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

[Hohn]

I think we'd all agree that it's best for your vehicle to combine trips, and do the largest fraction of your driving possible with a warm engine. But for many people it seems it's inevitable they will end up making several short trips in a day, the engine will rarely be up to full temperature and the driveline surely is NOT up to temp since transmissions and axles lubes and such take a bit longer still to warm up. My wife's vehicle usage fits this: go the the gym (5 min away), come home. Go to meet a friend for lunch, come home. Go to store, come home. Most trips are under 10 minutes and there is at least an hour between them in most cases.

We'd also agree that oil selection is paramount to reduce the harm of such usage. But let's put that aside for now. Given that a person cannot avoid a predominantly short-trip duty cycle, what driving habits (not oils) will help minimize wear?

The first thing that occurred to me is avoiding idling as much as is feasible. Load the engine and use it or shut it off.


Another thing that occurred to me is perhaps manually limiting gear selection to operate at slightly higher RPM. Spinning a bit faster means more water pump and oil pump flow. It means more transmission pressure. It probably means more uniform heat distribution due to the higher pumps flows of oil and coolant. Higher RPM also means a bit less load on the engine (lower gear) which means lower cylinder pressure and less pressure on the rings against the bore.

Other than perhaps these two ideas, I can't really think of much one can do. It seems that you really only have the options of "don't do it" or "do it but use a premium 0W oil and change it often."

What else am I missing?

 

[PF52]

My wife's vehicle usage fits this: go the the gym (5 min away), come home. Go to meet a friend for lunch, come home. Go to store, come home. Most trips are under 10 minutes and there is at least an hour between them in most cases.

Why can't she do all that in one trip? Gym, lunch, store.... Then go back home.

 

[dnewton3]

Folks - I've had to delete a few posts already.
Let's stay on point; the topic is how to reduce cold weather concerns for vehicle operation.

 

[ATex7239]

Sounds like a good candidate for an EV.

 

[JoelB]

My wife and I are both similar to your driving style listed. We do combine trips but in the end I've given up on splitting hairs and over analyzing. It is my belief that the best course of action here is to do more frequent oil changes. Get the fuel and moisture contaminated oil out of there and replace it with fresh stuff.

Anything else you do besides getting out on the highway for a long blast isn't worth it (in my opinion).

 

[Urshurak776]

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.

 

[IndyIan]

I think don't worry about trying to change your wife's habits, and you take her car once in a while and give it an italian tune up. Maybe change the oil on the severe duty schedule if you are going to keep the car. Also if its your newer car, it's probably increasing rpms a bit when its cold. Our subaru won't lock the TC if you are demanding full heat for up to a couple minutes until its warm enough.

 

[Patman]

One thing with my Civic that I have noticed that helps it get up to temperature faster after a cold start is to turn the heater down to a very low temperature (in my case I set it to 16C) So this could also help with cars that see shorter trips.

 

[PF52]

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.

 

[John105]

Sounds like OPs wife doesn’t need to work. This is the case of all of my wife’s friends except her.

My wife has always worked < 2 miles from home, so 1). Mpgs are poor. 2). Maximum wear and tear. I asked her to cut out jack rabbit starts but it doesn’t seem to be an option.

The only thing I can do is to make sure I change the oil when the OLM says to. It’s usually in the low 3,000’s. There was one stretch where we were able to take multiple long trips (Phila to Canada) and the OLM let us go 7,300.

We can only do so much so for me, I always try to limit rpms and load from a cold start, since I do not idle the vehicle when cold. If engine (not motor) is at a fast idle, I put our automatic cars into N, from D. Very sporty. It does sound like I am completely opposite in thinking from the OP.

The last card up my sleeve is does any of this matter? I drove my 98 Maxima purchased new, and junked it 2023. I used regular 87 and the warm ups I describe. I don’t feel I shortened the life of the vehicle. My .02 ymmv

 

[gfh77665]

What else am I missing?

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.

 

[Kira]

my 98 Maxima and junked it 2023

How many miles were on it?
Original owner?

Also, if short trip scenarios are unavoidable, drive with an [expensive] egg between your foot and pedals.

gfh77665 point of a suitably sized vehicle is a good one.

 

[Oillover]

What else am I missing?

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).

 

[LDB]

I go on the theory Honda pays a LOT of people to know a LOT about what they are doing so I just drive and let it tell me when it wants something. Or a year goes by. Whichever comes first. Although they do a timer so I don't think they go beyond 13 months at most anyway. I anticipate this truck bought last month to outlive me, in spite of almost entirely less than 5 mile radius total round trips. I do notice the temp gauge shows full warm in less than a mile, 4 bars on this one out of I think 10.

 

[Hohn]

Sounds like a good candidate for an EV.

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.

 

[Hohn]

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).

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.

 

[KevinMalone]

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

 

[Hohn]

Sounds like OPs wife doesn’t need to work. This is the case of all of my wife’s friends except her.

My wife has always worked < 2 miles from home, so 1). Mpgs are poor. 2). Maximum wear and tear. I asked her to cut out jack rabbit starts but it doesn’t seem to be an option.

The only thing I can do is to make sure I change the oil when the OLM says to. It’s usually in the low 3,000’s. There was one stretch where we were able to take multiple long trips (Phila to Canada) and the OLM let us go 7,300.

We can only do so much so for me, I always try to limit rpms and load from a cold start, since I do not idle the vehicle when cold. If engine (not motor) is at a fast idle, I put our automatic cars into N, from D. Very sporty. It does sound like I am completely opposite in thinking from the OP.

The last card up my sleeve is does any of this matter? I drove my 98 Maxima purchased new, and junked it 2023. I used regular 87 and the warm ups I describe. I don’t feel I shortened the life of the vehicle. My .02 ymmv

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.

 

[LDB]

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.

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.

 

[FZ1]

I think we'd all agree that it's best for your vehicle to combine trips, and do the largest fraction of your driving possible with a warm engine. But for many people it seems it's inevitable they will end up making several short trips in a day, the engine will rarely be up to full temperature and the driveline surely is NOT up to temp since transmissions and axles lubes and such take a bit longer still to warm up. My wife's vehicle usage fits this: go the the gym (5 min away), come home. Go to meet a friend for lunch, come home. Go to store, come home. Most trips are under 10 minutes and there is at least an hour between them in most cases.

We'd also agree that oil selection is paramount to reduce the harm of such usage. But let's put that aside for now. Given that a person cannot avoid a predominantly short-trip duty cycle, what driving habits (not oils) will help minimize wear?

The first thing that occurred to me is avoiding idling as much as is feasible. Load the engine and use it or shut it off.


Another thing that occurred to me is perhaps manually limiting gear selection to operate at slightly higher RPM. Spinning a bit faster means more water pump and oil pump flow. It means more transmission pressure. It probably means more uniform heat distribution due to the higher pumps flows of oil and coolant. Higher RPM also means a bit less load on the engine (lower gear) which means lower cylinder pressure and less pressure on the rings against the bore.

Other than perhaps these two ideas, I can't really think of much one can do. It seems that you really only have the options of "don't do it" or "do it but use a premium 0W oil and change it often."

What else am I missing?

Don't run the heater. Wear some warm socks. Place the interior vents on recirculate. .02