Driving techniques to minimize cold start/short trip wear--what do you think?

[Oillover]

Not nearly that many, but enough moves. I've warned my next move will be one of two places, under a bridge or into a deep hole, and neither by choice.

lol, some days I like to think fondly of the latter of those two options.

I've got my lifetime of moves out of my system. Moved 20 times before the age of 35. Been here since then, not moving unless there's a REALLY good reason to. Like say, house burns down.

By age 30 I moved to my current residence. That was my 3rd move (I really dislike unnecessary change).
Next move will be in a casket.

 

[Nesterenko]

Perhaps appeal to her frugal side. Combining all three trips into one will not only prevent all those cold starts and partial warm-ups, it'll save gas. Help her pick a route that eliminates going back and forth.

Sounds like that lifestyle won't allow frugality to creep in.

 

[dbias]

My plan to reduce cold start wear on my new GTI is as follows.
No idling and since it’s built in Germany it doesn’t have remote start and once I start it I start moving as soon as the idle kicks down and drive gently till oil temp gets over 170F. Coolant temp is up to 194 within five or six miles bit oil temp lags behind considerably.
0w-30 oil and change every 5k.
Sport mode holds DSG shifts until around 2,500 rpm.
Of course combine trips whenever possible.
Keep auto hvac at 68 degrees and have seat and steering wheel heater to come on automatically below 50 degrees F
Plan an extended trip at least twice a month to burn off any condensation usually to see my father and daughter during the weekend.
I’ve had it a year and it’s still under 5k miles so I don’t drive it a lot but certainly enjoy driving it when I can.

 

[PF52]

Sounds like that lifestyle won't allow frugality to creep in.

I suspect they're both retired.

I remember when my parents retired. Their days became an endless cycle of short errands, just like the ones the OP describes, always returning home in-between. The idea of combining trips never occurred to them.

 

[Pterostylis]

I’ve often thought about this topic as I do a lot of short trips at work, sometimes 8 or 10 per day and less than a mile between job sites.

So far the only thing I’ve come up with is to have the heater switched to cold until the temp gauge gets halfway and to change the oil at 3000 miles or less. Luckily it doesn't get cold in my area.

 

[eljefino]

Vehicle type. For example, my Chevy c1500 takes at least a few miles to get warmed up. My Ford Fiesta is literally showing some warmth after three blocks from a cold start. Small cars warm much faster than a pickup or large SUV.

Also, I would not try to "fix" anything with higher RPM's.

Yeah, this. My newer Prii use the catalytic converter to bring the coolant up to temp, quickly. The older 2nd gen ones used a thermos for a similar effect.

If she sticks around town she's a good candidate for an all-electric or plug-in hybrid.

Otherwise you can use zero weight oil and/or gift her a remote start, so the car leaves the driveway somewhat warm, and you can worry about fuel dilution from idling vs condensation from not warming up.

 

[ATex7239]

Honestly, I think that's about the best option of all. EVs really shine when used as long range golf carts, which is how many people in a smaller cities use their cars.

Friend of ours has one because she drives mostly around town. She loves it.

 

[Al]

To be honest, my opinion, a vehicle is a tool. Sure, do the best you can, but at the end of the day, it's a tool. Don't inconvenience yourself or waste too much time worrying about it. A lot of vehicles on the road today are abused big time, yet still get a lot of mileage put on them. The average BITOG member is leaps and bounds better at maintenance then the average Joe and Joette.

So, good luck getting your wife to worry about her schedule and sequencing things....ain't gonna happen. Don't worry about it.

This 100%But seriously there is no more wear on the engine. Thicker oil protects better. Mot sure about auto trans and wheel bearings. I suspect wear there is similar to engine.

 

[kschachn]

Otherwise you can use zero weight oil and/or gift her a remote start, so the car leaves the driveway somewhat warm, and you can worry about fuel dilution from idling vs condensation from not warming up.

A better winter rating (“zero weight”) isn’t to reduce wear. It’s for cranking and pumpability and ultimately so the oil pump doesn’t cavitate.

 

[Hohn]

Sounds like that lifestyle won't allow frugality to creep in.

If you only knew. She’s daily driving a 20 year old odyssey

 

[Nesterenko]

If you only knew. She’s daily driving a 20 year old odyssey

Guess you got me, except the fact that it's a minivan vs a hatchback.

 

[Nesterenko]

I suspect they're both retired.

I remember when my parents retired. Their days became an endless cycle of short errands, just like the ones the OP describes, always returning home in-between. The idea of combining trips never occurred to them.

I've got a 12 year old vehicle and I try to consolidate my trips, doesn't always work out though.

 

[Hohn]

This 100%But seriously there is no more wear on the engine. Thicker oil protects better. Mot sure about auto trans and wheel bearings. I suspect wear there is similar to engine.

Thinner oils when cold have much better oil pressure delay. Oil pressure delay is strongly correlated to wear in highly transient duty cycles.

It’s a significant contributor (but by no means the only one) to why keeping the engine warm lowers wear.

 

[Hohn]

I suspect they're both retired.

In about 20 years maybe?

 

[ATex7239]

My wife is a teacher, but since we had kids she has homeschooled them. It's a lot of work and not particularly well-compensated (kids mostly whine). Appreciative husband only goes so far.

You're making me fondly recall my 1997 Maxima GLE. What a great car. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold it to our friends, but alas, moving to Hawaii meant parting ways as we couldn't take it with us. VQ30s will always be classic. That, and with Koni adjustables and strut tower brace, it handled pretty doggone well.

Being a supportive spouse and father is infinitely more important than maintaining a machine which you will inevitably get rid of at some point anyways. Unpopular opinion maybe, but I’d definitely suggest to shy away from any suggestions to try to alter a spouse’s life/day and just do the best one can maintaining the vehicle. People > Machines.

 

[Hohn]

Being a supportive spouse and father is infinitely more important than maintaining a machine which you will inevitably get rid of at some point anyways. Unpopular opinion maybe, but I’d definitely suggest to shy away from any suggestions to try to alter a spouse’s life/day and just do the best one can maintaining the vehicle. People > Machines.

I believe that's wise, and that's why I've not tried to change her driving habits, but just to manage the impacts of them.


As someone else posted, it's a machine, and it will wear out, rust out, or something. And absolutely you are right, people>machines.

 

[Kurtatron]

I believe that's wise, and that's why I've not tried to change her driving habits, but just to manage the impacts of them.


As someone else posted, it's a machine, and it will wear out, rust out, or something. And absolutely you are right, people>machines.

The future is people=machines

 

[ATex7239]

The future is people=machines

As an AI chatbot here; can confirm.

 

[Paco Pena]

Move to an area will all/most of your daily necessities within walking distance.
You'll get more exercise, and your vehicle will get used less (saving you $$ in fuel, maintenance and replacement cost).

Or the trips will get even shorter....

Paco

 

[kschachn]

Nothing you can do other than more frequent oil changes. I maintain relatives' vehicles that are used like this and I switched them from 5w30 to 0w20 thinking it would be more appropriate for that usage.

When it's time for a new car, strongly consider an EV

Since the greatest wear occurs during warmup you’d want the oil to heat up as fast as possible. A thinner grade will slow down that process.