambient temperature is below 0C. and the engine is stone cold, I wait 60 seconds max and drive off SLOWLY.

 

[JHZR2]

I start the car, then buckle my seatbelt. Usually by then, the car drops from fastest idle. Once it settles a little, I move. No use wasting fuel.

I also drive gentle.

 

[WiskyBadger]

With the weather we're having here I let mine run 5-10 minutes before I get into to go somewhere, so it warms up faster when I get into it. 7 degrees right now haha

 

[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.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I always start my engine and let it run a good 30 to 45 seconds or so, just to let the engine build oil pressure, get the coolant circulating, allow the alternator and PCM to bring the electrical system up to full running voltage and in general just get the juices flowing before I get moving.

I also use those 30 to 45 seconds to put on and adjust my seat belt, adjust the mirrors, put on my sunglasses, give the windshield a few swipes with the washer fluid, check my tach and guages for the right readings, check the radio station/Ipod track selection and generally get myself mentally prepared and settled in before I hit the road. I ride with the window down to let the hot air out of the cab and wait until I get down the road a half mile or so before turning on the A/C. We don't normally need heat here but if we do, it still takes a while before the heat gets hot.

This is the way I learned it and is the way I do it. I feel it is good for my truck and me too. However, my wife is the exact opposite. She will start her car, click her seatbelt and she is gone within 5 to 10 seconds. Maybe less time if the garage door is already open. I have tried to get her to slow down a bit, but so far it's not happening.

 

[GSCJR]

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.


Exactly!

 

[friendly_jacek]

Prius runs on batteries only in the first minute or so of cold start with ICE just doing fast idle (1300RPM) with retarded ignition, unless one floors the gas. The consensus is to spare the cold start engine wear. Otherwise how do you explain wasting gas in super fuel efficient car?

 

[randomhero439]

I redline my cars to get them warmed up. Cooler engine temp means more power right?

Both my cars are manual and i let them idle for like 30sec while i get my [censored] together. Then drive slowly when very cool.

 

[stranger706]

Fortunately we're able to park both cars in the garage. I get in, secure the coffee, start up, plug the phone in, seatbelt, set the air/heat, lights, radio. That takes maybe 10-20 seconds then I'm gone. Honda's won't warm up sitting still. I've done this with every car for 13 years now, never had any problems.

If I had to park outside and it was below freezing I'd probably wait a little longer, a minute max.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Question is an oldie but goodie.

 

[Hermann]

On a fuel injected vehicles anything longer than 20 sec, unless stupid cold is a waste of fuel. Our coldest temp has been +7F so far this winter(?), and it has been started from my toasty 60F garage on those mornings. The only valid point is the one mentioned about letting the alternator bring the voltage back to normal. Had never thought of that before. Cars warm up faster when moving, albeit moving slowly with low revs.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I idle for about two minutes or so.

 

[crazyoildude]

i let my cars and trucks warm up for 4-5 minutes in the very cold and then drive very easy for about 5 minutes. There is a lot more wear in the cold

 

[97f150]

I start the vehicle, buckle my seat belt, get adjusted then start moving. Typically 10-15 seconds. Letting the engine idle itself warm does nothing to warm up the transmission and diff and just wastes fuel.

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
So often I see people who put their cars in gear immediately after starting their vehicle. Particularly people with manual transmissions cause alot of them leave it in 1st and just let the clutch. Dooesn't this put extra wear on the engine? I know my engine sounds kinda weird for about 3 seconds after startup until oil pressure comes up all the way.


Putting a manual tranny in gear at start-up REDUCES engine RPMs (assuming as you say that the clutch is released withOUT accelerating and you just GLIDE away in gear and don't rev the engine) so I would think that there is LESS wear on the engine than letting the engine rev at the higher RPMs as it would do at start-up in neutral.

I do just that, after about the 15 seconds it takes to strap myself in and check the rearview mirror...then I just glide out of the parkinglot...and I don't rev the engine past 3k rpm through the first cycle of shifts.

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

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 97f150
I start the vehicle, buckle my seat belt, get adjusted then start moving. Typically 10-15 seconds. Letting the engine idle itself warm does nothing to warm up the transmission and diff and just wastes fuel.


I fire it up, turn on the seat heat, and then get out and brush the windows and stuff off, get back in, settle into my seat, buckle up my belt, set my music volume, and then slowly back out of the driveway. Total process probably varies from about 1 minute to 5 minutes depending on how much snow we have (or don't have).